Senior Chief Master-at-Arms Markeeta Y. Hardin is a native of Springfield, TN. She graduated from U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, Illinois, then attended Seaman ATD (Apprenticeship Training) school as an undesignated Seaman in December 2000. She earned an associate degree in Culinary Arts and Restaurant Management from L’Ecole Culinaire Institute in 2012. Hardin currently serves as Command Senior Enlisted Leader at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily.
From January 2001 to April 2002, she was stationed aboard USS Cormorant (MHC 57) in the deck department. Hardin was then selected to attend Master-at-Arms “A” School at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, and graduated in June 2002.
From July 2002 to July 2005, she was stationed at Naval Support Activity Mid-South, in Millington, Tennessee, as a watch commander. She attended and graduated from Naval Correction’s Brig Afloat School in August 2005, and was stationed aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) from September 2005 to October 2008 as the leading petty officer at sea and brig leading petty officer. She then reported to Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center in Rota, Spain, and served from October 2008 to January 2012 as a senior military customs border clearance agent and leading petty officer.
From February 2012 to May 2015, Hardin was again assigned to Millington, this time at Navy Personnel Command as a rating detailer. In June 2015 she reported to European Command Headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, and served as an antiterrorism officer and operations leading chief petty officer until June 2018. She then reported to Navy Security Forces at Naval Support Activity Bahrain, and served as a departmental leading chief petty officer from July 2018 to December 2020. In January 2021, Hardin reported aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) as the departmental leading chief petty officer and served until October 2023. In November 2023, she reported to NAS Sigonella Naval Security Forces as the operations chief.
Hardin’s decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, a Joint Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (four awards), Navy Achievement Medal (five awards), Navy Good Conduct Medal (four awards) and one Military Volunteer Service Medal. She is the proud recipient of the Master Chief Der-Vartanian Leadership Award (2022) and the Navy and Marine Corps Leadership Award (2021).
Last Updated: 14 January 2025