Naval Science Instructor 

Hospital Corpsman Chief (FMF/SW/AW)

Eric D. Watson

United States Navy

    Chief Petty Officer Eric D. Watson was born March 04, 1980 in Brooklyn, NY to proud parents of Woodrow Smith and Bertha Watson. At the age of 14 he moved to Bainbridge, GA where he graduated from Bainbridge High School in 1998.  In August of 1998, he enlisted in the Navy and attended Recruiting Training Command, Great Lakes, IL.  Upon completion of Recruit Training, he attended Hospital Corpsman “A” School and graduated on March 24, 1999.

Following Hospital Corpsman “A” School, Eric reported to Field Medical Service School (FMSS) Camp Lejeune, NC in April of 1999.  He then reported to his first tour of duty at Naval Hospital Pensacola, FL in May of 1999 and was assigned to General Surgery as a ward corpsman.  In June 2001, he transferred to Naval School of Health Science, Portsmouth, VA for Pharmacy Technician “C” School where he was promoted to Petty Officer Third Class. 

Upon completion of “C” School he transferred to National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD as Pharmacy Technician.  During his tour he deployed on the USNS Comfort in March 2003 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  After a successful tour, he transferred to the USS Enterprise in January 2005.  He served as the only Pharmacy Technician onboard for over 5000 Sailors.  While there, he completed two successful deployments to Iraq.  During his first deployment, he was promoted to Petty Officer Second Class in June 2006.  Upon returning from his second deployment, he transferred the Naval School of Health Science for Instructor duty.  During his tour, he was selected as the Junior Service member of the Year in 2008, and promoted to Petty Officer First Class in December of 2009.  In December 2010, he transferred to 2d Medical Battalion, Camp Lejeune, NC where he was assigned as the Enlisted Advisor to the Command Master Chief.  He was promoted to Chief Petty Officer in September 2013 and later transferred to Branch Health Clinic Naval Station Norfolk in October, where he served as the Leading Chief Petty Officer of Primary Care and the Branch Dental Clinic.

Chief Watson’s personal awards include four Navy Commendation and three Navy Achievement Medals. Additionally he completed his Associates Degree in Criminal Justice from Kaplan University (2009) and his Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts from Liberty University (2012).  Chief Petty Officer Watson is a proud husband to his beautiful wife of 18 years, Selena and a devoted father to his three wonderful children, Jadon (20), Jazlyn (16) and Janelle (14).