Navy Senior Enlisted Leader
AECS (AW) Eric T. Castro
Senior Chief Castro was born in Orange, California and raised in Guam, USA. He enlisted in the United States Navy on January 17, 2006 and graduated Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois in March. After successful completion of Aviation Electrician’s Mate (AE) “A” and F/A-18 “C” schools in Lemoore California he was stationed at Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron (VMFAT) ONE ZERO ONE assigned to the Electrical shop and Shooter Shack, advancing to Third Class Petty Officer in May 2008. In October 2008, he was transferred to his first sea duty assignment with Patrol Squadron (VP) Forty in Whidbey Island, Washington. There he served as a Collateral Duty Inspector and work center 220 Leading Petty Officer completing P-3 Initial and Career training and advancing to Second Class Petty Officer in Sep 2009.
He deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Kadena Air base, Okinawa Japan in support of SEVENTH Fleet operations and Isa Air base, Bahrain in support of FIFTH Fleet operations. In July 2013 he returned to shore duty as an Intermediate Maintenance (IMA) Technician, Production Controller and Quality Assurance Representative at Fleet Readiness Center Detachment Point Mugu, California where he advanced to First Class Petty Officer in Dec 2013. In July 2016 returning to sea duty, Senior Chief was assigned to Unmanned Patrol Squadron (VUP) One Nine to stand up the Navy’s first Unmanned Triton program and Squadron. Senior Chief was selected for Chief Petty Officer in 2017 where he would then serve as Avionics Branch Chief Petty Officer, Maintenance Controller and MQ-4C Safe for Flight.
He deployed to his home of Guam in 2019 and 2020 where he would be instrumental in the standup of Triton program in the Pacific onboard Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. In May 2021 AECS checked into Marine Aviation Logistic Squadron (MALS) 24 at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. He was selected for promotion to Senior Chief in Aug 2021 and in February of 2022 he was designated as Navy Senior Enlisted Leader.
Senior Chief Castro’s decorations include Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corp Achievement Medal (2nd Award), Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal, and Iraq Campaign Medal