Heather K. Charara
National Chief Recruiter
15 March 2022
Navy Counselor Master Chief, Surface Warfare Qualified, Heather Kristi Charara, a native of Dearborn Michigan born January 24th, 1981, enlisted in the Navy in 2000, as an undesignated fireman. She attended basic training at Recruit Training Command Great Lakes Illinois, followed by fireman apprentice A-School. She received her first set of orders to the
USS Emory S. Land (AS -39) forward deployed in La Maddeleana, Italy. While on board, she became a rated MMFN, until later cross-rating into the damage controlman rating. She was promoted to damage controlman third class in 2002 and damage controlman second class in 2003. Her tour included multiple deployments supporting the
USS Cole (DDG-67) and deploying in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
In September 2003, she re-enlisted for follow on orders to recruiting duty. On her 22nd birthday January 24th, 2004 DC2 Charara reported to Navy Orientation Recruiting Unit (NORU) in Pensacola, Florida. March of 2004, she checked into Navy Recruiting District Michigan where she performed the duties as a recruiter and leading petty officer and was meritoriously advanced to damage controlman first class in 2006 and converted to Navy counselor in 2007. Her tour in NRD (Navy Recruiting District) Michigan was a very successful one earning her DLCPO qualification, many monthly and quarterly awards as well as the accolades of; rookie recruiter of the year 2004, Top 10% recruiters on board 2005 and 2006, Runner up recruiter of the Year 2007, diversity recruiter of the year 2007, large station of the year 2008, leading petty officer of the year 2008, runner up Region East leading petty officer of the year 2008, NRD sailor of the year, CY 2008.
In January of 2009, NC1 Charara reported back to Pensacola Florida to attend the career recruiting academy where she competed for Region East sailor of the year and was selected as the first runner up, CY 2008. NC1 took follow on orders to Navy Recruiting District Miami, Florida and reported in March of 2009. Soon after checking in, she was selected for advancement to Chief Petty Officer. Chief Charara completed two years as the Zone Supervisor (DLCPO) for Division 1 and 2 before being serving as the NRD’s first Officer Assistant Chief Recruiter. The following year 2012, NCC transferred to NRD Los Angeles and promoted to the rank of senior chief petty officer upon arrival. She immediately attained her assistant chief recruiter qualification and was slated as the EACR. She completed both her enlisted and officer ACR tour in NRD Los Angeles, qualified Chief Recruiter and was selected to the rank of master chief petty officer.
In June of 2015, as a follow-on tour NCCM was nominated to fill the billet as the Navy Recruiting Region East, officer assistant chief recruiter, in Millington Tennessee. She led officer programs for the 13 NRD’s east of the Mississippi River until her transfer to NRD Miami in October 2016. NCCM Charara served as the Chief Recruiter of Navy Recruiting District Miami from Oct 2016 to May of 2019. She led a team of 266 personnel to earn the coveted Recruiting “R” in 2018. NRD Miami went on to compete and earn the Bronze “R” as the Region East District of the year and ultimately winning the Gold “R” holding the title of District of the Nation; awarded to the BEST command in Navy recruiting! In May of 2019 NCCM was hand selected for the Region West chief recruiter position, responsible for the officer and enlisted recruiting mission for 9 commands and 2400 Sailors.
Her decorations include; Meritorious Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medals (5 awards), Navy Achievement Medals (6 awards), Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal and various campaign, unit and sea related awards. She has earned her Bachelors Degree in Business Management from the University of Maryland, has two Associates Degrees from Coastline Community College, and is currently pursuing a Graduate degree from the University of Arkansas.