CSM Dave Silva was born in Long Beach, California, where he grew up and attended Millikan High School. After graduating high school he enlisted in the U.S. Army August 1993. Following completion of OSUT at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma he was awarded MOS 13B, Cannon Crewmember. Immediately following, he attended Airborne School and was assigned to the 1 Battalion, 39th Field Artillery Regiment (Airborne). CSM Silva volunteered for EOD training in 1996, and in 1997 graduated from Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal, attaining the basic EOD badge and MOS 55D (now 89D).
CSM Silva’s assignments include; EOD Team Member and Team Leader,
748th EOD, Fort Jackson, SC; EOD Team Leader and Platoon Sergeant,
38th EOD, Ft. Stewart, GA; WMD Coordination Element (WCE) Operations
NCO, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD; First Sergeant, 706th EOD and
74th EOD, Schofield Barracks, HI; Operations NCO of the 3D OD BN (EOD); CSM, 79th EOD BN Fort Hood, TX and TF-EOD OIR (FWD); CSM, 71st EOD GP Fort Carson, CO; and he is currently serving as the 20th CBRNE Command CSM at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD.
CSM Silva’s deployment experience includes Operations Desert Thunder and Desert Fox, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom Afghanistan, and Operation Inherent Resolve.
CSM Silva’s military education includes 13B and 55D Advanced Individual Training, Airborne School, Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal Course, Radiological Emergency Team Operations (RETOPS), Global Anti-Terror Operators Course, all levels of NCOES, and is a graduate of the United States Army Sergeants Major Acadamy Resident Course class 67. CSM Silva holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Liberal Arts from Excelsior College and is in pursuit of his Master of Science Degree in Business Management.
CSM Silva’s awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal (4), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (3), the Army Commendation Award (7), the Army Achievement Medal (3), the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Meritorious Unit Citation (2), the Army Good Conduct medal (9), the National Defense Ribbon (1 BSS), the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (1 BSS), the Afghan Campaign Medal- (1 campaign star), the Iraq Campaign Medal-(4 campaign stars), the Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terror Service Medal, the NCO Professional Development Ribbon (5), the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon (2), the NATO Medal, the Combat Action Badge, the basic Parachutist Badge, the Master Explosive Ordnance Disposal Badge, and the Drivers Badge.
CSM Silva and his wife, Courtney, of 20 years have three children.