A native of Bassett, Virginia, Master Chief Merriman enlisted in the Navy and departed for recruit training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois, in December 1997. She then attended Hospital Corpsman “A” School and completed follow on orders to U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka, Japan.  

Her other shore tours include Naval Medical Center San Diego; as an instructor at Field Medical Training Battalion-West; as a Recruit Division Commander at Recruit Training Command; and U.S. Naval Hospital Naples, Italy.

Her operational tours include 1st Force Service Support Group as the Assistant Leading Petty Officer; I Marine Expeditionary Force as the 9th Communication Battalion Leading Petty Officer; I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group Leading Chief Petty Officer; III Marine Expeditionary Force as the Force Surgeon’s Senior Enlisted Advisor and Deputy Korea Medical Planner.

Her command tours include Helicopter Maritime Squadron SEVEN EIGHT and on board USS ANCHORAGE (LPD-23). She assumed her current role as the Command Master Chief of 2d Marine Division in July 2024.

Her deployments include three tours to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and one tour to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. She completed one deployment to the Western Pacific as part of the “Airwing of the Future” embarked aboard USS CARL VINSON (CVN-70) where her squadron was awarded the Battle “E”. Her most recent Western Pacific deployment was a part of the MAKIN ISLAND Amphibious Readiness Group.

Command Master Chief Merriman’s personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (4), Navy Commendation Medal (3), Navy Achievement Medal (7), Good Conduct Medal (8), National Defense Medal and various campaign medals and ribbons. She is a qualified Enlisted Fleet Marine Force, Surface and Aviation Warfare Specialist and Master Training Specialist. She is an Honor Graduate of Senior Enlisted Academy Class 191 (Khaki), a graduate of CMC/COB Course 206, and graduate of the National Defense University’s KEYSTONE Course (24-1). She holds an Associate of Science with Vincennes University and is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Science with Thomas Edison State University.