Chief Curiel enlisted in the Navy in June 1999 out of his hometown of San Diego, CA. He attended Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, IL, graduating in October 1999. He then reported to Meridian, Mississippi for Aviation Maintenance Administration “A” school, graduating in December 1999 and becoming an AZ Airman Recruit.
Upon Completion of “A” school, AZAR Curiel reported to Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department North Island, CA, in January 2000. Promoted to Petty Officer Third Class in May 2001 and reassigned to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 136, in Atsugi, Japan in January of 2002, he deployed to the Persian Gulf in 2003 on board USS KITTY HAWK, CV-61, in support of “Shock and Awe”, the initial engagements of the invasion of Iraq.
Advanced to Second Class Petty Officer in November 2003, AZ3 Curiel was reassigned to Helicopter Combat Support Squadron (HC) 11 in January of 2004. Redesignated Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 21 while deployed onboard USS BONHOMME RICHARD, LHD-6, HSC-21 supported Operation UNIFIED ASSISTANCE following the earthquake and tsunami off the coast of Sumatra in April 2005 and Operation IRAQI FREEDOM in the Persian Gulf from June to August 2005.
Upon Completion of the deployment Fall of 2005, AZ2 Curiel received orders to become an instructor at Center of Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit (CNATTU) North Island, CA. In May 2006, AZ2 Curiel reported to HSC-84 located in Balad, Iraq for a one year Individual Augmentation (IA). Upon completion of IA tour, he reported back to CNATTU North Island to complete his instructor tour.
In May of 2010, AZ2 Curiel reported to HSC-4 and was promoted to Petty Officer First Class in June 2010. HSC-4 was deployed onboard USS RONALD REAGAN, CVN-76, providing humanitarian aid once again from March through May of 2011 during Operation TOMODACHI following the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. CVN-76 then provided combat support in the Persian Gulf for Operation ENDURING FREEDOM during the summer of 2011.
In December 2013, AZ1 Curiel reported to Recruit Training Command (RTC) Great Lakes, Illinois, and commenced Recruit Division Commander “A” School, graduating in April 2014. In July 2016 he was selected to the rank of Chief Petty Officer and completed a successful tour at RTC in June 2017. During his tour at RTC Great Lakes, Chief Curiel received accolades to include the Distinguished Leadership Award for Excellence as a Recruit Division Commander, Master Training Specialist Qualification, Lead Division Commander, and Ships Training Team staff.
In August 2017, Chief Curiel reported to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 51 in Atsugi, Japan. While serving as the Divisional Leading Chief Petty Officer of the Maintenance Admin work center and Supply Department, he received his Safe-for-Flight designation, served as the Equal Opportunity Advisor, and led the Chief’s Mess as the elected President of the Association and was elected as Chief Petty Officer Initiation Lead for Naval Air Station Atsugi in 2019 training 32 newly selected Chief Petty Officers.
In October of 2020, Chief Curiel was enroute to Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 24 (MALS-24), but was diverted back to RTC Great Lakes, IL., for 6 months in support of COVID-19 operations for recruit isolation conducted in Fort McCoy, WI. Upon completion of the special duty, he reported to MALS-24 in April 2021. He was selected as the Navy Senior Enlisted Leader in May of 2023.
His personal decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (seven awards), Good Conduct Medal (eight awards), and various unit and campaign awards.