Shelley Witzke Kirk (b. 1963), of Bethesda, Maryland, served in the United States Navy from 1981-2005.Shelley Witzke Kirk was born 14 October 1963 in Bethesda, Maryland. Because of her father's service in the United States Navy, Witzke spent her childhood at several Naval duty stations, including Naval Support Activity Gaeta, in Italy, and Hawaii. Upon her father's retirement in 1975, Kirk's family moved to Gastonia, North Carolina where she graduated from high school in Spring 1981.In June 1981, at the age of seventeen, Kirk enlisted in the United States Navy's Delayed Entry Program, and was assured a spot at Yeoman "A" School upon graduation from basic training. From June 1982 to August 1982, Kirk attended basic training at Recruit Training Command Orlando, Florida. Kirk was then sent to Naval Technical Training Center at Naval Air Station Meridian, Mississippi, for Yeoman "A" School.In November 1983, Kirk received orders to Recruit Training Command at Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois. As a member of the legal and administrative staff, Kirk assisted with reviewing packets for soldiers being discharged from the navy. While at Recruit Training Command, Kirk received an early promotion to Petty Officer Third Class (E-3), and also met and married her first husband. After two years, Kirk's husband received orders to Charleston, and in January 1985 they both transferred there. Kirk continued to work in an administrative capacity. While at Naval Station Charleston, Kirk received another early promotion, to Petty Officer Second Class (E-5).In February 1987 or 1988, Kirk's husband received orders for Nuclear Field "A" School in Florida. Although she had personal reservations about the move and there was also no administrative position available at Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Center Orlando for her, Kirk relocated with her husband and joined the Selective Reserves. Kirk and her husband eventually divorced, and in the fall of 1989 she returned to active duty.In January 1990, Kirk received orders to Naval Air Station Point Mugu, California. During the two years she was stationed there, Kirk met and married her second husband, and also received an early promotion to Petty Officer First Class (E-6). After her husband made Chief in 1992, they were reassigned to the Washington D. C. area; he to Andrews Air Force Base, and she to the Pentagon, where she was assigned to Chief of Naval Operations. Kirk's primary responsibility was to create a "Budget Book," which the Director used when testifying to Congress on budgetary requirements. While at the Pentagon, Kirk was selected "Sailor of the Year" for the National Chief Petty Officer Association and helped create the First Class Petty Officer Association, a service organization that assists with such projects as Habitat for Humanity and the Special Olympics.In May 1995, Kirk was reassigned to the Bureau of Naval Personnel, Reserve Enlisted Advancement Branch, also in Washington, D.C where she assisted with the process of setting up Advancement Selection Boards. This position gave her the knowledge of how enlisted advancement worked, and also informed her of what she needed to do to further her own promotions.In May 1997, Kirk received orders to Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. When she first arrived, Kirk was part of Patrol Squadron 64 (VP-64), but was quickly promoted to Chief Petty Officer (E-7) and transferred to their sister squadron, Patrol Squadron 66 (VP-66), to fill a Senior Chief Petty Officer (E-8) position. While in Pennsylvania, Kirk qualified as Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist.In April 2000, Kirk received orders to Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she worked as Command Chief, Administrative Leading Chief Petty Officer, and Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Commanding Officer. On September 11, 2001, Kirk witnessed the immediate mobilization of military units, after the attack on the World Trade Center in New York City.While stationed at the Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, the Center did away with their Chief Petty Officer billet, so in February 2003, Kirk began a new position at United States Pacific Command in Oahu, Hawaii. She received a Top Secret clearance, and was in charge of the Naval Reserve's budget. Kirk retired from the United States Navy in April 2005.
