MCPON visits with CPO Selectees; Conducts First All-Hands Call Aboard Constitution

01 September 2018

Russell Smith, the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON), held his first all-hands call aboard USS Constitution and visited with chief petty officer (CPO) selectees participating in CPO Heritage Week, Aug. 30.

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Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson announced Smith as the 15th MCPON Aug. 29.

“I can’t think of a better place to come for my first day as MCPON,” he told the crew during the all-hands call. In response to questions about naval heritage, Smith recalled his favorite story about ‘Old Ironsides’ history — how the ship earned its nickname.

“Cannon balls bouncing off the hull. Huzzah! Her sides are made of iron! …Standing tall in battle, resisting damage, and staying in the fight,” Smith recounted.

Smith made the comparison to how Constitution’s resilience applies to today’s Navy — emphasizing readiness. “We have to be ready for the fight,” Smith said.

MCPON’s address resonated with the crew. “I felt very honored that within his first 24 hours as MCPON he came and spent time with us at USS Constitution,” said Seaman Kara Lawrence, assigned to USS Constitution. “He gave a lot of good advice from his previous experiences of being around Constitution as well. He talked about what we as junior Sailors can take away from being stationed here. He said we can use those experiences to guide us out in the fleet.”

During the visit, Smith spent time with CPO selectees and observed several CPO Heritage Week activities, which demonstrate how leveraging humility, mutually beneficial mentorship relationships, advocacy, and collaboration leads to success in building and leading winning teams.

Constitution, America’s Ship of State, actively defended sea lanes against global threats from 1797-1855. The World’s Oldest Commissioned Warship Afloat, Constitution embodies 220 years of maritime heritage and unwavering service to her country. Now a featured destination on Boston’s Freedom Trail, Constitution and her crew of active duty U.S. Navy Sailors offer community outreach and education about the ship's history and the importance of naval sea power to more than 500,000 visitors each year. Constitution is berthed at Pier One in Charlestown Navy Yard.

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