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QMCS(EXW/AW) Christina M. DeRienzo is from Palmdale, CA. She attended William J. Pete Knight High School. Immediately after graduating, she enlisted in the United Stated Navy in June 2008. She completed RTC in Great Lakes, IL, and attended Quartermaster “A” School in Great Lakes, IL.
Upon graduating QM A School,Senior Chief DeRienzo reported to her first duty station, the USS Gridley (DDG-101) in San Diego, California. During her tour onboard she completed one WESTPAC deployment qualifying as Quarter Master of the Watch and achieved the rank of Petty Officer Third Class. Senior Chief DeRienzo had aspirations to become a police officer but still loved the Navy. Transitioning to the reserves; her second assignment was to MSRON-11 in Seal Beach Ca. While at MSRON-11 she completed multiple deployments, earned her Expeditionary Warfare designation and became one of the first female Sailors to be pinned with Tactical Combat Coxswain qualification which was a milestone in her career.
She was promoted to the ranks of Second Class Petty Officer (2010), First Class Petty Officer (2016), and Chief Petty Officer (2018). While deployed to Djibouti, Africa with MSRON-11 in 2018-2019, she earned her Aviation Warfare Specialist designation from VP-40 Squadron based on Camp Lemonnier. Her following command was Tactical Air Control Squadron 11 (TACRON Eleven) where she was the Senior Enlisted and due to manning Senior Chief DeRienzo volunteered to duel hat and be the Senior Enlisted Leader of tactical Air Control Squadron (TACRON 12) as well. After that command, Senior Chief DeRienzo was the Operations Leading Chief Petty Officer onboard Assault Craft Unit One stationed in San Diego, California and recently has been assigned to Naval Boat Group Two out of Virgina for what may be her last and final command.
Her personal awards include the Navy Commendation Medal (3 awards), Navy Achievement Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal (5 awards), Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal (2 awards), and numerous campaign, personal, and unit citations.
In her civilian life, Senior Chief DeRienzo has been a full time Police Officer since 2014, graduating from Orange County Sheriff’s Academy. She currently is a Reserve Deputy Sherriff with the Harris County Sheriff Office in Georgia. Senior Chief DeRienzo has several Senate, U.S House of Representative, Congress, San Bernardino County and San Bernardino City citations for her heroic actions during the 2015 IRC terrorist attack and 2016 school shooting incident. She is married, gained two bonus children from her marriage and recently had a baby boy. Her hobbies are gardening, cooking, and charcuterie.