guests , please rise for the arrival of
the official party and remain standing
until completion of our national anthem
and invocation
Time , orderly strike eight bells
april United States Navy retired
arriving
Time , Orderly Strike eight Bells .
Naval operations arriving
post the side Boys .
Color Guard , advance the colors .
The national anthem will be performed
by the United States Academy Band .
Retire the colors
chaplain . Dr Margaret kibun will now
deliver the invocation . Would you pray
with me , eternal father ,
whose way is in the sea and whose paths
are in the great waters ? We pause to
ask your blessing on this remarkable
ceremony honoring the life long service
and accomplishments of one sailor and
celebrating the distinguished
appointment and leadership of another .
When you directed the steps of a young
russell smith to the threshold of a
recruiter's door , you not only opened
up to him numerous doors of opportunity ,
enabling him to exercise his gifts to
our country's Navy , but you also
granted countless sailors of all ranks
the leadership of one whose enthusiasm ,
passion and drive enhanced their lives
and touched their spirits . So thank
you Lord for the faithfulness of Mc Pon
smith that he has demonstrated in his
all too frequent sacrifices ,
deployments and personal effort that he
has made throughout his incredible
career , All for the welfare of the men
and women . He led and served with the
Navy is a stronger institution and we
who are proud to call him shipmate are
better people because of the compassion
and devotion . You have shown us
through the testimony of master chief
smith's faithful and dedicated service .
And now as the mantle of responsibility
is lifted from his shoulders , give him
the assurance of your approval and
appreciation for all that he has done
in these 34 years . Then , as the title
of Master Chief Petty Officer of the
Navy is bestowed on Master Chief Honea
we ask that you bear the yoke with him .
May he yield to your guidance and heed
the wisdom of those who have gone
before and who now serve alongside him ,
guard him with both strength and
vulnerability , certainty and
flexibility , faith and fortitude to
save the serve the sailors . You have
called him now to lead . We ask your
blessing then on these men and all who
sail the deepest oceans and fly the
great spaces in the sky . Guide them
with the light of your truth in the
strength of your name , we pray . Amen .
Thank you chaplain Kevin . Will the
guest please be seated .
Good morning , ladies and gentlemen ,
distinguished guests , family and
friends . Welcome to the change of
office of retirement ceremony of Master
Chief Petty Officer of the Navy ,
Russell Lamar smith ,
recognizing a career of long and
honorable service and in keeping with
one of the oldest traditions in the
military . The Chief of Naval
Operations and the men and women of the
United States Navy pay special tribute
to make pawn smith and his family on
Sandy and Uncle Ron . Sisters . Melody
and Jamie , Cousin Vicki and her
husband . Harry , as well as our two
Children , Jalen and Dean .
And of course Russ's close personal
lifelong friends on the occasion of
Russell's retirement from the United
States Navy . Ladies and gentlemen ,
it is my absolute pleasure to introduce
the presiding officer for today's
ceremony . The Chief of neighbor
operations , Admiral Gilda .
Good morning . Distinguished guests ,
family and friends . Shipmates
MCP on smith . Tony . Thanks for
letting me take part in this very
special and historic events .
It's an honor to be here and it's
humbling . Speak in front of a crowd
like this . It's also an honor to
have several former Mc ponds here with
us today . Mc Pond Bushy mike von Hagen ,
nick pond hurt . MCP on scott , MCP on
steven's MCP on Giordano . Each of you
stood as anchors for our Navy . Each of
your legacies and service have helped
shape today's Navy . Thank you for your
leadership . Thank you for being here
and thank you to your families who
supported you through your lifetime of
service . In just a few moments we'll
bear witness to the changing of the
guard , the transfer of
responsibilities and one of the Navy's
most important leadership positions .
The Office of the Master Chief Petty
Officer of the Navy . I'm gonna
deviate from my prepared remarks today ,
I'm going to speak from a book that was
given to me when I first became Cno by
my first command Master Chief of my
first destroyer . Um The book is called
winds of change . It's the history of
the office of the Master Chief Petty
Officer of the Navy from 1967 to 1992 .
Mc Pond . Bushy will knows the author
personally , Charlotte . Chris
Charlotte was uh was a journalist in
the United States Navy . She joined in
the early 60s . Her dad was a World War
II veteran . Um She left the Navy . She
was uh she worked for a newspaper in
southern Georgia . She came back to the
Navy . She married a submariner when
she became pregnant . She was forced to
leave the Navy . I think it was one of
you make ponds that change that change
that changed that rule . But she
she came back into the reserves after
that . She never lost her love for the
Navy and a four month uh ta d
assignment to your office . Um MCP on
bushy led to a 17 month labor of love
to write this book . I thought it was
interesting as uh I was given to me as
I mentioned by um by a former command
master chief of mine who in his
inscription said the most important ,
one of the most important decisions
you'll make um in your term of office
is uh choosing the next big pond . And
so he said read this book . I said I
and uh it definitely it
definitely was informative . I wanna
talk a little bit about the history of
the office because most people um
equate the office of the Mc Pond with
uh with Cno Zumwalt . And it actually
preceded him by probably three uh to at
least two uh C . N . O . S . And it
really started in 1960 for when under a
sector of the navy named Nitsa . And
it's uh saw that are recruiting and
retention was not doing well . Uh at
that time , retention among first term
sailors . Was it 10% ? This
was post Berlin post Cuban missile
crisis . We're ramping up for Vietnam .
We were in serious trouble . And so he
uh he directed uh one star admiral
named Alfred , Admiral John Alfred who
was uh was was a veteran of World War
Two . He was there during the , during
during Pearl Harbor . He had sailed uh
limit's island island hopping campaign
uh finishing his uh finishing his term
on a battleship off of Okinawa . And uh
so Alfred did a study and the study
took two years . Uh So it finished up
in 1966 . Uh he and his team
interviewed over 100,000 sailors and
they came away with some really
incredible insights . Uh There were 100
and 50 15 at all . He worked , he
worked directly for the Secretary and
the secretary published the results .
And one of those recommendations from a
cryptologist technician first class
named john Abraham was to establish a
leading Chief Petty officer of the
United States Navy . And his idea was
that not only would we have a leading
chief , but we would then have that
would be a master Chief actually , but
we would have senior chiefs at each of
the fleets in each of the tycom . So
we'd have that connective tissue from
the waterfront back to Washington and
to our most senior levels . And so
interestingly , um , it was put into
effect because the sector of the navy
uh , deemed it so , but I'd like to
read a passage from Mc Pond Black , our
first Mc Pond , his uh , he requested
to meet with the CNO at the time uh ,
to talk about . And the CNO at the time
was Admiral David Mcdonald to talk
about his expectations for the job .
So Macdonald told him he never believed
in establishing the office to begin
with . So Mike Von Black asked him
if this is what the enlisted people
want , will you give us a chance to
make it work ? And he told me at that
point that I could do anything that I
wanted to do . So for Black who was
also at Pearl harbor , who also crossed
the pacific on the USs Maryland and had
88 battle campaign
ribbons to prove it . Uh , that was a
blank check . And so he established the
office , the office was to report to
the CNO within three months , it
changed from the senior enlisted
advisor to the Cno uh to the Master
Chief Petty Officer of the Navy . And
we were off and running 25 years later .
Um when this book was written , Admiral
Zumwalt wrote the forward . And
although um I think I could capture
um I could capture this myself , I
thought that an Admiral Zumwalt words
um were quite poignant and I'd like to
read them to you so please bear with me ,
Zumwalt writes in 1992 , after he was
out of office for a while . When the
Office of the Master Chief Petty
Officer of the Navy was created in 1967 ,
the United States Navy took a giant
step forward and on tapping the
leadership capabilities of its enlisted
force in the act of adding an extra
gold star to the Master Chief's Crow .
The senior levels of command were in
effect saying to our enlisted community
we respect and we value your opinion ,
we need your input , we will listen and
we will act . And just as they met the
challenges of war and peace for more
than two centuries , the enlisted
community responded in a way not only
silence those doubting thomases but
responded , but also amazed those
who initially believed No one
could have known 25 years ago . Right
zoom wall that the office would grow
into a position of influence and
credibility that it enjoys today . No
officer , regardless of his or her
position in the chain of command or the
Washington bureau demands more respect ,
gains quicker access or has listened to
more intently than the Master Chief
Petty Officer of the navy wise
congressman secretaries of defense and
the Navy , Chief of Naval Operations
and Chief of Naval personnel and many
others have benefited from the sage
counsel of the bond for his voice is
not only the voice of personal
experience , but at the broad and ever
changing spectrum of the enlisted
experience Today . When there are so
many avenues of communication open to
modern Navy sailors , it is difficult
to imagine the breath and the depth of
the gap that that first McM . Pond was
asked to bridge in 1967 . Among
the most rewarding memories of my naval
career are those snapshots of time that
I spent listening to sailors , whether
they were manning river boats in
Vietnam or in the engine rooms of a
destroyer underway . If I could get
them to talk , I always learn something .
But the sailor of the 60s rarely had
the opportunity to speak to someone who
can make the changes they suggested or
at least express interest in what they
had to say . We were far too busy
running our ships balancing our
accounts or making ourselves look good
for the promotion boards . And if by
some miracle we did validate a sailor's
suggestion by making the recommended
change . We kept the credit for
ourselves . As a result , sailors
stopped talking and they started
walking right out the door or they
stayed and they convinced younger
impressionable shipmates that no one up
above gave a about what he or she
thought that's where the master Chief
Petty Officer . The Navy came in . He
went out to the fleet with a message .
And I quote , we do take care , and if
you tell me what's on your mind , I'll
make sure that somebody listens . I had
the honor of working with Delbert Black
and Jack , would it ? The 1st and 2nd
Master Chief Petty Petty Officers of
the Navy ? What giants ! They were like
so many other good ideas that take
years to ripen . The Mc Pond did not
work overnight miracles , but those of
us who have spent our careers as
officers know well , there is no one
more patient and more persistent than
achieved for the mission . He or she
might yell and cuss they might bang on
tables , stomp on a few toes , but
eventually they get what they want . If
you give them the time and you give
them the resources . Between Delbert
Black and Duane Bushy 25 years have
passed seven master chiefs have worn an
extra star in their sleeve . They
earned that star much the same way they
earned that first crow as a petty
officer , They were tested and approved .
Once they had the title they had to
earn it . Credibility gains . The petty
officer must grow with each added
stripe at an anchor . More to prove at
a Star ! Still more . But at
that third Star , and you're out in no
man's land , wrote Zumwalt ! Those
Junior two . You are looking up perhaps
holding you , perhaps pulling you down .
Those above may extend a hand of
confidence or lacking confidence in
their own abilities . Try to push you
down . Seven men have survived the
winds of change , which is the title of
this book . They learned when to bend
and when to stand firm . They adjusted ,
they adapted . They had heard
nonetheless , they refuse to change one
common denominator that has served them
well throughout their voyage to the top .
They continue to practice loyalty up
and loyalty down . They earned a keen
sense of balance on the high wire which
placed him in that bridge between
officers and enlisted With this history
marking the 25th anniversary of the
Office of the Master Chief Petty
Officer in the Navy . We gain insight
into the job , the men who have held
the title , their joints and their
singular accomplishments , the support
system they developed over the years ,
the organization and at last but not
least , the leadership capabilities of
the world's finest enlisted community
in each and every sailor serving in the
United States Navy today . And I think
it's still true lies the potential to
be a master Chief Petty officer of the
Navy and the opportunity to make the
world's finest Navy . Just a little bit
better thank you Admiral Zumwalt .
A lesson for all of us , Mc . Pond Russ
smith . I want to take time to thank
you specifically . While I know you
would rather defer all praise to your
teammates . Many of them sitting before
me , your work and your service and
your sacrifice deserves to be
recognized for over three decades . You
stood to watch for a Navy and for our
nation In 1988 . You began your career
as an airman then becoming a weapons
technician . And before finally finding
a true calling . Calling as an
intelligence specialist . You've always
taken the tough assignments . You're a
true leader . You're a chief to the
core and a sailor who is dedicated to
sailors who do anything at any
time of the day or night to help a
fellow service member . And I know that
personally as our 15th
master chief Petty Officer of the Navy ,
your candor to the Congress and
thoughtful counsel to , to C . N . O .
S . And numerous secretaries have
allowed sailors to have a voice in our
nation's capital . Your tireless
efforts to provide sailors with mental
moral and spiritual support has helped
make our fleet more resilient and much
much more effective . Your leadership
ensured that our most important
resource , our people are ready to
serve and defend the nation . That we
love . Having conducted more than 200
fleet visits all over the world . Your
outreach and willingness to be there
for sailors and their families is what
truly made your service so remarkable .
You care for sailors like few of the
leaders that I met in the Navy . Thank
you for everything that you have done
over these past four years . Our Navy
and our Navy family are much stronger
than it was four years ago . Did you go
ashore for the final time ? Know that
this nation and our navy are forever
grateful for your lifetime of
consequential and honorable service .
Now , just as we pause to send Mick
pond smith off , we should also take a
moment to look forward to the future .
Excited for what lies ahead . The
soon to be 16 Bond James homie has been
an essential part of our Navy for 35
years with experience and assignments
at sea and all over the world with
leadership positions at every single
level . He brings the exact kind of
professional experience we need for
this immense responsibility . I've
said it before . He's got salt water
running through his veins . This
bosun's mate will lead as Mc Pond with
honor , courage , commitment and
respect . We're thrilled to see you
build upon Mick pond smith momentum and
accelerate America's naval power .
I know that like so many other Mick
bonds here with us today that you are a
servant leader , truly putting the
needs of our sailors and their families
above all . Without a doubt , our
sailors and their families are in good
hands with you stepping in . I'd also
like to take a moment to thank Evelyn
James Sarah and the rest of your family
who are here with us today for their
support and love for these three
decades . I'll close with this
Mick pond smith may be retiring , but
his legacy will live on . We would be
wise to serve others first and to fight
for our sailors . Always thank you all
so very much for being here today . May
God bless you ! May God bless our Navy
and may God bless the United States of
America
Mick pawn smith mass ! Chief homie .
Will you please join Admiral Dilday at
center stage
presenting the sailor's cutlass for
today's ceremony as chief yeoman Janna
Sampson , the executive assistant to
the Master Chief Petty Officer in the
Navy . For the previous four years ,
the sea going sailors cutlass , a
shorter , heavier weapon than the sword
issued to officers has for hundreds of
years been an essential part of the
Navy's arsenals . While the long ,
slender officer's sidearm was a highly
personal weapon and can vary
considerably in dimension and finish .
The sailors . Cutlasses were part of
the ship's armory , racked and
available to be taken up for drill or
battle . The cutlass was a rugged
utilitarian fighting tool . It was
strong and simple built to withstand
the rigors of duty at sea , and it is
an appropriate symbol for our heritage
as has been done nine times between
Mick pawns in the past . Nick ponte
smith passes this symbol of utility and
service to its new care taper
caretaker that will be displayed in the
office of the master Chief Petty
Officer of the Navy as a constant
reminder of his duty and purpose .
Ladies
so again . Ladies and gentlemen , the
16th Master Chief Petty Officer in the
Navy Mc Bond James , toney
almost forgot I was supposed to get up
here and say some things . Um
this is all inspiring . Uh I'm telling
you uh , from this perspective , uh
this is just really breathtaking and uh ,
I just wanted to take a moment and
thank you all for stopping in your days
and giving the ability of your time .
Uh , as I come into this new position
and we say farewell to Russ . Uh , so
thank you all . Another round of
applause for everybody please .
This is truly an honor of a lifetime to
stand before you as your 16th master
chief petty officer of the Navy is a
privilege that only 15 others fully
understand the accompanying
responsibility , the weight of which is
not lost on me . And I will do my
utmost to live up to the example that
have been set by my predecessors . I am
proud to share this day with my
beautiful wife , Evelyn . We've been
married for 33 years as the CNN was
mentioning earlier . She has always
been my strength , my calm and my
clarity of purpose when I needed it
most . Thank you . Evelyn makes it all
that much sweeter that I have you here
today to celebrate again . Thank you .
We're also joined by our kids James and
sarah and we're so proud of the
wonderful and loving human beings that
they are . They have been a part of our
military journey without choice . But
they are proud of that surface . That
service and James himself even went on
to serve for six years in our Navy . My
parents , James and dani are also here
responsible for much of my
preconditioning . Their greatest gift
though has been their living example of
love and devotion to God to each other
and to family . Thank you .
I appreciate everybody playing along
with me . Every now and then I got to
compose myself . Nobody wants to see a
weeping Boza made so I appreciate that .
I'm also happy to be joined by my
sister , Jennifer . My brother Chris .
Uh we also grew up in a military family
uh , as our father enlisted and served
for 25 years in the United States Air
Force from Vietnam and through the Cold
War and retiring as a major . This is
the first opportunity I have had to
share a moment my Navy career with my
sister and my brother . And I love them
both dearly and I'm happy that they
could join us . I'm also joined by my
wife's brother , my loved brother in
law Giordano , thank you for being here .
Every family needs their crazy uncle
and I thank you for your spirit .
Emerald Dilday , sir . Thank you for
allowing us the opportunity to
celebrate a rich history continuing the
tradition started by Mc Pond Delbert
Black and for the strong confidence
that you have in me . The Navy is
steaming in the right direction because
of your stalwart leadership . And I
thank you Sir .
Nicht von smith Russ . Thank you for
your grace and support . During the
transition period from Team 15 to Team
16 . You have made this process
seamless and I'm absolutely grateful
for your wisdom and leadership and for
the hard work of you and all of Team 15
that have kept our Navy in good water
and to all the Mc bonds who have gone
before me , I am tremendously grateful
for you all for the good that you have
done and continue to do for our Navy .
I thank you for your years of
friendship and counsel and I look
forward to even closer bonds with each
and every one of you . I'm humbled to
be falling in your footsteps . There
are so many other people I owe more
than just a measure of gratitude and
more than simple kind words can have
expressed all my friends , peers ,
family of service , my extended Navy
family and countless others Thank you .
Each and ever one of you holds a
special place in my heart and I am
honored that you took the time to
support my family and I throughout the
years and be with us here today . As I
make my way around the fleet . My top
priority will be our sailors and their
families and I know that we will all do
work to build a stronger and smarter
combat teams . That is the business
that we're in to fight and win our wars .
Our people are a decisive advantage
against any competitor that may look to
engage us in high end conflict . Our
sailors will undoubtedly rise to any
occasion , but we have to better and be
better at investing in them and meet
their needs . The navy is not easy and
probably one of the hardest things our
sailors have ever been asked to do .
The challenge though is so worth it .
But we must be better connected to one
another . As shipmates and our Navy
family , we need one another as each
other's extended family . In the navy ,
we are each other's brothers , sisters ,
cousins , aunts , uncles , even moms
and dads and well , maybe for the Cno
and I were old enough to be some of
your grandpa's Hey , but listen , we're
not just any grandpa .
Mhm . We're tough as nails . True
grit , kind of grandpa's salty
experience and tougher for it . Hey ,
you can depend on us to fight for you
also , you can depend on the sailors in
the fleet to fight for us . They are
just as tough and ready and they were
born from the same D . N . A of the
heroes that have gone before us and
equally capable . The navy does not
lend itself to an easy life , but an
easy life would be boring . I'm glad I
chose this to be challenged by this
life and all that . It has given me ,
Thank you all for accepting the same
challenge and being on this journey
with me , I've always been proud to be
your shipmate and I'm privileged to be
your Mc Pond . Thank you all And I'll
see you in the fleet .
Ladies and gentlemen , it is now my
honor and privilege to introduce a very
close personal colleague and friend
Russell smith . Today's Guest Speaker .
The 39th Vice Chief of Naval Operations
Admiral William Moran .
Okay , now we get to shift to Bidding
Farewell to Russ Smith . McM Pond 15 .
It is interesting that the
first time , you know , I don't recall
us speaking up here before . I don't
know about you , but I never got the
invitation back here because I barely
passed the grades here . But I know
this much . And now I understand that
when you're up here with these lights
on , you can't see the people in the
back . So I always wondered why I was
able to sleep in the back when I was
admitted . Now I know why . So I got my
eyes kind of on you folks in the back .
All right , I'm gonna try to keep you
awake . So the Mahan hall , what a what
a historic place . And when you're an
old soul like Russ smith , it's not
surprising that he chose an historic
place to have his retirement ceremony
and the fact that he was command master
chief here also speaks by as to why he
chose to come back . Uh it was Abram
Owen , you know , who wrote this tone
called the influence of seapower upon
history . But he was legendary ,
legendary for being the only midshipman
to never have had a plea beer . And
I gotta believe that there's a whole
host of leaves out in the yard right
now . That would like to be part of
that legend . Suit master Chief ho ney .
And your family . Congratulations . Uh ,
you richly deserved . You're clearly a
terrific leader . The fleet looks
forward to having you out there . Uh ,
I'm excited for you but we want to
thank you for volunteering to continue
to serve to continue to serve this
great Navy and a great nation . So
congratulations ! We're proud of you .
So uh , I'll offer my welcome to all
the distinguished guests , especially
the former Mc bonds in , in the office
or in the audience today . Uh , I've
met many of you in the past , proud to
have been served alongside of many of
you . Uh , and it's , it speaks volumes
that you're here to honor both Rust and
master Chief Tony . Can you imagine a
better place or time to be here ?
This week ? We started the Navy started
kicked off its next season of Chiefs
initiation , plead classes arrived
on the grounds of this wonderful
institution . I don't think there's a
better opportunity to reflect on this
chief's legacy where the Chiefs
principal role as a teacher . My dad
who was a teacher for 50 years , once
said great teachers accomplish wonders
beyond comprehension . They lift hearts
and spirits . They hold us to the
highest standards . And now more than
4500 chief selects in the fleet are
going through the process of learning
how to become even a better teacher .
And I would imagine with this class of
plebs that have just arrived on the
yard , ask the Chief takes on special
meaning 17 years ago .
After an arduous year of sharing a home
room with then Commander Mike Dilday at
National War College . I found myself
in the pentagon when a new young , very
young , very young looking master Chief
smith showed up in my office to say ,
introduced himself and say , sir ,
we've got a ship of war reporting to us
here in the pentagon and she's in
trouble . The crew needs our help . We
need to fly to boston very soon and go
visit . Crew is struggling . The next
week as I sat there in Reagan National
Airport awaiting the bus out to the
american airlines trip to boston . I
was stunned when master Chief
smith showed up . He was in shorts pt
gear here . I am traveling in a suit
for all practical purposes , a uniform ,
wondering what happened . But I was
stunned . Not at the fact that he wore
the short shorts , but at what came
below the shorts ,
gigantic cafs .
I had never seen anything like it .
I thought somehow his growth spurt
stopped and his calves get grown
Russ across across broke the
awkwardness of the moment and in true
fashion demonstrated his humility and
his great sense of humor and made what
was arguably a perfect stranger very
comfortable . I knew then I knew then
that we were gonna go along just great .
And it's been a lifelong 17 year
journey since that first meeting .
That trip taught me a lot about master
chief smith , smart , articulate ,
fun , intuitive , the leader who
relished opportunities to teach and to
learn . He was also a gadget guy . He
was the modern day mr gadget , anybody
who knows him , he knows he's got about
16 apple for iphones ,
ipads , watches and a whole host of
things . The true I ? S in him comes
out here as you might imagine . I'm not
sure who he's monitoring but somebody's
monitoring him . But the most
important trait that I learned on that
very first trip was the size of his
heart for sailors , which became a
theme for him during his tenure as Mick
bar . Now , I want to quote , I would
like to quote our beloved captain Wayne
Hughes who we lost the past year , who
wants a pint and I paraphrase the
abiding value of leadership , morale ,
training , physical and mental
conditioning , willpower and endurance
are the most important elements of
warfare and the first cornerstone of
naval warfare is that sailors matter
most . No one , No 1
understood this better than Russ Smith
by virtue of his vast experiences at
sea and his absolute faith in
the goodness of young women and men who
sign on to serve their country . It
would have been easy to see that he
would be destined to be a Command
Master Chief of a destroyer . The
Command Master Chief of this
institution , the Command or the Fleet
Master Chief at N . One before becoming
Mick pond . 15 here at the Academy
Master Chief smith , accelerated the
role of the senior enlisted advisors .
You know , and I were talking right
before the ceremony and said , you know ,
we we were meds . There was , there
were no senior enlisted here . It's why
I saluted my first Master Chief in the
fleet because I didn't know any better .
That was supposed to be funny . It
wasn't so funny to me when he grabbed
me by the year and pulled me in the X .
O . S . Office . I will tell you that ,
but but Russ taught how to build a team
here by finding different people to
carry and convey the same messages
so everyone could share in the
contributions and the ideas across the
board . And today that team has the
very good fortune of living vicariously
through your midshipmen who have
blossomed into the fleet as Marine
Corps's Marine Corps officers and Naval
officers . It's what any good chief
would want At N one . He traversed the
globe with Admiral Bob Burke , usually
in the cattle car section , wedged
between the two largest human beings
that could walk in and sit down next to
him in over three years . The tens and
tens of thousands of all hands calls ,
the nature of which all these former mc
ponds fully understand and appreciate .
He would use movies and music to
connect with generations of sailors .
If you know Russ , he knows every line
of every movie that anybody ever
created . And he's got a , he's got a
playlist of songs that , that go from
the most recent to well beyond my
generation . Uh , and he , and he can
quote those as well and he connects in
that way in in a way that I think most
sailors just really have come to
appreciate
at that All hands called . We started
to explain policy
where it was easy . This is an all
hands call it on a big deck amphibious
that had just failed a recent
inspection and a brand new Ceo was on
board and they were getting ready for
deployment . We thought we thought we
were were there to give the crew a lift
when we were dead wrong , the ceo and
the triad were extraordinary and the
crew was made motivated to restore
excellence and show everyone they were
ready to go into the fight . Leadership
matters too . But when we got to that
old hands call , we started talking
about policy and process and metrics
and Russ . Quickly picked up , grabbed
the mic because he knew that in
order to really get sailors to listen .
You gotta , you've got to make them
feel what you're thinking , not try to
make them understand what you're saying .
And he was magnificent to death . The
crew was focused on war fighting right
where they needed to be . We spent over
two hours in that setting . We didn't
want to leave . The atmosphere was
electric and I was not
quite ready for the ceo when he stepped
in and said sir we got to get the crew
back to work and I looked up and I saw
a long line forming in front of in
front of Russ smith back then it's uh
spoke volumes about the fact that they
all wanted to shake his hand and take a
photo with him . And it was also
reassuring to me that we have found
another master chief like april belled ,
oh who is ready to step in and say at
any moment . Shipmates , what the
admiral meant to say ,
that never happens .
They flash forward two years later and
not too many months back Russ
and I got together for dinner along
with another close friend . It was a
chance for him to reflect the
opportunity for me to understand much
more about Russ smith . The man , the
brother son , your grandson .
I learned that his heritage was six
deep in bosun's mates , nick pond
hunting um 60
and his grandfather was his hero . And
if any of you remember you know Russ
like to post stuff on social media . He
posted a picture of his grandfather
with sport and a wonderful beard in
uniform . That posting would come to
haunt him .
But what really came through that night
having dinner was that
his family is always has been
and probably will be for the rest of
his life . The navy to borrow the
phrase salt water poured out of him
that evening and the real Russ smith
came into full view For me , His
endless well of compassion for sailors
and families had seemingly taken its
toll that evening . I realized that
night just how much , just how much
we've always asked the moon of our
master , chief petty officers of the
Navy , to lead the mess , to inspire
and tougher younger troops to mentor
midshipman to senior flag officers at
their best to represent the long blue
line of Congress and remind the nation
of what a great navy is capable of at
their most trying to support the
earrings , machinations to place a
stamp of authenticity on its latest
endeavors straddling the fleet in
Washington with no greater chasm in
between . No more important connections
for the institution they love and
impossible , impossible to make both
feet land perfectly . If you
could bring this audience together like
russell L smith today , how did we
create this position ? And so you know ,
thank you for reading that quote from
Admiral Zumwalt . It was meaningful . I
want to put a little more context for
Russia's role in that we did not
put a lot of scaffolding in place to
support the Mc Bond and the demanding
expectations that were placed on that
position , expecting the needs and
desires to be filled from Washington
while counting on decisive leadership
and common sense to be filled by the
fleet , to be , to be responsive to
short term goals , but never lose sight
of the Navy's mission . The past
several years went well beyond even
these lofty expectations . I don't have
to tell this crowd what it's been like
for the last few years with situations
we hadn't experienced in nearly a
century a pandemic while trying to keep
the fleet operating . I think they did
a magnificent job meeting the mission
I think , you know , would agree . And
he spoke to this , that Russ smith met
the moment he met those expectations .
Every time he did bridge , he did
warn , he did honor our best .
Not always to unanimous applause , but
did we really want a master chief who
made everyone happy ? Do we always want
a chief's mess ? That makes us always
happy ? I don't think
so . The senior enlisted shouldering
the continuity of an entire institution
plays an important role in making
military is formidable and we should
never wish our adversaries that
advantage . What is more
powerful than a leading chief and a
division officer on the same page
locked arm and arm , especially if the
officer has earned the trust of that
chief . What so many of us ,
Lucky folks up here on stage and in
this audience and around the fleet will
always cherish is not the trust from
master Chief smith . But the faith ,
the faith that he had in all of us and
the special confidence only he could
give to make the kind of change that
matters most for that trust we can
never thank him enough for it was never
always and completely earned . And if
we're honest with ourselves , as we
became more senior , no matter how much
we thought we knew , the more we
invited Russ smith in the more we
involved the mess and the better . We
all became Russ taught us where we were
headed all along . Since the days of
the late Del Black and through his
patience , wisdom and love allowed many
of us to fully understand the sailors
matter most . There's nothing more
american than to be raised by loved
ones . To understand the worth of
serving a higher purpose .
No , no quid pro quo simply the honor
to serve and have proven worthy the
opportunity to lead
Master Chief Smith McM Pond 15 .
The navy is infinitely stronger for
your legacy of teaching and servant
leadership , you have postured
shipmates , shipmates here , shipmates
in the fleet for whatever fight comes
their way . So as you go ashore to
another team . Set sail with fair winds
and following season , once again find
meaning and purpose in your life . We
are all , all of us , forever . Your
shipmates and friends personally and
professionally blessed to have served
alongside of you . You will be missed
and we love you . Thank you
Moran , incredible message . Thank you .
Admiral Dilday will now present MCP on
smith's end of tour Award . Master
Chief smith front and center
attention to award
The President of the United States
takes pleasure in presenting the
Distinguished Service Medal to Master
Chief Petty Officer in the Navy ,
Russell L . Smith , United States Navy
for exceptionally meritorious service
to the United States and a duty of
great responsibility as Master Chief
Petty Officer in the Navy . From august
2018 to september 2022
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
smith exhibited inspirational
leadership as he advanced the diverse
interests of all Navy stakeholders and
the combat readiness of a globally
distributed fleet . He effectively
articulated evolving policy issues and
conveyed sailors married concerns to
the senior most military and civilian
officials for consideration and
provided objective perspectives that
were crucial in balancing strategic
imperatives and tactical realities .
His comprehension of issues affecting
the fleet , extensive experience and
collaborative agility enabled him to
cut through bureaucracy and influence
decisional outcomes . His superior
performance and duties culminated . His
34 years of honorable and dedicated
military service . Master Chief Petty
House of the Navy's distinctive
accomplishments , exemplary leadership
and deep devotion to duty , reflected
great credit upon him and were in
keeping with the highest traditions of
the United States Naval Service signed
for the president , the audible Carlos
del Toro . Secretary of the Navy .
Yes , please be seated
and please note various awards gifts
and letters . Mick pawn smith has
received will be displayed immediately
after the ceremony . Shadow
boxes . Shadow boxes are born of an
agent . Naval tradition still practiced
today , both in the militaries of the
world and throughout civilian life .
According to some accounts of naval
history and tradition . When a sailor
retires and is departing the ship for
the last time , it is considered bad
luck for the sailors shadow to touch
land before he does
thus , the sailors . Shipmates would
construct a sturdy box , handcrafted of
the finest materials in which to
display Mementos of the sailors
accomplishments and years of service
and thereby symbolically creating a
shadow of that sailor . The box
protects and contains the sailors
shadow until he is safely ashore .
At which time the shadow box can be
given to the sailor in a presentation
ceremony similar to today .
Mc Pond smith . Shadow box is rich with
naval history included . Inside lays
his grandfather's boson pipe
representing a legacy of valiant and
faithful naval service as well as the
national flag flown at each of his
previous duty stations Master . Chief
tim taylor and chief Will Ladner are
honored to present your shadow box made
by the chief's mess .
Okay , Russ you knew this was gonna
come . It's my turn and
I will keep it brief . We've known each
other since October 1993 as we both
were nuclear weapons technicians
converting to intelligence specialist .
I have to tell you , we started off as
colleagues that we became friends
and now we are family and I can't tell
you how much I appreciate that because
you see uncle Rusty
spent a lot of time with my three
Children Teaching My daughter
who's now 32 how to box
in Williamsburg and then encouraging
her to come box and try to hit me in
the stomach . Unfortunately that was a
little too high for her .
And then there was some wrestling you
see , I had two boys as well . But if
you ever try to wrestle this man , just
realize you likely will lose . Okay ,
So he would hold me down so that my
boys can do body slams on their father .
Bottom line Russ , you were always
there to lend an ear and give advice .
And I have to say sir
many of these gadgets that this man
would buy because he loved his little
gadgets . Most of you know this , it's
gotta be small , it's gotta be powerful .
But when he exhausted and finished
using them , they usually came to this
man right here . The one who was too
cheap to buy his own .
Oh Russ from one nuclear weapons
technician , former and now retired to
another still active duty . I can
assure you there's one other out there .
But bottom line we both wish you fair
winds and following seas and look
forward to welcome you into SAN Diego .
I love you , brother .
Okay , ladies and gentlemen , The 15th
Master , Chief Petty Officer in the
Navy , McM Russell Smith .