Courtesy Photo | 190503-N-XX082-0001 NEWPORT, R.I. (May 3, 2019) - Retired Chief Warrant Officer 4...... read more read more
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A civilian employee at the Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT) in Pensacola, Florida commissioned his son as a naval officer during a ceremony at the Navy’s Officer Candidate School (OCS), May 3.
Mark Stephens serves as a program analyst and job duty task analysis/training requirements review manager at CIWT. The retired Navy chief warrant officer 4 served on active duty for more than 29 years. During the OCS graduation ceremony for his son, Scott, he acted as commissioning officer and delivered the oath of office to his son.
“It was an exceptionally wonderful moment for me to actually swear my son in as a commissioned officer,” said Mark Stephens. “Not many people get the opportunity to do that with their children.”
Prior to commissioning, Scott Stephens served as an enlisted air traffic controller. During his three-year enlisted career, he advanced to the rank of 2nd class petty officer and earned the enlisted air, surface and information warfare specialist qualifications. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminology from the University of West Florida in 2012.
“I am happy and proud of my son’s decision to become an officer,” said Mark Stephens. “My son had expressed a desire to become a Navy officer long before he enlisted. I think that was his intended path all along.”
The Stephens family has a history of naval service. Mark Stephens’ father was a retired master chief petty officer and veteran of WWII, Korea and Vietnam. For Scott Stephens, his father’s and grandfather’s careers served as motivation to continue the tradition.
“I’ve always been around the military, so it seemed like a natural path. I guess it was in my blood,” said Scott Stephens. “It has always been my dream to become a Navy officer and follow the family tradition of serving my country.”
The father and son will be reunited in Pensacola, where Scott Stephens will report onboard Naval Air Station Pensacola for training as a naval aviator. While being an officer has always been his dream, Scott Stephens credits his time as an enlisted member of the aviation community with his decision to become a pilot.
“When deployed, I did a lot of flying with the Marines as a member of the Marine Augmentation Unit/Supporting Arms Team, and really loved it,” said Scott Stephens. “I was also preparing the daily hot sheets and briefing the aircrews, so I got to interact with many of the pilots and NFO’s onboard. They gave me a lot of encouragement when applying for OCS.”
Before commissioning his son, Mark Stephens shared advice from his time as a naval officer that he believed would help Scott Stephens lead a successful career.
Always be professional. Work hard, play hard, make time for yourself and family and always be firm, fair, and friendly with the Sailors that serve under you,” said Mark Stephens.
With four schoolhouse commands, two detachments, and training sites throughout the United States and Japan, CIWT is recognized as Naval Education and Training Command’s top learning center for the past three years. Training over 21,000 students every year, CIWT delivers trained information warfare professionals to the Navy and joint services. CIWT also offers more than 200 courses for cryptologic technicians, intelligence specialists, information systems technicians, electronics technicians, and officers in the information warfare community.
For more news from Center for Information Warfare Training domain, visit www.navy.mil/local/cid/, www.netc.navy.mil/centers/ciwt/, www.facebook.com/NavyCIWT, or www.twitter.com/NavyCIWT.
| Date Taken: | 05.03.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 05.06.2019 10:49 |
| Story ID: | 320860 |
| Location: | NEWPORT, RI, US |
| Web Views: | 294 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, CIWT Civilian, Navy Veteran Commissions Son, by PO1 Taylor Jackson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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