Photo By Seaman Jason Afable | U.S. Navy Command Master Chief Petty Officer Adolfo Gonzalez, outgoing Navy Medicine...... read more read more
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NMRTC San Diego Changes Command Master Chief
SAN DIEGO– Amidst intermittent morning rain that cleared just as the ceremony concluded, Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (NMRTC) San Diego held a change of charge ceremony for its senior enlisted leader. U.S. Navy Command Master Chief Petty Officer Phillip Woods relieved Command Master Chief Petty Officer Adolfo Gonzalez, assuming the duties as the top enlisted advisor at the command’s flag circle, March 9.
The change of charge is a time-honored naval tradition that signifies the official transfer of authority and responsibility between two leaders.
"This change of charge ceremony is kind of the official baton passing," said Woods. "This is saying that, ‘hey, this is my cutlass, these are all the things I've learned.’ The rough edges and the marks that are on it are those pearls of wisdom that have been passed on from one CMC to the next."
As the incoming command master chief, Woods outlined his immediate goals.
"One of the things that I want to bring us back to is getting excited about being medical staff, being corpsmen, and just operating in this environment. Getting that warrior spirit," Woods stated. "I want to bring that to the forefront. We are the ones that they call on when it's time to go forward. Those Marines, those Sailors, whatever team needs us, we're going to be there."
For Woods, returning to NMRTC San Diego, colloquially known as Balboa, is a profound honor, shaped by a life-altering experience. While previously deployed on the USS Pearl Harbor, an incidental medical finding led to a medical evacuation to Balboa where he was diagnosed and treated for kidney cancer.
"They found out I had kidney cancer. The team were highly professional. So good, in fact, that after recovering for about 2 or 3 months, I ended up showing back up to the USS Pearl Harbor in Tonga," Woods shared. "That's how skilled the hands are here at Balboa—that I was able to recover from cancer and then head out to go back into the fight. And then when I was asked to come back to Balboa as a CMC—that is the highest honor I could ever take."
The outgoing command master chief, Gonzalez, reflected on his tenure with immense pride, not in the medical treatment facilities’ capabilities, but in its personnel.
"What I've been most proud of during my entire time here as a command master chief of NMRTC San Diego has to be the staff," Gonzalez said. "I believe that this is the finest medical center in all of the military health system, and it's not because of our state-of-the-art facilities or our state-of-the-art equipment, but it's really because of the compassionate team of dedicated professionals that we have here on board. Time after time, they've been able to deliver on the mission."
U.S. Navy Capt. Elizabeth Adriano, NMRTC San Diego's commander, praised both leaders for their contributions.
"I have come to trust Master Chief Gonzalez implicitly for providing his honest opinions and feedback that he shared so effortlessly, not just about Sailor-specific matters, but situations that involved all ranks and how to best take care of our most vulnerable enlisted personnel. I cannot thank him enough," said Adriano. "As we bid him farewell, we welcome Master Chief Woods back to the command. The prior knowledge that he brings, combined with his motivation and enthusiasm to confront our current challenges—challenges that will need to be handled quickly and with conviction—makes him the ideal leader for this moment. NMRTC San Diego and our beneficiaries are better today thanks to the service of these two distinguished senior enlisted leaders."
Woods also praised the mentorship he received from Gonzalez, noting the valuable lessons learned about the complex business of Navy Medicine and the Defense Health Agency.
"He has a very even keel, but a very passionate demeanor. And I think this is what this team needed during some very tough times as the world recovered from a pandemic," Woods said of Gonzalez. "He taught me things about Navy Medicine and DHA that I didn't even know existed, and I'm truly thankful for that."
The command master chief serves as the senior enlisted advisor to the commanding officer, responsible for advising on policies and procedures that affect the entire command, from morale and welfare to professional development and mission readiness.
NMRTC San Diego supports Navy and Marine Corps readiness by ensuring its medical forces are ready to deploy and provide medical support, ashore or at sea.
| Date Taken: | 03.09.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 03.10.2026 11:04 |
| Story ID: | 559926 |
| Location: | SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 119 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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