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MCPON Fleet and Force Master Chief Leadership Conference Stresses Deckplate Concerns

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS091106-20
Release Date: 11/6/2009 5:34:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist Petty Officer 1st Class Monica R. Nelson

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (NNS) -- Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) (SS/SW) Rick D. West hosted the Navy's Fleet and Force Master Chief Leadership Conference for 53 fleet, force, region, and a number of command master chiefs at the Officer's Club on Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville, Nov. 1-6.

"It's important to reset the knowledge base of these master chiefs so they can take it to the deckplate," said West.

"I have Sailors in every region of the world," said Force Master Chief Petty Officer (FORCM) (SS/AW/SW) Chuck Dassance of Naval Network Warfare Command, Norfolk, Va. "When I visit with Sailors, I get their perspective. Being here gives me their senior leadership's perspective on Sailor issues and sometimes why the issues are what they are, which may be due to laws or Status of Forces Agreements. It also allows me to share my Sailors' perspectives with the senior enlisted of those regions."

West identified the benefit of networking between conference attendees as key to future leadership cooperation.

"These master chiefs are located all around the world, and many hadn't met before now," said West. "It's important to look them all in the eye and, like any shipboard mess, get to know each other. They have to have that comfort factor in knowing how to communicate with one another."

Conference attendees also had the opportunity to hear from Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Gary Roughead and Chief of Naval Personnel Vice Adm. Mark E. Ferguson.

"Having the CNO here impressed upon everyone in MCPON's leadership mess the value of our leadership to him personally and what we bring to the Navy," said FORCM (SS) John Snyder of Naval Education and Training Command, Pensacola, Fla.

The evening of the CNO's visit marked the first ever dining in of the MCPON's leadership mess. The event raised a total of $805, which was donated to Command Master Chief (CMDCM) (SW/SS) Jeff Hudson of NAS Jacksonville to be used toward Sailor food baskets.

"The dining in was the perfect balance of formality and levity," said Navy Region Southeast CMDCM (SW/AW) Joseph Curtin, Jacksonville, Fla. "Camaraderie is built through a dining in; it elevates the mess. We invited CMCs, senior enlisted advisers and command senior chiefs from the local area, so it provided mentorship opportunities for them."

MCPON's leadership mess visited area commands during their week in Jacksonville, including those at Mayport and Kings Bay.

CMDCM (FMF) Tammy Heap of Second Marine Logistics Command, Camp Lejeune, N.C., was able to connect with Fleet Marine Force Sailors at NAS Jacksonville hospital. "It was beneficial to sit down and listen to the issues of those Sailors who had been deployed FMF and those getting ready to go."

"The Jacksonville Sailors are very sharp," said West. "It makes me proud as the MCPON
to represent these fine Sailors. Keep charging and keep up the hard work."

For more news from Commander Navy Region Southeast, visit www.navy.mil/local/nrse.