It was 132 years ago – and counting - on April 1, 1893, that the U.S. Navy chief petty officer rank was officially designated.

Navy General Order 409 established that as the Fleet’s senior enlisted rank, chief petty officers would primarily serve as a bridge between officers and junior enlisted Sailors.

Along with a whole lot more.

For the approximately 35 active duty chief petty officers – as well as 27 retired chiefs - assigned to Naval Hospital Bremerton, primarily of the hospital corpsman rate, the collective experience, expertise, and leadership of hundreds of accumulated years of experience has helped to develop, mentor and lead the warrior ethos in providing a ready medical force more than capable of ensuring there’s a medically ready force when called upon.


“Happy 132nd Birthday, Navy Chiefs! Since their establishment, chiefs have been the mainstay of our Navy—setting the standard for technical expertise, professionalism, and steadfast leadership. Unlike any other military service, the Navy chief serves as the vital link between our Sailors and the wardroom—trusted mentors, advocates, and advisors to both junior Sailors and officers,” shared Capt. Karla Lepore, Naval Hospital Bremerton director and Navy Medicine Readiness Training Command Bremerton commanding officer, also recognizing by name those staff members “who were and will always be chiefs.”

The Chief Petty Officer pledge, noted Master Chief Hospital Corpsman Joshua Akins, master of ceremonies for the birthday celebration, provided an expressive synopsis of the obligation which comes with being a Navy chief.

“I serve my country and her people with pride and honor. I make things happen and do the best I can. I am charged with a leadership role like no other in the world. I develop junior officer and mold my Sailors. I live by the Navy’s core value of honor, courage, and commitment. I set the example. I am a chief petty officer in the United State Navy,” Chief Personnel Specialist Caleb Newgard read in part to those in attendance at the ceremony.

The ceremony also included inviting the youngest Navy chief assigned to the command, Chief Hospital Corpsman Richard Heard, who entered the Navy in 2011, and the saltiest elder, retired Navy Chief Hospital Corpsman Steven Jackson, who enlisted in 1982.