Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Eric Edinger | U.S. Navy chief petty officers, Marine Corps staff noncommissioned officers, and Air...... read more read more
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WHITE BEACH NAVAL FACILITY, Okinawa, Japan— Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 7 pinned two Sailors to the rank of chief petty officer during a ceremony held inside Kadena Air Base’s Keystone Theater, Sept. 16, 2026.
Chief Yeoman Antoinette Gomes and Chief Operations Specialist Eric Ng joined the ranks of the Navy’s senior enlisted leaders alongside 27 other service members from across the regional commands. The time-honored ceremony marked the culmination of the weeks-long CPO Initiation, an immersive process that prepares selectees for their elevated responsibilities as deck plate leaders.
Established on April 1, 1893, the rank of chief petty officer carries a legacy built on technical mastery, administrative acumen, and a profound responsibility to develop junior officers and enlisted personnel alike.
Family, friends, and fellow service members packed the theater to celebrate the milestone. Reflecting the joint operating environment in the Indo-Pacific, the ceremony was not exclusive to the Navy. Of the 29 newly pinned leaders, five U.S. Marines and one U.S. Airman also earned their gold-fouled anchors and combination covers.
“Congratulations to all of our newest Chief Petty Officers. Reaching this milestone is an incredible achievement in your careers and the unique talent, leadership, and wisdom you now bring to the Chiefs' Mess is invaluable as we execute our Navy's mission." said Rear Adm. Brian Mutty, commander, ESG 7.
Beyond the operational value of the rank, the real work of maintaining day-to-day standards belongs to the Mess.
“This ceremony is a culmination of weeks of intense preparation and cultural symbolism of the strength, bond, and unity of the Mess, but today is actually our new Chief's Day One,” said Command Master Chief Benjamin Washington, command master chief of ESG 7. “They are stepping into a legacy that spans over 130 years. My charge to them is to cherish the sacrifice those that got them here, lead with empathy, and always put their Sailors first.”
The significance of the promotion was marked by the family members who stood beside the new Chiefs to pin on their anchors.
“Looking out at my family while they pinned these anchors on my collar was an incredibly humbling moment,” said Gomes. “This achievement belongs to them just as much as it does to me. They stood by me through deployments, late nights, duty days, transfers, and the challenges and victories of Chief season. I am ready to give everything I have back to my Sailors.”
While family provided the necessary foundation at home throughout their careers, the path to the mess was equally paved by the guidance of deck plate mentors who set the example early on.
“For years, I looked up to the Chiefs who molded me into the Sailor I am today,” said Ng. “To now wear this combination cover and stand among them is surreal. My goal now is to be the kind of Chief my junior Sailors deserve, guiding them just as my mentors guided me.”
With anchors pinned and combination covers firmly set, the newly initiated chiefs departed the theater to the traditional strains of “Anchors Aweigh,” stepping directly into their new roles at the leading edge of the fleet.
Within the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations, ESG 7 / Commander, Task Force 76 is responsible for conducting expeditionary warfare operations with Navy and Marine Corps capabilities to support theater contingencies that range from crisis response to full combat operations.
U.S. 7th Fleet, the Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific.
| Date Taken: | 09.16.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 09.18.2026 07:11 |
| Story ID: | 574949 |
| Location: | OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 17 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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