“Bringing the heritage of the Chief to the way we lead our junior Sailors at SERMC is what I feel helps motivate them to become better Sailors,” said Machinist’s Mate Senior Chief John Torres.
“I have a lot of respect for what the Chiefs, Senior Chiefs and Master Chiefs do, day in and day out,” said SERMC Executive Officer Capt. Gary Martin. “The Chief is someone young Sailors can look up to, they are the examples, and they are leaders.” Martin added.
The rank of CPO was established by President Benjamin Harrison on Feb. 23, 1893, when he signed General Order 409. The new rank, the seventh enlisted rate in the U.S. Navy, became effective April 1, 1893.
“The birth of the Chief Petty Officer rank is historic because no other branch of service has the cadre of leadership that the Navy has in our Chief’s Mess. It’s important that we take the time to recognize that as we continue to uphold our Navy’s heritage,” added Torres.
The Navy added Senior and Master Chief Petty Officers to the enlisted ranks on June 1, 1958.