Command Master Chief

Command Master Chief Rick J. LaCosse, Jr. 

A native of Las Vegas, Nevada, Master Chief Petty Officer LaCosse enlisted in the United States Navy in July 2007. He completed Recruit Training at Great Lakes, Illinois, and graduated from Hospital Corpsman “A” School in 2008.

He has extensive U.S. Marine Corps operational experience, serving with 3D Marine Division, 2D Marine Division, I Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, and currently with Chemical Biological Incident Response Force. His operational roles include Field Medical Technician, Scout Sniper Team Corpsman, Senior Line, Leading Petty Officer, Leading Chief Petty Officer, Activity Manning Manager, and Senior Enlisted Leader, deploying in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and the Black Sea Rotational Force.

Shore assignments include Naval Health Clinic Annapolis, Maryland, where he developed over 320 personnel in Staff Education and Training; Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois, serving as Recruit Division Commander and Medical Liaison during the challenges of COVID-19 response; and Naval Leadership and Ethics Command, San Diego, California, where he authored the Navy’s new Enlisted Leader Development Framework as a Master Naval Leader Development Facilitator. He currently serves as Command Master Chief, Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command, Patuxent River, Maryland.

He was advanced to Chief Petty Officer in 2017, Senior Chief Petty Officer in 2021, and Master Chief Petty Officer in 2025. He is a graduate of the Senior Enlisted Academy (Class 231/Green), a two-time graduate of the Executive Medical Department Enlisted Course (2019 and 2024), and certified through the Master, My Navy Coaching Course. He holds an Associate’s Degree in Human Health Sciences and is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management.
His personal awards include five Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and two Meritorious Volunteer Service Medals, along with numerous unit and campaign awards. He has earned the Enlisted Fleet Marine Force Warfare qualification and is a Master Training Specialist.