CMDCM William Hieb was born on January 13th, 1972 in St. Paul, MN. He graduated from St. Paul Central High School in St. Paul, MN in 1990, and he immediately left for Basic Training in Orlando, FL. Following Basic Training, he attended Electrician’s Mate Class “A” School in Great Lakes, IL.
After “A” school he entered Basic Underwater Demolition School in Coronado, CA. Subsequently, he left BUDS and transferred in 1991 to the USS Durham (LKA-114), where he was ESWS qualified and completed a West-Pac cruise to become an infamous Shell-Back. In June of 1994, he left Active Duty and went directly into the Reserves.
CMDCM Hieb’s first tour of duty in the Reserves was with NMCB-4 after an immediate cross rate to Construction Electrician. With NMCB 4, he attended multiple field exercises in Okinawa, Japan and Puerto Rico. During this timeframe, he completed Jungle Environment Survival Training in the Northern Training Area (NTA) in Okinawa, Japan. 1997 saw CE2 transfer to NMCB 25.
From 1997 to 2002, CMDCM was assigned to NMCB 25, spending the majority of his tour in training. In 2002, he qualified as a Seabee Combat Warfare Specialist and was advanced to CE1. After attending Instructor School (9502), he left NMCB 25 to become an instructor with the 31st Seabee Readiness Group Pacific (31 SRG).
During his tenure with 31 SRG in Port Hueneme, CA, CE1 Hieb became Master Training Specialist (MTS) qualified, the first reservist Seabee to hold this qualification. In 2006, he deployed to Iraq with NMCB 25 as a Convoy Security Commander based out of Al Asad and Fallujah, Iraq. During the deployment he received the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with the combat distinguishing device (Combat “V”) along with the Combat Action Ribbon.
After deployment, CE1 returned to the 31st SRG, where he was advanced to Chief Petty Officer in 2007. In 2008, he went on ADSW to Gulfport, MS, as the Course Manager for Expeditionary Combat Skills (ECS). Here he worked for the Center for Security Forces (CENSECFOR). He left Gulfport in 2010 as a Senior Chief.
November 2010, he joined the 9th Naval Construction Regiment in Fort Worth, TX and was the Operations Chief (R3C). For three straight years he attended the Regiments’ Certification Exercise (CERT-X).
In November of 2013 he was assigned to NMCB Seventeen (17) in Fort Carson, CO as the Charlie Company Chief (C5) and the Air Detachment Chief (AD5). NMCB-17 was decommissioned.
In November 2014, he reported to PHIBCB TWO and was assigned as the Operations Chief (S3CR) for the Battalion. In April of 2015 he was promoted to Master Chief Petty Officer and was pinned by VADM Braun and Captain Delao his Commanding Officer.
UCCM was selected for Command Master Chief (CMDCM) in May of 2016. He reported to NMCB 22 in September 2016 as the CMDCM after completing CMC/COB School in Newport, R.I.
October 2018, CMDCM Hieb reported to the FIRST Naval Construction Regiment in Port Hueneme, CA and served as the Regimental Command Master Chief (CMDCM)
January 2022, CMDCM Reported to Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC HQ) and currently serves as the Command Master Chief of Reserve Affairs representing all Reserve Seabees across the Fleet at the Flag Level.
His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (two awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (five awards, one with the combat “V”), Combat Action Ribbon and various unit & campaign awards.
Last Updated: 26 September 2023