April D. Beldo
A native of Lancaster, California, Master Chief Beldo graduated from Desert High School - Class of 1982. She entered the Navy through the Delayed Entry Program and completed basic training at Recruit Training Center, Orlando, Florida, in May 1983.
Following recruit training, Master Chief Beldo reported to the Checkertail’s of Composite Squadron Five (VC-5) at Naval Air Station Cubi Point, Philippine Islands. While with the Checkertail’s, she was detailed to attend Aviation Maintenance Administrationman “A” School in Meridian, Mississippi, returning to the squadron after graduation. Follow on tours include: Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW-110) at NAS Miramar, California; Patrol Squadron 11 (VP-11) at NAS Brunswick, Maine; Naval Hospital Corpus Christi, Texas; and Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 6 (HS-6) at NAS North Island, California. While she was with HS-6 she deployed aboard the aircraft carriers USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), and USS Kitty Hawk (CVN-63). She has also served at Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic (CNAL) with their Aviation Maintenance Management Teams (AMMT), and aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73), in Norfolk, Virginia
In December 2002, Master Chief Beldo was selected into the Command Master Chief Program and graduated as honor student of her Senior Enlisted Academy class. She then reported as Command Master Chief aboard the guided missile destroyer USS Bulkeley (DDG-84) from May 2003 to December 2005. After completing Recruit Division Commander School, she became Command Master Chief of Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois, from April 2006 to June 2008. In July she assumed the duties of Command Master Chief at Naval Service Training Command (NSTC), Great Lakes, Illinois, followed by a tour as Command Master Chief aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) from October 2009 to March 2012. Upon completion of her tour on board the Carl Vinson she served as the Force Master Chief for Naval Education and Training Command from April 2012 to February 2013.
Her personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (four awards); Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (three awards) and numerous of unit awards. Fleet Master Chief Beldo received her Bachelor’s Degree from Excelsior College in 2005 and received her Master’s Degree from American Military University in Management in August 2015.
