The Lodge – Fall 2014

After 30 years of active duty Naval service, Master Chief Evelyn P. Banks celebrated her transition during a retirement ceremony on October 4, 2013.

Master Chief Banks is a native of Memphis, TN and honor graduate of Byhalia High School, Byhalia, Mississippi. Mindful of the privilege to serve her fellow Americans, she enlisted in the United States Navy on January 28, 1984. Upon completion of Recruit Training, Orlando, FL, she was assigned to USS SAMUEL GOMPERS (AD 37). During this tour, she attended Mess Management Specialist “A” School and graduated with honors.

Her follow-on tours included Navy Recruiting District Memphis, TN and Naval Air Station, Adak, AK. She was successful at both rural and metro recruiting and was selected as NROTC Recruiter of the Year. While in Adak, she advanced to chief petty officer and qualified as an Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist. Following Adak, Master Chief Banks executed orders to USS ACADIA (AD 42). Before her transfer to Navy Recruiting District Jacksonville, FL, she was advanced to senior chief petty officer. After transferring from Jacksonville, FL, she accepted orders to Pre-commissioning Unit (PCU) DECATUR. At PCU DECATUR, she advanced to master chief petty officer. Following her Pre-commissioning tour, she received orders to USS GERMANTOWN (LSD 42) in Sasebo, Japan. During this assignment, she deployed to the North Arabian Gulf and qualified as an Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist. Most noteworthy during her tour onboard was her selection to the Command Master Chief Program.

Her first Command Master Chief billet was Navy Support Facility, Diego Garcia. During a highly successful tour, she accomplished unprecedented milestones in leadership for the command and the 27 tenant commands under her cognizance. Following a tour at the Senior Enlisted Academy (SEA), she assumed duties as the Command Master Chief of Carrier Air Wing FOURTEEN in Lemoore, CA. While embarked on USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN-72) she completed a historic 10-month deployment in support of Iraqi Freedom, winning the coveted Ramage Award for the best CVN/CVW team. From there, Master Chief Banks served as the Chief of Naval Operations-Directed Command Master Chief at Navy Recruiting Command in Millington, TN. After her tour at Navy Recruiting Command, Master Chief Banks served as the Command Master Chief at the Naval Academy followed by her final tour as Command Master Chief for Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) in Washington, DC.