CAMP H.M. SMITH, Hawaii - U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM) bid farewell to its senior enlisted leader July 18 after more than four years in office and 30 in his career.
Fleet Master Chief Mark Rudes, a native of Speculator, N.Y., officially turned over the command’s top enlisted spot with Marine Sgt. Maj. Anthony Spadaro during a brief ceremony. “PACOM, writ large, this has got to be the best ‘ohana command you could ever serve at,” said Rudes to the assembled staff members, including senior officer and enlisted leadership. “The team approach here has been amazing, and I think I’ve learned more here than at any other command.”
Rudes began his Navy career in 1986, completing enlisted submarine warfare specialist qualification during his first assignment aboard the Benjamin Franklin-class ballistic missile submarine USS Francis Scott Key (SSBN 657 Blue). He later trained and served as a Corpsman, and then went on to complete his enlisted surface warfare specialist qualification.
Rudes had previously served as command master chief for Commander, U.S. THIRD Fleet, the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN76), and U.S. Naval Forces Afghanistan, and served as senior enlisted advisor to U.S. Pacific Fleet prior to joining USPACOM.
"It’s been a rewarding assignment,” Rudes said. “I’ve watched us strengthening our partnerships with our allies and partner militaries. Watching our joint unity grow and strengthen through all the operations has been remarkable.”
The USPACOM senior enlisted leader (SEL) provides the commander with the enlisted perspective on such things as responding to contingencies, and deterring aggression throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific region, in addition mentoring senior enlisted leaders at the four component commands, and with U.S. forces and partner nation militaries throughout the Pacific Command’s area of responsibility. U.S. Pacific Commander Adm. Harry Harris presented the Defense Superior Service Medal to Rudes in recognition of his accomplishments at the command.
“I’m impressed with what I’ve seen with the capacity of both our U.S. and coalition partners to step in to crisis for humanitarian assistance, disaster relief efforts, and really get after the mission set," said Rudes. “Some of the best, most professional men and women serving in uniform are out here. Rarely do I ever come across the problem set, where the solution is not being executed by that NCO [non-commissioned officer] or that senior NCO.”
Rudes spent the majority of his USPACOM assignment traveling between partner nations throughout the Indo-Asia Pacific, logging thousands of miles to visit U.S. and foreign military members and enlisted leaders.
“With regards to the partners and allies, those maturing relationships and those opportunities will continue to manifest and strengthen over the coming months and years,” said Rudes. “It’s exciting that Sgt. Maj. Spadaro is going to see it and take it to the next level.”
Spadaro, a native of New Brunswick, N.J., comes to USPACOM having previously served as the sergeant major of Marine Forces Reserve/Marine Forces North in New Orleans.
“My focus, first and foremost, is to carry out the Commander’s priorities as would any senior enlisted leader,” Spadaro said. “Those priorities are my aim points right there: ensuring the Commander’s priorities are met, and also understood by all service members in the command, and to include our Indo-Asian Pacific partners.”
Spadaro said he has already set some key priorities for his tenure at USPACOM.
“I’d like to concentrate on continuing to build partner capacity and capability,” said Spadaro. “[Another] goal is to increase enlisted development. So much more with our partners is engagement and demonstrating the value of a strong enlisted force.”
USPACOM’s mission is to support the U.S. military’s strategic rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region. The command oversees efforts with U.S. military allies and partner nations in an area of responsibility that covers 36 nations and more than half the globe.