DONATE BLOOD    |      NMCP NOTICES    |    COVID-19    |    FLU / RSV

Command Master Chief

A native of Richmond, Virginia, Master Chief Cleveland began her naval career in November 1994 at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois, where she attended boot camp and Hospital Corpsman “A” School.  She went on to serve her first tour of duty at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Virginia, charting a course toward Field Medical Service School in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and the completion of her technical proficiency in Surgical Technologist “C” School at the Naval School of Health Sciences, Portsmouth, Virginia.
 
Her sea assignments include the USS Kearsarge (LHD-3), Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia; 3rd Marine Logistics Group, Camp Kinser, Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler, Okinawa, Japan; and Chemical Biological Incident Response Force, Naval Support Activity, Indian Head, Maryland.  Master Chief Cleveland has completed three deployments during USS Kearsarge’s designation as flagship for Amphibious Task Force East and primary Casualty Receiving Ship for Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Shinning Express (a Non-combatant Evacuation Operation during the 2nd Liberian Civil War), and Operation Iraqi Freedom III.  Additionally, she augmented the operations of several multinational, humanitarian, and emergency response missions in support of Balikatan, PHIBLEX, Cobra Gold, and Operation Tomodachi.
 
Her shore assignments include a tour as Recruit Division Commander at Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, Illinois; an Instructor tour at Hospital Corpsman “A” School, Navy Medicine Training Support Center, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas; and Navy Manning Advocate in Total Force Structure Division (BSO-27), Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, where she managed the utilization of over 12,000 Navy personnel in support of the Marine Corps.
 
Master Chief Cleveland recently returned from deployment in the 6th Fleet AOR as Command Master Chief of Strike Fighter Squadron THREE FOUR (VFA-34), homeport at NAS Oceana and is currently serving as the Command Master Chief of Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Portsmouth/Naval Medical Center Portsmouth.
 
Master Chief Cleveland is a Master Training Specialist and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Care Management.  She’s a graduate of the Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer’s Academy (Class 180), the Honor Graduate of the Navy’s Senior Enlisted Academy (Class 184/BC 56), and completed CMC/COB Course (Class 19070).
 
Her personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (3rd award), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2nd award), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (6th award), Combat Action Ribbon, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, and various other unit and service awards.

Command Master Chief

Mercedes N. Cleveland

United States Navy

Don't forget to keep your family's information up-to-date in DEERS.