Master Chief William &uot;Bill&uot; Marshall and his wife, Vanessa, of Suffolk, will be joined by Strike Fighter Wing personnel in a retirement ceremony scheduled today at Hangar 145 onboard NAS Oceana.

He retires after 28 years of service.

Guest speaker will be Captain Eamon M. Storrs, commander, Strike Fighter Wing, Atlantic and Commander Robert Ramsey, maintenance officer, Strike Fighter Wing, Atlantic.

A native of Washington, D.C., Master Chief Marshall enlisted under the delayed entry program in November 1976. He reported to Orlando, Fla. in May 1977 where he completed basic training and went on to attend aviation electronics &uot;A&uot; school and advanced first term avionics at the Naval Air Technical Training Center, NAS Memphis, Tenn., where he graduated with honors.

He then reported to the VA-174 Hellrazors for A-7 Corsair aircraft/avionics training and then to his first sea command the VA-15 Valions at NAS Cecil Field, Florida deploying onboard the USS INDEPENDENCE.

From there he transferred to Naval Air Test Center, Strike Aircraft Test Directorate, Patuxent River, Md., in support of testing new aircraft systems including the Navy’s new FA-18 Hornet.

Master Chief Marshall then moved overseas to the Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department, NAS Sigonella, Sicily. From there he transferred back to the Naval Air Technical Training Center, NAS Memphis, for advanced aviation electronics intermediate (AVI-C7) school graduating with honors and then to the Naval Air Maintenance Training Detachment, NAS Cecil Field, Florida as an FA-18 aircraft systems instructor.

There he earned his designation as a master training specialist. Master Chief Marshall then moved back to the fleet where he reported to VFA-15 which transitioned from the A-7E to the FA-18 Hornet and deployed onboard USS ROOSEVELT twice including Desert Storm where he earned his designation as an aviation warfare specialist. He then reported to Commander, Light Attack Wing One staff as an avionics and manpower advisor.

After a short shore duty tour, he transferred to the VFA-81 Sunliners deploying onboard USS SARATOGA and USS ENTERPRISE.

On being selected to Master Chief in 1996, he reported to VQ-6 at NAS Cecil Field deploying ES-3 aircraft detachments where he served as the Maintenance Master Chief.

He then transferred back to the Hornet community with the VFA-37 Bulls serving as Maintenance Master Chief deploying onboard USS ENTERPRISE and USS HARRY S TRUMAN and transitioned the squadron from NAS Cecil Field, Florida to NAS Oceana, Virginia. From there he transferred to Commander, Strike-Fighter Wing, U.S. Atlantic Fleet staff at NAS Oceana, Virginia, serving as the Maintenance Master Chief.

Throughout his career, Master Chief Marshall earned many personal awards to include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (five awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards), Navy Good Conduct Medal (seven awards), and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal in addition to numerous campaign, unit and service awards.