On Friday, March 11, 2011, my family and I had the honor and pleasure of attending the retirment ceremony of Command Master Chief of the aircraft carrier, USS George H. W. Bush, John W. Heck Junior. This bio of John was taken from the program provided.
USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77)
CMDCM (SW/FPJ) J.W. Heck, Jr.
Command Master Chief
Command Master Chief (CMC) John W. Heck Jr. was born in Centerville, Ohio. He attended schools in Centerville and Kettering, Ohio. Following high school, he reported to Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Ill., and completed the Aircrew Survival Equipmentman (PR) and Navy Parachutist (NP-1) schools in Lakehurst, N.J., in October of 1981.
His first command, Training Squadron 7 (VT-7) in Meridian, Miss., he saw duty as a maintenance technician, work center supervisor and quality assurance representative on the TA-4J aircraft, while earning his EAWS designation. He later saw sea duty in Patrol Squadron 4 in Barbers Point, Hawaii, as Organizational and Intermediate Level Maintenence Technicians and QAR for the P-3C and F-14B aircraft. At the end of his tour in 1988, he was selected for instructor duty at Naval Aviation Technical Training Center (NATTC) Lakehurst, N.J.
During his shore duty assignment as an instructor at PR "A" and "C" Schools, PR1(AW) Heck completed his Master Training Specialist designation and began work on his Degree at St. Leo University. Moving PR School to NATTC Millington Tenn. in 1990, he was instrumental in the stand-up of the advanced oxygen equipment training phase. He was then selected for Naval Special Warfare Air Operations through Ft. Benning's Airborne and Path Finder schools.
During two tours as Senior Jumpmaster at SEAL Teams 2 and 8, he amassed 2,100 premeditated parachute jumps and air assault insertion and extraction missions, both in training and real world, with a 100 percent Mishap-Free record. He served a successful tour in Force Aircraft Test Squadron (VX-20) at Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River, Md., as the program coordinator for FAILSAFE, a fleet introduction team for aircrew survival equipment, and served as a naval test parachutist and maintenance control supervisor. He later transferred and became the PR Rating Lead Detailer at Naval Personnel Command in Millington Tenn. from 2001 to 2004. There he supported more than 1,500 Sailors within his rate. He later became the Leading Chief Petty Officer for all enlisted detailing, some 374,000 active duty enlisted sailors Navy-wide, in all ratings and Naval Enlisted Classifications. He is an honor graduate of the Navy's Senior Enlisted Academy, Class 113, Gold Group.
From 2004 to 2007, Command Master Chief Heck completed a successful CMC tour aboard USS NORMANDY (CG-60) in Norfolk, Va., which consisted of a Northern Persian Gulf deployment and two consecutive Battle 'E's. Wishing to return to his community and not lose touch with Sailors, he received permission for back-to-back sea duty, and reported aboard Strike Fighter Squadron 213 at NAS Oceana in February 2007, as the command master chief of the squadron.
In February 2009, Command Master Chief Heck reported aboard USS GEORGE H.W. BUSH (CVN-77) to assume the responsibilities as command master chief of the Navy's newest nuclear aircraft carrier.
His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, and various service and campaign awards. He has earned the Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist designation, Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist designation, Master Naval Parachutist designation, and the Master Training Specialist qualification, in addition to the numerous sister-service designations.
Yeah, that was the whole bio that was in the program. Oh well.......
All that to say, John Heck Jr. is a fantastic guy. He's a loving father and husband, and he loves this country with a passion. I think that's a given, seeing as he's served 30+ years in the Navy. It's been an honor to know him, and to know his family. I'll miss them.....and Koda too. (The word is, they're moving.)
Finally, this blog post is done. Sorry it took so long guys. Busy week.
Katherine, Hannah, and meself.
CAKE!!!
Patrick and Gideon, in the Chief's mess.
The color guard.
This guy missed his calling..... :-D
Catapult pistons
A replica of a Navy cutlass from the 1800's.
All the missiles/weapons you see are not replicas. They're the real thing, just with the "firing pin" taken out.
Got medical supplies?
"Kaaabooom?"
"Yes Rico.....Kaboom"
How come I couldn't have lockers like these at school?
The gym. (One of them at least.)
A statue of John.
The ship's bell.
FOOD! Nomnomnomz.
Again with the epic locker.
"Cap'n! There's a storm a brewin!"
Nahh...it's just the shadow adjuster in Picasa.
The CMC. That comes with serving of coffee.
John saluting his wife, Samantha. Sorry about the quality. Bad lighting.
Flight deck....almost. We're right beside the flight deck. It's at about shoulder level.
John and our tour guide, who is the head chef of the ship.
The "gangplank". A bit different than older ships. (like the 1800's.)
Sunset and shadows.
John the III.
NCIS!!! FTW!!!
The hallway of infinity..........
There's the chef again. When they're out to sea on cruise, he and his crew feeds 7500 people, 3 square meals a day. If the Army marches on its stomach, then the Navy sails on theirs!
Big chains. Reeeaaaallllyyyy big chains.
The president's suite. (Bush Sr. being the president.)
The bridge.
The Captain's chair.
Which way to go....?
More artwork.
The Temple.
AHHHHCCCCKKKKK!!! Oh the horror!
SPARTA!!!!!
5 decks down.
John's coin collection. Impressive, is it not?
