COMMISSIONING CEREMONY FORSENIOR CHIEF

AVIATION ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN(AW)

ERIC S. WATKINS1 DECEMBER 2013

USS BOXER (LHD 4)

SCHEDULE OF EVENTSMASTER OF CEREMONY

CWO3 COWAN

NATIONAL ANTHEM

INVOCATIONCDR MORTON

WHAT IS A MUSTANG?

CO’s REMARKSCAPT GUMBLETON

DISCHARGE FROM ENLISTED RANKCAPT GUMBLETON

REMOVAL OF COLLAR DEVICESATCS SCIMONE & AECS HILL

RETIRING OF COVERCMDCM GRUCHALLA

OATH OF OFFICECWO4 VALENTINE

SILVER DOLLAR SALUTE

CWO2 WATKINS REMARKS

BENEDICTION

Senior Chief Watkins was born in Louisville, Kentucky March 21, 1976 and was raised in Lake Mary, FL. He graduated from Lake Mary High School in June 1994. In May 1995 he enlisted in the Navy and in November 1995 he went to recruit training at RTC Great Lakes. In February 1996 he reported to NATTC Millington, Tennessee for AT(I) A-School. After successful completion of his initial training he received orders to CNATTU Tinker AFB for E-6A Avionics training located in Oklahoma City, OK. In February 1997 ATAN reported to Commander Strategic Communications Wing One. After a successful first tour and promotion to AT3 he transferred to AIMD Oceana SEAOPDET in May 1999. Shortly after reporting to AIMD Oceana

for his first sea tour, he was promoted to Second Class Petty Officer. He completed two SEAOPDET deployments as an F-14 Fire Control Radar Technician and Collateral Duty Inspector onboard the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72). At the completion of his second deployment in May 2003, he was promoted to AT1. He subsequently transferred to AIMD Oceana for shore duty in July 2003 after completion of CASS Operator/Maintainer training at CNATTU Oceana. Assigned to AIMD Oceana as an Avionics shift supervisor first, quickly turned into the Avionics Work Center Leading Petty Officer position and culminated in his assignment as Avionics Division Production Control Leading Petty Officer. He continued to run Avionics Division PC until his transfer in November of 2006. AT1 reported for sea duty onboard the USS JOHN F KENNEDY (CV-67) home ported in Mayport, Florida. As the CASS LPO he processed all CASS items for disposition in preparation of the Kennedy’s decommissioning in March 2007. During his brief time onboard the Kennedy he received orders for VP-26 in Brunswick, Maine.After completion of P-3C O-level Avionics training at CNATTU Jacksonville he proceeded north to VP-26. While en route he was notified of his selection to Chief Petty Officer. He reported to VP-26 in August 2007 and while there he completed two deployments and numerous detachments where he excelled as the Operations LCPO in Djibouti, Africa and the Maintenance Control LCPO in Sigonella, Sicily. In June 2010 he reported to CNATT Pensacola, Florida where he completed a successful tour in the Technical Support directorate as the F-18/CASS/Common Avionics IPT Lead. He was selected to Senior Chief Petty Officer in June 2012. In March 2013, while en route to his next duty station onboard the USS BOXER as the Quality Assurance Officer he was selected for Chief Warrant Officer, Aviation Maintenance, commissioning in December 2013. During his career Senior Chief Watkins has been awarded two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, four Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, six Good Conduct Medals and various campaign and unit awards.

SENIOR CHIEF AVIATION ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN(AW)

ERIC S. WATKINS

What is a Mustang?In the Navy, a Mustang is an Officer who has

promoted up from the ranks of the Navy enlisted personnel through an in-service procurement

program, with no interruption of his/her active duty status. It is also understood that the

Mustang Officer is a career Sailor, and normally wears one or more Good Conduct Medals.

The term “Mustang” is a relatively modern term, originating either just prior to, or during

World War II. It is believed to be a Sea Service term, although other service officers are beginning

to be described as Mustangs. It literally refers to the mustang horse, which is a wild animal and

therefore not a thoroughbred. A mustang, after being captured, can be tamed and saddle broken but it always has a bit of a wild streak, and can periodically revert to its old ways unexpectedly

and therefore the owner needs to keep an eye on it at all times.

By the same token, however, since a mustang was formerly a wild and free animal, it may very well

be smarter, more capable and have a better survival instinct then thoroughbreds. The mustang can

take care of itself when things get tough, thriving on rough treatment, while the thoroughbred,

having been pampered its whole life, cannot.

You can easily see the parallel between horses and Naval officers. The term “Mustang” is used in

the complimentary sense, most of the time. A Chief Warrant Officer is an officer by appearance and in the minds of the “top brass,” and an enlisted

technician at heart. The creed of the LDO/CWO, upoNreceiving their commission is:

“I did it the hard way.....I earned it.”

A native of Falmouth, Massachusetts, he graduated from Norwich University in 1989 where he earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering. He was commissioned an Ensign upon completion of the NROTC program and reported directly to Pensacola, Florida for flight training. He was designated a Naval Aviator in October 1990 and qualified as a SH-60B pilot at the Fleet Replacement Squadron in Mayport, Florida. Captain Gumbleton has served in a variety of sea and shore assignments. At sea, his assignments include HSL-44 deploying in USS Samuel B Roberts (FFG-58) as Detachment Training Officer and USS Vicksburg (CG-69) as Detachment Maintenance Officer. Twice serving at HSL-46, he deployed in USS Ticonderoga (CG-47) as officer-in-charge. Reporting back to HSL-

46 he served as Squadron Operations Officer and as officer-in-charge while deployed in USS Taylor (FFG-50). His shore assignments include the Bureau of Naval Personnel as War College and graduate education detailer; Flag Lieutenant to Commander, Naval Air Systems Command; Legislative Fellow to Senator John Warner of Virginia; and Congressional Liaison, Appropriations Matters Office in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (FM&C). His most recent assignment was as military assistant to Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff Allied Command Transformation Staff Element Europe. Captain Gumbleton commanded the Vipers of HSL-48. He reported as Executive Officer in September 2005 and assumed command in December 2006. Viper detachments deployed in support of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group to the Persian Gulf. He holds a Master of Science degree in information systems from The George Washington University (GWU), a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College and most recently attended the GWU/MIT National Security Management Course. Captain Gumbleton was selected below the zone for his current rank and was subsequently selected for Major Command. In January 2013, Captain Gumbleton assumed command of USS BOXER (LHD 4). His personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal and other unit awards.

CAPT Gumbleton COMMANDING OFFICER

YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED THAT, WHICH COMES TO MANY OF US WHO SERVED AS A CHIEF PETTY OFFICER IN OUR NAVY, I SAY “OUR NAVY” BECAUSE YOUR DEPARTURE FROM THE CHIEF’s MESS IN NO WAY TERMINATES OUR RELATIONSHIP, OUR REGARDS, OUR OBLIGATIONS TO THE SERVICE AND OUR FELLOW CHIEF PETTY OFFICERS. THE RESPECT THAT YOU EARNED AS “THE CHIEF” WAS BASED ON THE SAME ATTRIBUTES THAT YOU WILL CARRY INTO YOUR LEADERSHIP ROLE AS A NAVAL OFFICER. HAVE NO REGRETS. WE VIEW YOUR COMMISSIONING ORDERS NOT AS AN END TO AN ERA, BUT AS ORDERS TO A NEW CHALLENGING ASSIGNMENT. REMEMBER WELL THAT YOU HAVE BEEN, AND WILL ALWAYS BE AN ACCEPTED MEMBER OF THE MOST EXCLUSIVE OF ALL MARITIME FRATERNITIES-THAT OF A UNITED STATES NAVY CHIEF PETTY OFFICER.

Chief Petty OfficerTransition Creed

SILVER DOLLAR SALUTEThe first salute is a long standing 19th century tradition that requires newly commissioned officers to give a silver dollar to the recipient of their first salute. Navy tradition states that you have to buy your first salute and then earn every salute thereafter through your performance by gaining the respect of your subordinates. Today, naval officers paying for their first salute is considered a way to show respect for those superior enlisted personnel who helped the officer achieve commissioned status.