Retired Chief Warrant Officer Four (CWO4) Brian Ashpole, the son of a career U.S. Navy Submariner, grew up in the small farming and ranching community of Glasgow in Northeastern Montana, near the Canadian border of Saskatchewan.

Immediately following his high school graduation, he reported for active military service and graduated from Recruit Training Center (RTC) San Diego in May 1977. He then completed initial training as a Cryptologic Technician (Collection) (CTR) at Naval Technical Training Center (NTTC) Corry Station in Pensacola, Florida, in November 1977. He reported to Naval Security Group Activity (NSGA) Hanza in Okinawa, Japan, for his initial tour of duty.

His subsequent enlisted tours included assignments at NSGA Misawa in Japan, NSGA Northwest in Chesapeake, Virginia, and the Naval Security Group Department in San Diego, California. He also completed a sea tour aboard the USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55), homeported in Mayport, Florida.

Selection to Chief Petty Officer (CPO) prompted his return to NSGA Hanza. In this role, he led and mentored the very division where he had begun his career as a junior CTR. He then returned to sea duty as a newly selected Senior Chief Petty Officer (SCPO) aboard the USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), homeported in Norfolk, Virginia, where he trained and led shipboard Sailors. While serving aboard the USS Kearsarge, he earned a commission as a Chief Warrant Officer.

Following his commissioning, he reported to the USS Ticonderoga (CG 47), homeported in Pascagoula, Mississippi, to serve as the Electronic Warfare Officer. This foundational tour prepared him for follow-on assignments at NTTC Corry Station, the Fleet Information Warfare Center (FIWC), and a one-year tour with Commander, Amphibious Squadron 4 (CPR 4) as the Information Warfare Officer in Norfolk, Virginia. He concluded his active-duty military career as the Cryptologic Training and Readiness Action Officer at U.S. Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk, Virginia.

He retired from naval service on August 1, 2006. During his 29-year career, Brian deployed globally aboard 12 nuclear fast-attack submarines, two guided-missile cruisers, and two large-deck amphibious warships. He is a proud Shellback, Bluenose, and Plankowner of two warships.

Throughout his career, Brian took the greatest pride in mentoring and shaping the lives of the young men and women serving in the United States Navy. He found immense gratification in watching his Sailors excel and advance through the ranks. Under his leadership, many of these Sailors eventually retired as Chief, Senior Chief, and Master Chief Petty Officers, while a significant number earned commissions and retired as officers.

Following his naval retirement, CWO4 Ashpole transitioned to the private sector to support government training programs. He has dedicated the last 20 years to Cryptologic and Information Warfare training and currently works as a Senior Principal Technical Trainer for ASRC Federal. He also remains active in his local community, serving as a Deacon in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) at Crosswater Presbyterian Church in Chesapeake, Virginia.