Cory H. Carlson is a native of Scio, Oregon. He entered Naval Service in June 1987. Upon completion of Basic Training and Aviation Stnictural Mechanic (AME “A” School) at Naval Air Technical Training Center, Millington, TN, his first tour of duty was at Pacific Missile Range Facility (Barking Sands) Kauai, HI. He performed duties with the UH-3 helicopter, and associated aircraft and aircrew survival equipment. In August 1989 he reported for duty at Patrol Squadron Nineteen at NAS Moffett Field, CA. performing maintenance on the P-3C Orion aircraft.

Following training on the F-14 Tomcat in 1991, he reported to VX-4 at NAS Point Mugu, CA. This operational test squadron operated both F-14 and F/A-18 aircraft of varying models. He took part in 12 separate detachments for various weapon system tests at various sites across the United States. Next he was off to North Island, CA. an assignment to the Fighting Red Griffins of VS-38. There he worked as Leading Petty Officer of two work centers maintaining the Lockheed S-3B Viking. He made deployments aboard USS CONSTELLATION (CV-64) in 1994/95 and 1997 to WESTPAC, Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Japan. Prior to his transfer in September 1998 he was promoted to Chief Petty Officer.

He reported to Navy Recruiting District Portland in November 1998 where he was assigned as Recruiter-In-Charge of the Eugene/Springfield station. During his tour at NRD Portland he earned the distinction as the Willamette Zone, 2001 Recruiter of the Year as well as 18 Gold Wreath Awards for recruiting excellence. In February- 2002 he headed to NAS Whidbey Island, WA, to the VAQ-141 Shadowhawks. Managing the daily maintenance on the EA-6B Prowler as Aircraft Division Chiefs Maintenance Control desk Chiefs Quality Assurance Supervisor, and Flight Deck Coordinator until being promoted to Senior Chief in 2005 when he took over as Maintenance Control Supervisor. He made two deployments aboard the USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN-71) to the Mediterranean Sea and Arabian Gulf in support of "Operation Iraqi Freedom’.

In 2006 he assumed the duties as Staft Department and Maintenance Training Unit, Leading Chief Petty Officer at CNATTU, NAS Whidbey Island until May 2008 when he assumed the role as Senior Enlisted Leader. In 2009 he was selected for Master Chief while assigned to VAQ-134 and deployed to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. During that deployment he received orders to VFA-14 ‘Tophatters*’ homeported at NAS Lemoore, CA as the Maintenance Master Chief. He met the F/A-18E fighter squadron while deployed aboard the USS NIM1TZ (CVN-68) in January 2010. Shortly after their return from deployment the squadron transitioned from CAG-11 to CAG-9 to be deployed two more times aboard the USS JOHN C. STENNIS (CVN-74) in support of operations IRAQI and ENDURING FREEDOM.

In 2013 he reported to Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, MD providing support and oversight under the cognizance of NAVAIR to two Test Wings and various Test & Evaluation sites across the country. Master Chief Carlson returned to NAS Whidbey Island in 2016. Joining the VAQ-133 Wizards just weeks prior to the squadron's maiden deployment with the new EA-18G Growler. Once again a part of the CAG-9 and the USS JOHN C. STENNIS (CVN-74) strike group, he completed his last Western Pacific deployment.

Married to his wife Tamryn since 1988, they have been blessed with four children and soon to be fourth grandchild. His family had been there to support his career through 22 household moves, eight geographic locations, nine deployment cycles and numerous aircraft detachments and challenging assignments throughout his 30 year career.