Rick D. West
Encyclopedia
Rick D. West is the 12th and current Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
(MCPON). On December 12, 2008, West accepted the passing of the ceremonial cutlass
from outgoing MCPON Joe R. Campa
) in 1981 and immediately entered the U.S. Navy. Master Chief West received recruit training and Quartermaster (QM) training at Orlando, Florida
followed by Enlisted Submarine School
at Naval Submarine Base New London
(Groton, Connecticut
). His first duty assignment was on board USS Ethan Allen (SSBN-608)
where he completed Submarine Qualifications
(SS). Other assignments include USS Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610)
, USS Sea Devil (SSN-664)
, Commander Naval Activities United Kingdom
(COMNAVACTUK), USS Tecumseh (SSBN-628)
(Blue), and Tactical Readiness Evaluation (TRE) team on COMSUBPAC
Staff.
on board the San Diego
-based Fast Attack Submarine, , completing two Western Pacific deployments. The crew earned two Battle Efficiency
"E" awards.
Master Chief West then served as Command Master Chief
at Commander, Submarine Squadron Eleven. Upon completion of his tour at COMSUBRON ELEVEN, he was selected as Force Master Chief (FORCM) and attended the Senior Enlisted Academy
in Newport, Rhode Island
.
FORCM (SS) West served as Force Master Chief, Submarine Force U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMSUBPAC
) from January 2001 to January 2004.
Command Master Chief West was then assigned to USS Preble (DDG-88)
homeported in San Diego, where he completed a deployment to the Persian Gulf
and qualified as Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist (SW).
Command Master Chief West was selected during his tour on the USS Preble to serve as United States Pacific Fleet
, Fleet Master Chief from February 2005 to June 2007. Since 2007, FLTCM (SS/SW) West had served as the 14th Fleet Master Chief for Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command
prior to his selection as MCPON beginning December 12, 2008.
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
The Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy is a unique non-commissioned rank in the United States Navy, which has a paygrade of E-9. The holder of this rank and post is the most senior enlisted member of the U.S...
(MCPON). On December 12, 2008, West accepted the passing of the ceremonial cutlass
Cutlass
A cutlass is a short, broad sabre or slashing sword, with a straight or slightly curved blade sharpened on the cutting edge, and a hilt often featuring a solid cupped or basket shaped guard...
from outgoing MCPON Joe R. Campa
Joe R. Campa
Joe R. Campa, Jr., was the 11th Master Chief Petty Officer of the United States Navy.-Education:Campa is a distinguished honor graduate of the U.S. Navy Senior Enlisted Academy. He also graduated from the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy in May 2003 and completed the Command Sergeants Major...
Early life and naval career
Master Chief West graduated from Northwest Georgia High School (Trenton, GeorgiaTrenton, Georgia
Trenton is a city in Dade County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,942 at the 2000 census. It is the only incorporated municipality in the county, and as such it serves as the county seat....
) in 1981 and immediately entered the U.S. Navy. Master Chief West received recruit training and Quartermaster (QM) training at Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
followed by Enlisted Submarine School
Basic Enlisted Sub School
Basic Enlisted Submarine School is the U.S. Navy's submarine training school for enlisted sailors. Located on Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut, the school is a six-week introduction to the basic theory, construction and operation of nuclear powered submarines...
at Naval Submarine Base New London
Naval Submarine Base New London
Naval Submarine Base New London is the United States Navy's primary submarine base, the "Home of the Submarine Force", and "the Submarine Capital of the World".-History:...
(Groton, Connecticut
Groton, Connecticut
Groton is a town located on the Thames River in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 39,907 at the 2000 census....
). His first duty assignment was on board USS Ethan Allen (SSBN-608)
USS Ethan Allen (SSBN-608)
USS Ethan Allen , lead ship of her class, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for American Revolutionary War hero Ethan Allen....
where he completed Submarine Qualifications
Submarine Warfare insignia
The Submarine Warfare Insignia is a uniform breast pin worn by enlisted men and officers of the United States Navy to indicate that they are qualified in submarines. The Submarine Warfare Insignia is considered one of the Navy's three major warfare pins along with the Surface Warfare Badge and...
(SS). Other assignments include USS Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610)
USS Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610)
USS Thomas A. Edison , an ballistic-missile submarine, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the inventor, Thomas Edison .-Ship history:...
, USS Sea Devil (SSN-664)
USS Sea Devil (SSN-664)
USS Sea Devil , a Sturgeon-class attack submarine, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the sea devil , also known as the manta ray or devil ray, the largest of all living rays, noted for power and endurance.-Construction and commissioning:The contract to build Sea Devil...
, Commander Naval Activities United Kingdom
U.S. Naval Activities, United Kingdom
Commander, U.S. Naval Activities, United Kingdom was an echelon three command subordinate to the Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces, Europe until 2007. As the regional area coordinator for the United Kingdom and Northern Europe, COMNAVACTUK also exercised authority over the following...
(COMNAVACTUK), USS Tecumseh (SSBN-628)
USS Tecumseh (SSBN-628)
USS Tecumseh , a ballistic missile submarine, was the fourth ship of the United States Navy to be named for Tecumseh , the leader of the Shawnee people.-Construction and commissioning:...
(Blue), and Tactical Readiness Evaluation (TRE) team on COMSUBPAC
ComSubPac
Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet is the principal advisor to the Commander, United States Pacific Fleet for submarine matters. The Pacific Submarine Force includes attack, ballistic missile and auxiliary submarines, submarine tenders, floating submarine docks, deep submergence...
Staff.
Leadership assignments
Master Chief West was then assigned as Chief of the BoatChief of the boat
Chief of the Boat is an enlisted sailor on board a U.S. Navy submarine or Cyclone Class Coastal Patrol Ships, who serves as the senior enlisted advisor to the commanding officer and executive officer, and assists with matters regarding the good order and discipline of the crew. The Chief of the...
on board the San Diego
Naval Base Point Loma
Located in Point Loma, a neighborhood of San Diego, California, Naval Base Point Loma was established on 1 October 1998 when Navy facilities in the Point Loma area of San Diego were consolidated under Commander, Navy Region Southwest...
-based Fast Attack Submarine, , completing two Western Pacific deployments. The crew earned two Battle Efficiency
Battle Effectiveness Award
The Battle Effectiveness Award , commonly known as the Battle "E", is awarded annually to the small number of U.S...
"E" awards.
Master Chief West then served as Command Master Chief
Command Master Chief Petty Officer
-Background:First referenced in OPNAVINST 1306.2C dated 16 October 1995, the Navy's Command Master Chief Program is a valuable asset which stimulates free-flowing communications and ensures the highest standards of professionalism are upheld at all levels within the chain of command...
at Commander, Submarine Squadron Eleven. Upon completion of his tour at COMSUBRON ELEVEN, he was selected as Force Master Chief (FORCM) and attended the Senior Enlisted Academy
U.S. Navy Senior Enlisted Academy
The U.S. Navy Senior Enlisted Academy provides education and training for senior and master chief petty officers. Most of the students are active-duty Navy personnel...
in Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
.
FORCM (SS) West served as Force Master Chief, Submarine Force U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMSUBPAC
ComSubPac
Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet is the principal advisor to the Commander, United States Pacific Fleet for submarine matters. The Pacific Submarine Force includes attack, ballistic missile and auxiliary submarines, submarine tenders, floating submarine docks, deep submergence...
) from January 2001 to January 2004.
Command Master Chief West was then assigned to USS Preble (DDG-88)
USS Preble (DDG-88)
USS Preble is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the United States Navy. She is the sixth U.S. Navy ship named for Commodore Edward Preble...
homeported in San Diego, where he completed a deployment to the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
and qualified as Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist (SW).
Command Master Chief West was selected during his tour on the USS Preble to serve as United States Pacific Fleet
United States Pacific Fleet
The United States Pacific Fleet is a Pacific Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources under the operational control of the United States Pacific Command. Its home port is at Pearl Harbor Naval Base, Hawaii. It is commanded by Admiral Patrick M...
, Fleet Master Chief from February 2005 to June 2007. Since 2007, FLTCM (SS/SW) West had served as the 14th Fleet Master Chief for Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command
Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command
Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command , is the title of the United States Navy officer who serves as the commanding officer of the United States Fleet Forces Command. The U.S. Fleet Forces Command was originally established in 1905 as the U.S. Atlantic Fleet and as a two-star rear admiral's billet,...
prior to his selection as MCPON beginning December 12, 2008.
Military awards and decorations
| Legion of Merit Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements... (2) |
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| Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal (United States) The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969... (3) |
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| Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4) | |
| Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2) | |
| Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (2) | |
 |
Navy "E" Ribbon w/ Wreathed Battle E device |
| Navy Good Conduct Medal (8) | |
 |
Navy Expeditionary Medal Navy Expeditionary Medal The Navy Expeditionary Medal is an award of the United States Navy which was first created in August 1936 by General Orders of the Department of the Navy... |
| National Defense Service Medal National Defense Service Medal The National Defense Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States military originally commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower... (2) |
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Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal is a military award of the United States military, which was first created in 1961 by Executive Order of President John Kennedy... |
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Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal is a United States armed forces military award created by George W. Bush on March 12, 2003 by Executive Order 13289. It recognizes those military service members who have deployed overseas in direct service to the War on Terror from September 11,... |
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Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal The Global War on Terrorism Service Medal is a military award of the United States military which was created by Executive Order 13289 of President George W. Bush on March 12, 2003... |
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Humanitarian Service Medal Humanitarian Service Medal The Humanitarian Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States armed forces which was created on January 19, 1977 by President Gerald Ford under... |
| Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (8) | |
 |
Navy Arctic Service Ribbon Arctic Service Ribbon The Navy Arctic Service Ribbon is a decoration of the United States Navy which was established in May 1986. The ribbon is authorized to any member of the U.S. Navy or United States Marine Corps for service above the Arctic Circle. Like the Antarctica Service Medal, it may also be awarded to... |
| Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon Overseas Service Ribbon An Overseas Service Ribbon is a service military award of the United States military which recognizes those service members who have performed military tours of duty outside the borders of the United States of America. There are different versions of the Overseas Service Ribbons for the U.S. Army,... (2) |
- Enlisted Submarine Warfare InsigniaSubmarine Warfare insigniaThe Submarine Warfare Insignia is a uniform breast pin worn by enlisted men and officers of the United States Navy to indicate that they are qualified in submarines. The Submarine Warfare Insignia is considered one of the Navy's three major warfare pins along with the Surface Warfare Badge and...
- Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist Insignia
- Silver SSBN Deterrent Patrol InsigniaSSBN Deterrent Patrol insigniaThe SSBN Deterrent Patrol Insignia is a uniform breast pin worn by officers and men of the United States Navy's submarine service who have completed strategic deterrent patrols in nuclear ballistic missile submarines...
- Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Identification BadgeMaster Chief Petty Officer of the Navy BadgeThe Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Badge is an identification badge of the United States Navy which is presented to the Master Chief of the Navy upon assuming office. The Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Badge is the highest in a series of Chief Petty Officer Identification Badges...
- Service StripesService stripeA service stripe, commonly called a hash mark, is a decoration of the United States military which is presented to enlisted members of the U.S. military to denote length of service. The United States Army awards each stripe for three years service, while the United States Navy, United States...
(7 awards)