Chief Warrant Officer Dan Kissel retired April 28 during a formal ceremony at the Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit (CNATTU) Ceremonial Hangar at Naval Air Station Oceana after 33 years of naval service.

Kissel has been regarded as the senior CWO5 (Chief Warrant Officer) 5 in the Navy.

Kissel, joined the Navy in Feb. 1984 and attended recruit training followed by initial training at Naval Air Training Command. after graduating school, the new aviation electronics mate reported to his first sea duty station at Attack Squadron (VF) 176 at Oceana in 1984.

Over the years, Chief Warrant Officer Kissel served in a number of assignments as an enlisted Sailor before his significant promotion to the rank of Chief Petty Officer in 1994.

Serving globally in a variety of locations and roles Kissel earned many military awards and personal decorations to include the Meritorious Service Medal, multiple Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and numerous other unit and campaign awards.

Kissel was promoted to the current rank of CWO (Chief Warrant Officer) 5 in Feb. 2010. Highly respected in the aviation maintenance community, Kissel is regarded as the most senior CWO5 in the Navy. Kissel has held the honor of being the sole senior CWO5 in the Navy since April 2015. The rank of CWO5 was established in October 2002 to ensure the Navy attracted and retained the very best technical leadership for a 30-year career. Kissel knew he wanted to serve in the Navy for at least 30 years after serving just 8 years.

"My motivation to stay was that I loved being an aviation maintenance leader," said Kissel. "The bond you share with fellow Sailors is special and can't be duplicated elsewhere. Squadron life was fun to me and had a family-type environment."

For his final tour Kissel was assigned to the Naval Safety Center in Norfolk, Virginia, where he served since 2010 as the Aviation Maintenance Branch Head. Here Kissel performed aviation safety surveys as maintenance team lead for all Navy and Marine Corps Aviation Commands worldwide and provided Maintenance Risk Management training to all aviation commands, Aviation Maintenance Officer School and Aviation Safety Officer School Course.

Guest speaker Rear Adm. Christopher Murray, Commander Naval Safety Center, spoke of Kissel's 33 years of service and his notable achievements. Kissel was honored to have Murray as his guest speaker for he regards him as the most proactive admiral he had ever served and Kissel admires his ways of leading and doing business. CWO5 Anthony Diaz, currently stationed at Naval Beach Group ONE was present at the ceremony and upon Kissel's retirement assumed the role as Senior Warrant of the Navy.

Kissel believes he owes much of his success to all he has served alongside over the years. After serving in the Navy for 33 years and retiring, Kissel will continue to support the Navy as a government contractor.

"I have been blessed by having great mentors who have been patient with me and provided excellent guidance," said Kissel. "Being a maintainer in today's Navy is extremely challenging but with great maintenance leadership we continue to be successful."

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