It All Starts With the Chief

I just read, with interest, an article on the U.S. Naval Institute's (USNI) blog entitled A Four Star Blog Post x 2: Lessons Learned from Our Carrier Tours by ADM Harvey and ADM Stavridis, with an introduction by CDR Robb Chadwick, Commanding Officer of USS ROOSEVELT (DDG 80).

Both admirals discussed their junior officer tours on aircraft carriers and their interactions with their chiefs.

This got me thinking of my own tour aboard my first ship, a twenty year old Knox Class Frigate in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. As mentioned in a previous post, my first division officer job was the Auxiliaries and Electrical (A&E) Officer. When I first arrived, as a 23 year old Ensign, a year out of the Naval Academy, I had approximately 25 Electricians (ETs), Interior Communications Specialists (ICs), Enginemen (ENs) and Machinist Mates (MMs) and one chief, EMC David. Most of them were older than I was.

A few months later, two of my First Class Petty Officers made Chief; EMC Lopez and ENC Hentley. Between the three of them, and especially with ENC, they took me under their wings. I thought I had learned a lot about leadership and shipboard life during my four years at the Academy and my two Midshipmen cruises; but that only scratched the surface.

My chiefs took a personal interest in my training as a junior officer. Though I was senior to them in rank, they were far superior to me in knowledge and experience. They did not hesitate to respectfully correct me when I did something that wasn't quite right, and they were always available for my many questions. My initial intimidation of them quickly turned into a professional relationship, with mutual respect, that I will always remember.

Admiral Harvey stated in the article, "The relationship between new division officers and their chiefs is essential to the shaping of our junior officers." He got that right.

During my two subsequent jobs on that ship; Electronics Materials Officer (EMO) and Navigator/Personnel Officer, I did not have a Chief. Fortunately the three chiefs I had from the Engineering Department were still there for me when I needed them.

When I went to my second division officer tour, aboard a brand new AEGIS Cruiser, I was assigned as the Fire Control Officer (FCO). I had approximately 35 extremely intelligent AEGIS Fire Controlmen (FCs), including three chiefs, that worked for me. Once again I was fortunate to have three FCCs (all ranked in the top ten in the Chief's Mess) who guided me, when required, and enhanced my technical knowledge of that impressive warship. I could not have succeeded without them.

I found that each tour I had in the Navy, especially during my command tour, that I relied heavily on the Chief's Mess to get the job done. When given a task to the Chief, I knew it would be accomplished, and no matter what my rank was, they were always there, in case I needed it, to ensure I did not put myself in a position to embarrass myself and to ensure I did the right thing. We were a team!

I salute the 40+ Chiefs, Senior Chiefs and Master Chiefs that worked directly for me during my time on active duty. I could not have done it without you!.

Interesting note: I taught Seamship to CDR Chadwick when he was a Plebe at the Naval Academy. I must be getting old!!!