Sailors stationed in the greater Washington metro area became Navy Medicine's newest chief petty officers (CPOs) in a pinning ceremony at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) Sept. 16.

Three CPO selectees from the U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED) were pinned together with five selectees from the Office of the Attending Physician U.S. Congress, Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, and WRNMMC.

Chief hospital corpsman selectees Alexander Burkhart, Manuel Cortez, Orlando Dominici, Rachel Hoskins, Andrew Mclaughlin, Kyle Price and Vernaye Taggart were pinned during the ceremony alongside Chief Cryptologic Technician (Collection) (select) Jennifer Valentin.

Col. Michael Heimall, director, WRNMMC, attended as the presiding officer. Master Chief Hospital Corpsman Brad McIntire, deputy director, Hospital Corps, BUMED, served as the guest speaker.

"While integrity is truly an individual trait in the military, we are uniquely woven as one cohesive fabric," said McIntire. "This is never truer than in the Chiefs Mess. Within the mess, the strength of your integrity is mine and mine is yours."

The CPO pinning ceremony is a tradition unique to the Navy. It dates back to 1893 when the chief petty officer pay grade was created. The ceremony signifies a new position of leadership and responsibility for enlisted Sailors.

"It's an incredible feeling to know that my passion to lead others has come to fruition," said Chief Hospital Corpsman Alexander Burkhart, one of the eight newly-pinned CPOs. "I hope to instill that same passion in my fellow shipmates."

Burkhart also shared advice for petty officers first class aiming to make chief.

"Lead with passion, but don't let your passion lead you; we can be passionate as long as we are always in control," he said.

Navy Medicine is a global health care network of 63,000 personnel that provides health care support to the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, families and veterans, in high operational tempo environments, at expeditionary medical facilities, medical treatment facilities, hospitals, clinics, hospital ships and research units around the world.

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