Master Chief Gray was born in Royston, Georgia and raised in Athens, Georgia. He graduated from Clarke Central High School in June 1994. On Sept. 20, 1994, he enlisted in the United States Navy and reported to Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, Illinois. Following completion of basic training, he completed apprentice training school before reporting to his first command.
His sea duty assignments include: USS Enterprise (CVN 65); USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) as Arresting Gear, Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment Maintenance Chief; USS George Washington (CVN 73); USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) as the Command Maintenance, Material and Management Coordinator (3MC), and received the Senior Enlisted 2012 Navy and Marine Association Peer Leadership Award; USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) as the Air Department Leading Chief Petty Officer (DLCPO). His Command Master Chief assignments include USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) and USS Kearsarge (LHD 3). Gray has completed eight major deployments to the Mediterranean and Middle East in support of Operation Desert Shield, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
His shore duty assignments include: Naval Station Norfolk Air Detachment Oceana where he served as a ground support equipment supervisor and E28 arresting gear technician. He was also assigned to the Center for Naval Aviation Training Center Lakehurst, New Jersey where he served as an instructor for C13 Catapults, Mark 7 Arresting Gear, ALRE Launching Officer course and the LCPO. While assigned to Lakehurst, New Jersey he received his Master Training Specialist qualification and was named as the Instructor of the Year 2010.
Master Chief Gray is an honor graduate of the U.S. Navy Senior Enlisted Academy Class 178 and a graduate of the Command Master Chief and Chief of the Boat Course. He holds an Associate of Science degree in Professional Aeronautics from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.
Master Chief Gray reported as the command master chief of Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center (MARMC) in January 2022.
Along with multiple unit and campaign awards, his personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Navy Commendation Medal (five awards) and the Good Conduct Service Medal (nine awards). He is qualified as an Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist and Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist.