Good afternoon, everyone and welcome.

Thank you, Master Chief Wood, for that kind introduction. And thank you, Jim and John, for inviting me to preside over this ceremony.

This moment carries the weight of history. It is a time-honored tradition that reminds us of the enduring strength of our Navy. Highly effective leadership and accountability passing seamlessly from one set of steady hands to the next.

Today is a bittersweet moment, celebrating the remarkable tenure of our 16th Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON), Jim Honea, while embracing the new start of our 17th MCPON, John Perryman.

Continuity and renewal, both woven into the fabric of our Navy’s heritage.

I want to extend a warm welcome to our distinguished guests and leaders with centuries of combined naval experience. Your presence demonstrates the gravity of this event.

To our Flag Officers, to our former MCPONs Bushey, Hagan, Herdt, West, Stevens, Giordano, and Smith. To our Sailors and Marines, and most importantly to the families of MCPON Honea and MCPON Perryman, thank you for being here. You honor us with your presence.

In just a few minutes, you will witness the passing of responsibility, authority, and accountability from one Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy to the next. This is not simply ceremonial, it is consequential. It matters to the Fleet, to the Joint Force, and to our Nation.

Earlier today, in the Delbert D. Black National Chief’s Mess, named after our very first MCPON.  I had the privilege of promoting Fleet Master Chief John Perryman to MCPON Perryman. The symbolism was powerful. That Mess is the heart of enlisted leadership, and it was only right to mark that special moment there.

John, congratulations once again.

I’ve been CNO for just over two weeks now, and the work before us is immense. My priorities Foundry, Fleet, and Fight are not just words, but a framework for action, forging our Sailors in the Foundry, ensuring the Fleet is manned, trained, and equipped, and ready to Fight and win whenever and wherever called. At the center of that framework stands the MCPON. Because the Chief’s Mess and particularly the MCPON translates policy into practice, guidance into reality, and intent into action.

No one embodies “Foundry, Fleet, Fight” more completely than the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy. That is why this ceremony is so special to Donna and me, as well as all Sailors and families who serve. We are here to honor two men who represent the very best of our Navy.

Every leader in uniform knows this truth. Behind every successful Sailor is a dedicated Navy spouse and a resilient and supportive Navy family. We often say, “The Navy recruits the Sailor, but retains the family.” That’s not a slogan; it is lived reality. Families carry the burdens of distance and duty. They celebrate the milestones and endure the separations. They are the quiet source of resilience, love and support that makes mission success possible.

Today we honor two remarkable families. To the Honea family, for 36 years, Jim’s wife Evelyn has been the guiding star for her family and a tireless champion and advocate for Sailors and families across the Fleet.

Evelyn, you’ve been present for your family every step of the way, always the guiding light and continuous source of love, support, and inspiration. JD and Sarah, you are here today to celebrate with your father, and I know you’re proud.

Thank you for the sacrifices you’ve made, sacrifices often invisible but deeply felt and understood by all who wear the uniform.

To the Perryman Family, Angie, thank you for your unwavering love and encouragement. Your presence and teamwork have been a steady compass for your family. Abigale and John Jr., it’s wonderful to see you here. You’re part of your family’s legacy.

The truth is this, stronger families make a stronger Fleet.

To the Honeas and the Perrymans, thank you for your love, sacrifice, and support.

Please join me in applauding these extraordinary families. The office of MCPON is just shy of six decades old, established in 1967. Yet the spirit of the role traces back to 1893, when the first Chief Petty Officers became the backbone of the Fleet.

The golden anchors of a Chief represent technical mastery and trust. The three-starred anchors of the MCPON represent something more; the collective voice of every Sailor, from the combat center to the engine room, from the crew’s mess to the Bridge is carried by you to the highest levels of Navy leadership.

Consider the eagle on the MCPON’s sleeve. Its head is cocked forward, alert and ready to strike, always beneath those three stars. That eagle reminds us that MCPONs are not passive observers.

They’re active, relentless, and always in the fight with and for Sailors. Like eagles, MCPONs soar high to see the full battlespace, they embrace the storm rather than shy away, and they train the next generation to fly.

That is the essence of our enlisted leadership, build Sailors with competence, character, and confidence. I say often that our Sailors are our greatest weapon system. The MCPON ensures that weapon system is forged in the Foundry, sharpened in the Fleet, and ready for the Fight.

That is why this office matters. That is why today matters. Which brings me to you, Jim. You have been the right leader at the right time. Over nearly four decades of service, you have carried the values of integrity, courage, and commitment into every wardroom, every Mess, and every hearing room on Capitol Hill.

Your priorities, building strong, smarter, and better-valued warfighters have left an enduring mark. You reminded us that warfighting readiness starts with people, not platforms.

You’ve traveled the globe, 128 Fleet engagements in every theater. You’ve testified before Congress, speaking not with lifeless rhetoric but with credibility born and shaped from countless hours on the deckplates.

You delivered results, including pay increases for our youngest Sailors, improved quality of life initiatives, and improved family readiness for our Fleet. Jim, your words to me and to the Navy have always been clear: Our mission is to be ready to impose costs on any adversary who threatens America’s way of life. Sailors deliver on that mission every day across the globe. You’ve lived those words.

On behalf of the Navy, thank you. You leave behind a Fleet that is stronger, a Navy that is sharper, and Sailors who are better for having followed you. Please join me in a round of applause for MCPON Honea.

On to you, John. I’ve watched you lead at Fleet Forces Command and beyond. You, too, are a deckplate leader with a strategic vision and an uncommon understanding of Navy processes a rare and vital combination.

At Fleet Forces, you drove professionalism and readiness across 100,000 Sailors. You challenged assumptions, introduced new ideas, and never lost sight of the individual Sailor. Your priorities, Sailors and families first, technical mastery, continuous development, and talent management align perfectly with my Foundry, Fleet, and Fight. Together, these priorities form the foundation of a Navy ready to meet the pacing threat, to defend the homeland, and to deter aggression worldwide.

John, you know as all great Chiefs do, that great squadrons and great ships are not accidents. They are the result of intrusive leadership, relentless training, and an uncompromising pursuit of excellence with uncompromisingly high standards.

As MCPON 17, I am confident you’ll ensure our Sailors remain our greatest asymmetric advantage. You’re the right leader for this moment. But know, the tasks ahead will not be easy with many forces against you.  I’ll be there as you’re running mate.

As we close, let me once again thank MCPON Honea. Jim, congratulations on a remarkable career. I look forward to honoring you again at your retirement ceremony. Fair winds and following seas, shipmate.

To MCPON Perryman – John - congratulations. You now shoulder a sacred responsibility. I look forward to walking the deckplates with you as we build and sustain a Navy ready to fight and win, today and tomorrow.

To our Chiefs, our Sailors, and our families: Thank you for your service, sacrifice, and resilience. You are the strength of our Navy.

May God bless our Navy, our Chiefs, our MCPONs, our families, and the United States of America.

Thank you.