Rick West (sailor)

Last updated

Rick D. West
Rick West def.jpg
West in December 2008
Born1963 (age 5960)
Rising Fawn, Georgia
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branch United States Navy
Years of service1981–2012
Rank Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
Commands held Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
Battles/wars Global War on Terrorism
Awards Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit (2)
Meritorious Service Medal (3)
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4)
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2)

Rick D. West (born 1963) is a retired United States Navy sailor who served as the 12th Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy. [1] [2]

Contents

Early life and education

West was born in 1963 in Rising Fawn, Georgia, and graduated from Northwest Georgia High School in Trenton, Georgia in 1981.

West at the Skymont Boy Scout Camp in June 2009. Rick West at Skymont Boy Scout Camp.jpg
West at the Skymont Boy Scout Camp in June 2009.

After graduating from high school, West enlisted in the United States Navy. He received recruit training and Quartermaster training at Orlando, Florida, followed by Enlisted Submarine School at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut. His first duty assignment was on board USS Ethan Allen, where he completed Submarine Qualifications. Other assignments include USS Thomas A. Edison, USS Sea Devil, Commander Naval Activities United Kingdom, USS Tecumseh (Blue), and Tactical Readiness Evaluation team on COMSUBPAC Staff.

Leadership assignments

West was then assigned as Chief of the Boat on board the San Diego-based Fast Attack Submarine USS Portsmouth, completing two Western Pacific deployments. The crew earned two Battle Efficiency "E" awards. He then served as command master chief at Commander, Submarine Squadron Eleven. Upon completion of his tour, he was selected as force master chief and attended the Senior Enlisted Academy in Newport, Rhode Island.

West served as force master chief, Submarine Force, United States Pacific Fleet (COMSUBPAC) from January 2001 to January 2004.

West was then assigned to USS Preble homeported in San Diego, where he completed a deployment to the Persian Gulf and qualified as Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist. He 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, West had served as the 14th fleet master chief for Commander, United States Fleet Forces Command, prior to his selection as Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) beginning December 12, 2008.

On December 12, 2008, West accepted the passing of the ceremonial cutlass from outgoing MCPON Joe R. Campa. [3] On September 28, 2012, he stepped down as MCPON and retired from the navy after a three-decade career. [4]

Awards and decorations

U.S. Navy enlisted submarine warfare badge.png
Navy Distinguished Service ribbon.svg
1 golden star.svg
Legion of Merit ribbon.svg
1 golden star.svg
1 golden star.svg
Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg
1 golden star.svg
1 golden star.svg
1 golden star.svg
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation ribbon.svg
1 golden star.svg
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement ribbon.svg
Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg
Battle Effectiveness Award ribbon, 4th award.svg
Silver-service-star-3d.svg
Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
United States Navy Good Conduct Medal ribbon.svg
Navy Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg
Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary ribbon.svg Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg Humanitarian Service ribbon.svg
Silver-service-star-3d.svg
Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.svg
Navy Arctic Service Ribbon.svg
Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon.svg
Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist Insignia.png
Silver Deterrent Patrol badge.jpg
MCPON Full.png
Badge Enlisted Submarine Warfare Insignia
1st Row Navy Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit (with gold award star)
2nd Row Meritorious Service Medal (with two award stars) Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with three award stars) Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (with award star)
3rd Row Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (with bronze service star) Navy "E" Ribbon w/ Wreathed Battle E device Navy Good Conduct Medal (with one silver and two bronze service stars)
4th Row Navy Expeditionary Medal National Defense Service Medal (with service star) Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
5th Row Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Humanitarian Service Medal
6th Row Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (with one silver and two bronze service stars) Navy Arctic Service Ribbon Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon (with service star)
Badge Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist Insignia
BadgeSilver SSBN Deterrent Patrol Insignia
Badge Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy identification badge

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References

  1. "MCPON (SS/SW) RICK D. WEST" . Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  2. (PDF) http://appropriations.house.gov/uploadedfiles/02.16.12_milconva_-_navy_-_mcpo_rick_d._west_-_testimony.pdf.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. CNO Selects Fleet Master Chief Rick West to Serve as U.S. Navy's 12th MCPON
  4. "West's Last HOOYAH, Stevens Takes Helm". navy.mil. September 28, 2012.
Military offices
Preceded by 12th Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
December 12, 2008 – September 28, 2012
Succeeded by