Honea becomes the 16th master chief petty officer of the Navy
By Geoff Ziezulewicz
Master Chief James Honea recently became the Navy’s 16th chief petty officer of the Navy during a ceremony at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
Honea, a sailor for 35 years, most recently served as the senior enlisted leader for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and was described by Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday as having “saltwater running through his veins,” according to a video recording of the ceremony posted online.
During the ceremony, Gilday praised outgoing MCPON Russell Smith, who became “MCPON 15″ in August 2018, as a “true leader” who never shied away from tough assignments.
“You’re a chief to the core and a sailor who’s dedicated to sailors,” Gilday told Smith. “You care for sailors like few other leaders I have met in the Navy.”
“As you go ashore for the final time, know that this nation and our Navy are forever grateful for your lifetime of honorable service,” Gilday said.
Retired Adm. Bill Moran, the former vice CNO who was slated to become CNO before his sudden retirement in 2019 praised Smith during the ceremony for always meeting the moment. “We are, all of us, forever your shipmates and friends, personally and professionally blessed to have served alongside you,” Moran said. “You will be missed.”
During his speech, Smith jokingly recalled how he once told the former Chief of Naval Personnel, retired Vice Adm. John Nowell, that the F-word was “the word of the proletariat,” and that if Nowell used that word around the chiefs mess, he would be fine.
“He looked at me, like, it worked!” Smith recalled to audience laughter.
Smith enlisted in 1988 and spent most of Thursday’s speech praising those with whom he forged a bond over the decades.
“The value for me has always lied in the relationships, the friends and shipmates who have become my family,” he said. “I’ve had this Navy family carry me for the past 34 years, and I know no one has been so fortunate as I in that regard.”
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Photo caption: Master Chief James Honea, right, became the 16th master chief petty officer of the Navy during a ceremony at the U.S. Naval Academy. At left is outgoing MCPON Russell Smith, and at center is Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday.
