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Hard work, determination, and unwavering devotion to Sailors, Command Master Chief Samira McBride’s career is storied. Born in Cameroon, Africa, and raised in Chad, McBride’s family immigrated to the United States in 1997. She started her senior year of high school that same year. Two years later, in September 1999, she enlisted in the United States Navy.
McBride assumed all duties and responsibilities as the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman’s command master chief on Feb. 17. Here, her leadership style is unapologetically Sailor-focused.
“Our mission is our Sailors, and our Sailors are the ones who complete the mission,” said McBride. “You cannot separate the two; they go hand-in-hand. When our Sailors feel like they’re in an environment where their opinions are heard and their needs are met, they, in turn, can carry out any mission put in their way.”
Years of experience navigating the duties and hardships of Navy life helped shape this people-first mindset.
McBride’s initial tour of duty was on the USS Fletcher (DD 292) in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, where she served as Combat Information Center Track Supervisor and Harpoon Engagement Planner. She completed two Western Pacific deployments with the Fletcher. In July 2003, McBride reported to the USS Gonzalez (DDG 66), in Norfolk, Virginia, serving as an Anti-Submarine Tactical Air Controller and an Arabic Linguist during a deployment to the Mediterranean Sea and the Persian Gulf. In July 2005, McBride transferred to Assault Craft Unit Four (ACU-4), where she served as the Operations Department Executive Assistant and a French Linguist. While with Assault Craft Unit Four, McBride conducted intensive training for well deck, ramp marshall, and communications procedures aboard the French Naval Vessel BPC Tonnere. In October 2008, McBride reported to the USS Lassen (DDG 82), in Yokosuka, Japan, where she served as the OI Division leading petty officer and was selected as the USS Lassen Senior Sailor of the Year in 2009.
This decade of outstanding achievement culminated in McBride’s selection in April 2010 for one of the Navy’s most competitive and prestigious awards: U.S. Pacific Fleet Sailor of the Year. McBride stood out as the top performer among all first class petty officers serving across the Pacific Fleet. This achievement, in turn, led to McBride’s meritorious promotion to chief petty officer, an incredibly prestigious achievement of its own.
McBride, now wearing the golden anchors of a chief petty officer, transferred to the USS Boxer (LHD 4) in San Diego, where she deployed to the Western Pacific as the OI division’s leading chief petty officer.
In February 2013, McBride transferred to the Recruit Training Command (RTC) as a recruit division commander in Great Lakes, Illinois. During her time at RTC, McBride spearheaded the training of numerous recruits, assisting in developing the recruit’s naval knowledge, physical fitness, and mental well-being.
After her tour at RTC, McBride reported to the PCU Thomas Hudner (DDG 116) in Norfolk, Virginia, where she was selected for the command senior chief program and personally selected to serve as a United States Fleet Forces Command Fleet CPO Training Team Facilitator. In July 2018, she reported back to Gonzalez as the command master chief. McBride became the first female Delbert Black Leader Award recipient the following year, recognizing outstanding first-tour command-level senior enlisted leaders. McBride exhibits what the award embodies: inspirational leadership, commitment to Sailors, and operational excellence.
She would go on to serve as the command master chief at Afloat Training Group (ATG) in Norfolk, Virginia, before coming aboard the Truman.
Despite all the success in McBride’s career, she continually strives to improve as a leader. She recognizes that although her career path has led her through various experiences globally, the sheer number of Sailors one has to lead as the command master chief of an aircraft carrier presents unique challenges.
“For the majority of my career, I’ve served on small ships. Transitioning to this bigger platform is one of the harder challenges I’ve faced so far,” said McBride. “I want to have as much engagement with Sailors as possible, and being on an aircraft carrier with so many Sailors, that can be difficult. I don’t want to use that as an excuse, my goal is still to have positively interact with all Sailors.”
McBride believes integrating and maintaining a positive and cohesive work environment leads to mission success.
“It’s difficult for myself, as an individual, to enforce a change implemented throughout the entire ship,” said McBride. “My goal is to ensure that the crew holds me and their leadership accountable for establishing a positive work environment. These Sailors need to know that myself and their leadership will provide them with the resources needed for their personal success to flourish.”
While McBride admits that she continues to hone her leadership skills daily, she highlights the significance of confidence in a leadership position.
“Being patient with myself in terms of my leadership development is important,” said McBride. “I want to always be confident in my ability to lead, no matter what. I want to be patient with the Sailors around me. Neither they or myself are perfect. They are not robots, and I want to treat them as the unique individual Sailors that they are.”
| Date Taken: | 01.12.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 12.18.2023 09:07 |
| Story ID: | 460206 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 158 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Mission Success, Through Sailor Wellness: Meet Truman’s CMC, by PO2 Christopher Suarez, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
