Chris Coggins:
CLASS OF 1979
Independence High SchoolClass of 1979
Charlotte, NC
University of North Carolina - Political Science Class of 1983
Chapel hill, NC
East Carolina University - Political ScienceClass of 1981
Greenville, NC
Chris's Story
Life
After graduation, I went off to school (i.e., party hardy!) at ECU. More party than school, of course. Hung out for a couple of years in Greenville, then decided I liked the sports at Chapel Hill more than the party at Greenville, for better or worse. Played around in Chapel Hill for another two years (MJ, Worthy and Perkins won the National Championship for Dean while I was there) before I realized that studying in a college environment was impossible (for me, at least). SOOOO, I enlisted in the Navy to party some more, see the world, and hopefully learn something. In almost 37 years of military and government service, my most outstanding accomplishment has been to get married and stay that way happily for 34 of those years to my beautiful and wonderful wife Debbie. I've learned alot, seen the world, partied in some exotic countries, and managed to kill no one. Not too bad for a former I High football player! GO PATRIOTS!!!
School
Irmo Elementary (Irmo, SC)
Idlewild Elementary (Charlotte, NC)
Albemarle Road Elementary (Charlotte, NC)
Lincoln Heights Elementary (Charlotte, NC)
Albemarle Road Junior High School (Charlotte, NC)
Independence High School (Charlotte, NC)
College
East Carolina University (1979-1981)
University of North Carolina (1981-1983)
State University of New York - Albany (1983-1986)
Florida Institute of Technology (1991-1993)
NAVAL SERVICE
I enlisted in the U.S. Navy in July 1983 as a naval nuclear propulsion plant operator. I completed two years of naval nuclear power training in June 1985 and reported to my first submarine, USS VON STEUBEN (SSBN 632B) homeported in Charleston, SC, in October 1985.
While stationed in Charleston, I graduated from State University of New York (SUNY) in 1986. While aboard the VON STEUBEN, I made nine strategic deterrent patrols, qualified Submarine Warfare, and qualified Engineering Watch Supervisor as a second class petty officer.
In October 1990, I transferred to Naval Nuclear Power Training Command in Orlando, FL for instructor duty. Within three months of reporting to Orlando, I qualified as an instructor in Electronics and Electrical Distribution Systems Division. In 1991, I was promoted to the rank of Chief Petty Officer. I eventually was re-assigned to Electrical Systems Division as the Senior Classroom Instructor and served in that capacity most of my time in Orlando. In 1991, I completed degree requirements and graduated from UNC with a B.A. in Political Science. Immediately after graduation from UNC, I entered a master's degree program at Florida Institute of Technology and graduated in 1993 with M.S. in Business Administration/Human Resources Management.
In February 1994, I transferred to USS Parche (SSN-683) homeported in Vallejo, CA and later, Bangor, WA. While aboard PARCHE, I re-qualified Engineering Watch Supervisor and qualified Chief of the Watch and Diving Officer of the Watch. During my time on PARCHE, I made three major Western Pacific deployments in three years.
In February 1997, I transferred to USS TOLEDO (SSN 769) homeported in Groton, CT. While aboard TOLEDO, I re-qualified Engineering Watch Supervisor and made one deployment to the Mediterranean Sea.
In February 1999, I transferred to Naval Nuclear Power Training Command in Charleston, SC f...Expand for more
or instructor duty. In March 1999, I was promoted to the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer. I qualified as an instructor in Chemistry, Materials, and Radiological Fundamentals Division in the first three months of my shore tour in Charleston. After a year in Charleston, I was selected as Instructor of the Quarter and was re-assigned to the position of Class Director in charge of over 600 students at any given time. I directed four classes of ~600 students per class before a remarkable development occurred.
In December 2002, I was commissioned as a Chief Warrant Officer (CWO2) in the U.S. Navy and given orders to report to USS CARL VINSON (CVN-70).
After spending five weeks in sunny Pensacola, FL, I reported to CARL VINSON homeported in Bremerton, WA in May 2003. Actually, VINSON was on deployment at the time, so the Navy flew me out to meet the ship while at sea. While stationed aboard CARL VINSON, I qualified Propulsion Plant Watch Officer, Engineering Officer of the Watch, Officer of the Deck, and Surface Warfare Officer. I made two deployments in support of the global war on terror over a 19 month period. I served in various Technical Assistant positions and as Plant Station Officer during our refueling complex overhaul (RCOH). In July 2006, I was promoted to the rank of CWO3 (same job, just more money).
I rotated to an assistant project supervisor position at Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Newport News, VA in December 2007. My area of responsibility was Nuclear/Propulsion for the Carl Vinson and Theodore Roosevelt RCOHs. I managed to stay out of trouble long enough to get promoted to CWO4 and earn another trip to a ship in RCOH, this time to the Theodore Roosevelt. I spent two years aboard the TR before deciding that I had more than enough fun in the Navy. And, so, I retired from the USN in 2012.
CONTRACTOR/CIVIL SERVICE
After retirement from the Navy I was fortunate to get a good job working as a contractor with Gryphon Technologies. But, guess what? The wanted me to keep doing pretty much what I had been doing while in the Navy!!! I was ok with that because I love that kind of work, the money was really good and the economy wasn't the greatest back then as you may remember. So, I became the Commander, Naval Air Forces Atlantic Fleet's RCOH On-site representative, responsible for Nuclear, Propulsion and HM&E. After a couple of years the government came calling, asking me if I'd be interested in a job with them. The money was good and the work looked interesting so I moved on to serve in the Naval Sea Systems Command working as a Production Controller, Overhaul Material Manager and now as the Maintenance Program Manager for the John C Stennis (CVN-74) RCOH.
So, if you were wondering whatever happened to Chris Coggins, if I had dropped off the face of the earth, well, I guess I did in a sense! Almost 30 years of active duty military service - over 19 years as an enlisted man in the US Submarine Service, 10 years as an officer aboard nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, 7 years as a government contractor and civil servant. I've got lots of great sea stories, lots of great friends and a life-time of memories doing what I loved to do! As long as my health holds out, I plan to continue serving the country in government.
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