Karim Cole
Command Master Chief, U.S. Navy
Command Master Chief, U.S. Navy Blue Angels

Karim Cole is a native of Freetown, Sierra Leone. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in December 1990 and completed Navy ‘boot camp’ at Recruit Training Command San Diego, CA.

Cole completed Hospital Corpsman “A” school at Naval Medical Training Center, San Diego, and reported to Naval Aerospace Medicine Institute in Pensacola, FL, for Aerospace Medicine “C” school and graduated with honors in November 1991.

His previous duty stations include Marine Aircraft Group 13 in Yuma, AZ; Marine Aircraft Group 26 in Jacksonville, NC; 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in Iwakuni, Japan, and a return tour of duty at the Aerospace Medicine “C” school aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola as Senior Instructor.

Karim reported to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 212 (VMAF-212) in Iwakuni, Japan in 2001 where he was promoted to Chief Petty Officer and served as the Command Senior Medical Representative. Karim advanced to Senior Chief Petty Officer in 2004 while serving as the Senior Medical Instructor at Aviation Medical School at Naval Operational Medicine Institute in Pensacola.

Karim then reported to the Pre-Commissioning Detachment Green Bay (LPD 20) in 2005 as the Health Services Leading Chief. He was selected into the Command Senior Chief program in 2007, and served the remainder of his tour aboard the Green Bay as the Command Senior Chief. Karim was promoted to Master Chief Petty Officer in 2009 while aboard the USS Thatch (FFG-43) and stood the watch as the Command Master Chief until his transfer in May 2010 when he assumed the duties as Regional Command Master Chief for Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea.

CMDCM Cole is a graduate of the U.S. Army Sergeant Major Academy (Class 58); the U.S. Navy Senior Enlisted Academy (Class 119); Command Master Chief/Chief of the Boat (CMC/COB Capstone Course (Class 50); and an honor graduate of the National Defense University Keystone Course. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Austin Peay State University and a Master of Health Care degree from Webster University.

Command Master Chief Cole joined the Blue Angels team in September 2012.

Medals and Awards

Meritorious Service Medal
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with 4 Gold Stars
Army Commendation Medal
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with 1 Silver and 3 Gold Stars

He was also awarded various unit and campaign awards.