Rick D. West

Rick D. West
12th Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
Born	1963 (age 48–49) Rising Fawn, Georgia
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1981–present
Rank	Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON)
Unit	Chief of Naval Operations
Commands held	Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy U.S. Fleet Forces Command (FLTCM) U.S. Pacific Fleet (FLTCM) USS Preble (CMDCM) Submarine Force U.S. Pacific Fleet (FORCM) Commander, Submarine Squadron Eleven (CMDCM) USS Portsmouth (COB)
Battles/wars	Global War on Terrorism
Awards	Legion of Merit (2) Meritorious Service Medal (3)

Master Chief Rick D. West (born 1963) 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.^[1]

Early life and naval career

West graduated from Northwest Georgia High School (Trenton, Georgia) in 1981 and immediately entered the U.S. Navy. He 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 where he completed Submarine Qualifications (SS). Other assignments include USS Thomas A. Edison, USS Sea Devil, Commander Naval Activities United Kingdom (COMNAVACTUK), USS Tecumseh (Blue), and Tactical Readiness Evaluation (TRE) 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 at COMSUBRON ELEVEN, he was selected as Force Master Chief (FORCM) and attended the Senior Enlisted Academy in Newport, Rhode Island.

Rick West in 2009

West served as Force Master Chief, Submarine Force U.S. 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 (SW).

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, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, prior to his selection as MCPON beginning December 12, 2008.

Military awards and decorations

	Legion of Merit (with gold award star)
	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)
	Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (with bronze service star)
	Navy "E" Ribbon w/ Wreathed Battle E device
	Navy Good Conduct Medal (with one silver and three bronze service stars)
	Navy Expeditionary Medal
	National Defense Service Medal (with service star)
	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
	Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
	Humanitarian Service Medal
	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)

• Enlisted Submarine Warfare Insignia
• Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist Insignia
• Silver SSBN Deterrent Patrol Insignia
• Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Identification Badge
• Service Stripes (7 awards)

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Rick D. West

1. ^ CNO Selects Fleet Master Chief Rick West to Serve as U.S. Navy's 12th MCPON