“Pride and professionalism of chief petty
officers is why the Navy is so strong,” said
Capt. Phil Brock, NAS Corpus Christi com
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manding officer, during the Chief Pinning
Ceremony held Sept. 15.
Capt. Miguel Cubano, Naval Health
Clinic Corpus Christi commanding officer,
said that you test a man’s character when
you give them power. “Along with anchors,
you will inherit power …. To build, mentor,
create, protect and comfort,” he said to the
Sailors as the pinning ceremony began.
“Honor the legacy of those that went before
you by always protecting what it means to
be chief.”
Six Sailors had their anchors pinned
during the ceremony: PSC Tricia Fletcher,
of Navy Operational Support Center Corpus
Christi; LNC, James Hills, Regional Legal
Service Office South East; HMC Darsean
Sharpe, of NHCCC; HMC Elizabeth Ramos-
Rodriguez, of NHCCC; MAC Robert Toy,
of Coastal Riverine Squadron Two in Little
Creek, Virginia; and PSC Tito Zendejas, of
NOSC Harlingen.
Attaining the rank of Chief Petty Officer
is a significant accomplishment in the U.S.
Navy. The Chief Petty Officer rank is often
referred to as the “backbone of the Navy,”
because of the vast experience and high
caliber of the Sailors who comprise this
cadre of seasoned professionals.
CMDCM Greg Williams, of NASCC,
charged the new chief petty officers with
motivating their Sailors. He added that
it is the chief’s job to train and develop
subordinates into leaders.