Rick D. West

Rick D. West
12th Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
Place of birth	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 (DDG-88) (CMDCM) Submarine Force U.S. Pacific Fleet (FORCM) Commander, Submarine Squadron Eleven (CMDCM) USS Portsmouth (SSN-707) (COB)
Battles/wars	Global War on Terrorism
Awards	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, Rising Fawn, Georgia) is the 12th and current Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON). On 12 December 2008, West accepted the passing of the ceremonial cutlass from outgoing MCPON Joe R. Campa^[1]

Early life and naval career

Master Chief West graduated from Northwest Georgia High School (Trenton, Georgia) 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.

Leadership assignments

Master Chief West was then assigned as Chief of the Boat on board the San Diego-based Fast Attack Submarine, USS Portsmouth (SSN-707), 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 12 December 2008.

Major military awards and decorations

	Legion of Merit (2)
	Meritorious Service Medal (3)
	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 (7)
	Navy Expeditionary Medal
	National Defense Service Medal (2)
	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
	Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
	Humanitarian Service Medal
	Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (8)
	Navy Arctic Service Ribbon
	Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon

• Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist Insignia
• Enlisted Submarine Warfare 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. ^ http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=41279 CNO Selects Fleet Master Chief Rick West to Serve as U.S. Navy's 12th MCPON