Wayne Douglas Welch Jr.

Wayne Douglas Welch Jr., 52, of Jacksonville, Florida, passed away on January 2, 2026. Wayne was born on February 2, 1973, in Indianapolis, Indiana, to Wayne D. Welch Sr. and Deborah J. Welch. He married Monica S. Welch on February 14, 2000, and together they built a loving family.

Wayne proudly served in the United States Navy for 27 years, retiring as a Command Master Chief on May 31, 2019. He was a graduate of Trinity Christian Academy in Jacksonville, Florida (Class of 1991) and began Navy Basic Training in 1992 in Orlando, Florida.

His distinguished career included service aboard USS Leyte Gulf (CG-55), where he advanced to Boatswain’s Mate Second Class, earned his Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist qualification, and completed three deployments. He served as a Recruit Division Commander at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, earning the Division Commander’s Excellence Badge and training 11 divisions, including a “Hall of Fame” Division.

Wayne served on USS Underwood (FFG-36) as Leading Petty Officer, completing a deployment to the Persian Gulf and earning a promotion to Chief Petty Officer. He later served at Naval Air Station Jacksonville as Port Operations Officer, supporting over 135 Chief Petty Officer selects and earning Senior Chief Petty Officer selection.

In 2007, he served as Leading Chief Petty Officer at EXPIDRIVRON THREE, Yorktown, Virginia, completed a combat deployment to Iraq, earned his Enlisted Expeditionary Warfare Specialist qualification, and was selected for Master Chief Petty Officer. Wayne later served as Senior Enlisted Leader and acting Command Master Chief at Naval Station Mayport, and as Command Master Chief of USS Donald Cook (DDG-75), overseeing its homeport shift to Rota,

Spain, its maiden Ballistic Missile Defense patrol, and earning the 2013 and 2014 Battle Effectiveness Awards.

In 2014, he became Command Master Chief of Southeast Regional Maintenance Center (SERMC). He was a graduate of the Navy Senior Enlisted Academy and the Command Master Chief Course. Following retirement, Wayne continued to train sailors as a Deck Operations Training Specialist for Bowhead Mission Solutions at the Littoral Combat Ship Training Facility in Mayport, Florida. He also held a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Management.

Wayne was a devoted family man and an avid outdoorsman. He loved hunting, fishing, and all things sports, especially supporting Indiana teams. Outside of Indiana, his favorite teams were the Florida Gators and any teams on which his son and daughter played.

Wayne is survived by his beloved wife, Monica S. Welch; his son, Wayne D. Welch III (Trey); his daughter, Taryn S. Welch; four sisters; one brother; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Wayne D. Welch (2013) and Deborah J. Welch (2002). Wayne will be laid to rest alongside his parents.

Wayne’s life was marked by dedicated service, exceptional leadership, and a deep love for his family and the sailors of the Navy.