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Navy CPOs Celebrate 120 Years of Leadership
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Chief petty officers from around the country gathered at the U.S. Navy Memorial April 1 in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the birthday of the Navy chief petty officer rank, and to officially end the memorial's Year of the Chief.
"The Year of the Chief celebration has been the most successful 'year of' celebration we have had here at the Navy Memorial," said retired Vice Adm. John Totushek,the memorial's president.
The event was attended by more than 100 chief petty officers, four former Master Chief Petty Officers of the Navy and the current MCPON, Michael D. Stevens.
Stevens recognized former MCPONs Duane R. Bushey, John Hagan, James L. Herdt and Terry D. Scott, all who had come to support the event.
"These master chiefs epitomize what it means to be a chief petty officer," said Stevens. "All four of you are great Americans and great leaders."
The celebration kicks off a week of community service by chief petty officers around the world. Totushek said the chief petty officers are the sea services' secret weapons - and Stevens agreed.
"Being a Sailor in the United States Navy is about service. Being a chief petty officer requires an absolute professional that is completely committed to service. You are required to be 'all in,' all the time", Steven said.
The U.S. Navy Band Brass Quartet and the Navy Ceremonial Rifle Team performed at the ceremony, and there was also a memorized reciting of the Chief Petty Officer Creed.
The creed only exemplified what Stevens already made clear; for 120 years chiefs have been grooming each new generation of chiefs, and they continue to become better as they strive toward excellence.
"I can only imagine what the next generation of chief petty officer will look like, sound like and do," said Stevens. "If it is anything like what I see before me today, they will be the greatest Americans of their time."
For more on the history of the chief petty officer rank visit Naval History and Heritage Command's website at http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq46-1.htm.
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Its one of the greatest events of my life when I became a Chief in May 1971. Becoming a Chief is every thing in the CPO Creed. I'm proud to have lived up to that and then some. We Chiefs were multi-tasking long before it came into existence. I've been a Chief for 42 of the 120 years we just celebrated - not as many as some but its okay for me. To all my fellow Chiefs I wish you all the best and God speed. Maybe we can celebrate 125 together at the Navy Memorial.