Chief Warrant Officer 4 Gary L. Curtis, a Cannon County native who resides in the Short Mountain Community, was honored with a retirement ceremony August 12 in Millington, Tennessee.

Curtis enlisted in the Navy as a Seaman Recruit in 1995 and attended boot camp at TRC San Diego, California. From 1992-93, he deployed aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) with Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron One Four One (VAQ-141).

In 1994, he attended AMS A-School in Millington, Tennessee and was then transferred to Anti-Submarine Squadron Two Four (VS-24) located at Cecil Field, Florida where he deployed aboard the USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) and USS John F. Kennedy (FVN-67). After a successful tour, Curtis transferred to NATTC AMS A-School in Pensacola, Florida where he earned his Master Training Specialist (MTS) qualification.

After his instructor tour, he transferred to patrol and Reconnaissance Squadron Nine (VP-9) located in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii where he deployed on numerous occasions throughout the South East Asian Theater of Operations.

In 2004, Curtis applied and was selected for the US Navy’s Blue Angels where he served as crew Chief #4 and later, after selection to Chief Petty Officer in 2005, Maintenance Control Chief Petty Officer where he earned his Safe for Flight on both the F-18 and C-130 aircraft.

In 2008, Curtis accepted a Global Support Assignment to Iraq where he became the first Non-Commissioned Officer In-Charge )NCOIC) of Camp Dublin, located on the outskirts of Bagdad, working with the Italian Carabinieri, Iraqi Special Operations Forces, Iraqi Federal Police and Emergency Response Brigades.

At the end of his tour in Iraq, Curtis was selected for the Chief Warrant Officer Program and was commissioned to CW02, November 2009. Following his commission, Curtis was reassigned to Strike Fighter Squadron Fourteen (VFA-14) aboard the USS John C. Stannis as Maintenance Material Control Officer (MMCO).

In 2014, he transferred to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron Seven Two (HSM-72) and led the command in its first ever carrier work-ups and deployment onboard the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) and USS Enterprise (CVN-65)

In 2016, Curtis accepted order to CNATTU Jacksonville, Florida where he became Officer-In-Charge of Training Support Detachment located at NAS Mayport, Florida.

In 2018, Curtis served in his last aviation command with Patrol Squadron Four Five (VP-45) located at NAS Jacksonville, Florida. In December 2020, Curtis was transferred to Navy Manpower Analysis Center (NAVMAC) and served as the Afloat Officer Standards Officer.

Chief Warrant Officer Curtis’ decoration include the Bronze Star Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (six awards), Joint Service Achievement Medial, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (six awards) and various unit, campaign and service medals and ribbons.