The U.S. Naval Academy's (USNA) Command Master Chief (CMDCM) was recently selected to serve as one of four fleet master chiefs (FLTCM) in the U.S. Navy.

CMDCM Russell Smith will relieve FLTCM April Beldo in January to become the fourth Manpower, Personnel, Training and Education (MPT&E) Fleet Master Chief.

Smith was among three master chiefs selected by the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) to interview for the position. He received the phone call about his selection from Vice Adm. Robert Burke, Chief of Naval Personnel, late last week.

"I was speechless," said Smith. "It was a weird moment, because I wasn't expecting it. My wife called her boss and said she was going to be late so she could be there when I got the phone call. It was really neat that she was able to be home to get that phone call because if I was going to be crying about it, it would be nice if she was there. It was just as nice to high-five her."

Smith will be the first CMDCM from USNA to move on to a fleet master chief position. He credits the experience he gained while serving as USNA's CMDCM for helping him prepare for his new position.

"The opportunity to influence and impact the Navy and Marine Corps for decades to come is a result of the relationships, and the leadership and mentorship opportunities we have with the midshipmen," said Smith. "Because of MPT&E's Navywide scope of responsibility, I hope to have something comparable to the academy."

A Navy veteran of 28 years, Smith has served in a number of communities and platforms that have had a powerful influence on his career. Previous tours as the Enlisted Community Manager for the intelligence specialist rating and the senior enlisted advisor to the Director of Naval Intelligence were especially helpful in preparing him for fleet master chief.

"I learned a lot about manning, and everything from the nuts and bolts of how you staff and create billets in a command," said Smith. "When you do all of those mechanics, you learn a lot about the business of human resources, and that's really what MPT&E does."

In his new assignment, Smith will be the senior enlisted leader for all strategy and resource policies concerning manpower and training program matters. His plans are to build on a foundation of communication up and down the chain of command.

"I hope to continue a legacy of plain-spoken communication and receiving deckplate feedback to make sure that the policies that we have are clearly understood at the deckplate level," said Smith. "I want to ensure feedback from those policies gets to the admiral and gives us an opportunity to reshape or continue those policies to replicate success."

Smith will take over for Beldo when she retires in January. He recognized the significant contributions she has made during her tour as MPT&E FLTCM.

"Her charisma and energy have been phenomenal for the Navy," said Smith. "The way she has showcased and made complicated policies that the Navy has to put in place to run ... she's made an art form out of making it understandable and accessible to the junior Sailor."

With six months left as USNA's CMDCM, Smith reflected on the nearly three years he has spent at the academy. For him, watching midshipmen do what they love to do will be one of the things he misses most.

"When you see a midshipman do something they love, you really get an insight into who they are," said Smith. "Whatever they love doing, it's neat to see midshipmen growing into who they're going to become; watching that formative experience where you see them grow from a plebe to a rising 'firstie.' It's a phenomenal thing to see that."

"I'm honored and grateful beyond words that Vice Adm. Burke gave me this opportunity," said Smith. "I'm looking forward to finishing strong here at the Naval Academy in the next five to six months."

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