Senior Chief Gehr enlisted in the United States Navy in September 1996. After completing Basic Training in Great Lakes, IL. he attended Mess Management Specialist (MS) “A” School in San Antonio, TX, and then went on to Submarine School in Groton, CT. To augment his initial training, he completed Multiple Food Service “C” School, and other vocational and leadership courses throughout his career.
Senior Chief Gehr’s first sea tour was on a Fast attack (Los Angeles class) submarine USS Atlanta SSN 712, homeported in Norfolk, VA. During his 2 ½ year tour onboard the ATLANTA, he was qualified in submarines and completed a 6-month Mediterranean Deployment. Upon completion of the deployment, he assisted in the Decommissioning of the USS ATLANTA.
Since his sea tour was not complete, he was assigned a 3-year tour onboard the USS LOUISIANA SSBN 743. He continued to advance within the Food Service Division and achieved the rank of Second-Class Petty Officer. He quickly learned the senior duties of his rate and was placed in charge of managing the Food Service records and financial reports as the Records Keeper.
His first shore tour assignment took him back to Norfolk, VA. He was hand selected to become a member of the Commander Submarine Forces / Commander Submarine Fleet Atlantic food service staff for a 3-star Admiral. During this assignment, he prepared and served over 100 meals for high-ranking officers and, US and Foreign dignitaries. Upon Advancing to MS1 (First Class Petty Officer) the US Navy made changes to rate names to better civilian employment after service. MS became CS, Culinary Specialist. Nearing the end of his tour, he volunteered to go on an IA (individual augmented) to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for 4 months where he assisted the food service department in feeding the detainee facility, where he earned the Joint Commendation Medal.
He volunteered for his next Sea Duty assignment and was stationed overseas on the little Pacific Island of Guam (US territory) onboard the USS HOUSTON SSN 713. As the Leading Petty Officer for the food service division during this 3-year sea duty assignment, he led and trained his division during 5 Pacific deployments.
Upon completing his overseas duty assignment, he reported to the USS OHIO SSGN 726 to again complete his sea duty tour. The OHIO now equipped with Guided Missiles (Tomahawks) was Home ported in Bangor/Bremerton, WA, and Forward Deployed out of Guam. The OHIO crew travels to and from WA to complete 4 four-month deployments. He qualified as Chief of the Watch, a supervisory position in control of 1 of the 3 Watch teams. Aiding 50-plus sailors with career decisions as the Command Career Counselor, he completed his assignment just after earning the Rank of Chief Petty Officer.
This led to his next shore tour at Point Loma Naval Base, San Deigo, CA. As the Leading Chief of the Food Service Division, he led his team to earn 3 consecutive 5-Stars during the 5-Star (regional) inspections. He qualified and stood the watch as the Commanding Officers Representative, and Command Duty Officer where he maintained the security and safety of all personnel stationed and living on Base and the surrounding areas.
After the successful completion of his 2nd 3-year shore tour, he volunteered to go overseas to be stationed once more in Guam onboard the USS KEY WEST SSN 722. As the Supply Department Leading Chief, he led and trained his division to successfully support the crew during 3 Western Pacific deployments and 2 back-to-back deployments and earned an Above Average during the KEY WEST’s major Supply Department Inspection. The inspection displayed his team's outstanding dedication to high-quality service even with in-operable equipment. During the tour, he completed his qualification as a Diving Officer of the Watch (DOOW) and was selected over other DOOWs to stand as a Mission DOOW.
Senior Chief Gehr completed his fulfilling and successful 24.5-year naval career with a 4.5-year tour as the Director of Operations and Instructor with the Navy Food Management Team, Fleet Logistics Center, Jacksonville, FL. His team of instructors traveled to all food service operations in the Southeast Region providing training and inspection guidance to all Navy Food Service personnel, Officers, and contracted civilians. He provided over 92 instructional and practical seminars/trainings within a training kitchen and classroom to over 1,300 Culinary Specialist and Food Service Officers. He also volunteered to assist in the preparation and writing of over 1000 questions for the CS Navy Wide Advancement Exam. He retired in May of 2021.
Senior Chief Gehr is entitled to wear the Submarine Warfare devices, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with one Silver and two gold stars along with various other Navy, command, and personal awards.
Civilian Biography:
After retiring from Naval service, Senior Chief Gehr accepted a position as the Operations Manager for Veterans United Craft Brewery, Jacksonville, FL where he used his Navy and Job specific (CS) experience to improve the overall operations, maintenance, and quality of work. After 2 highly successful years, he has completed his certification requirements for Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) Naval Science Instructor. Senior Chief Gehr is currently residing in Jacksonville Fl with his lovely wife Heather, amazing daughter Katja, awesome son Lars, and a dog and two cats. He is now teaching Naval Science (NJROTC) at Riverside High School.