Then Pacific Fleet Fleet Master Chief James Honea observes administration of some of the first Covid-19 vaccine shots rolled out to the US military at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. (Navy photo by MCS Jay C. Pugh)
By: FEDweek StaffJames Honea became the 16th Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy during a Sept. 10 ceremony held in Mahan Hall at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Honea succeeds outgoing MCPON Russell Smith, who is retiring after serving four years as the Navy’s senior most enlisted sailor.
Honea enlisted in 1987 and served on numerous surface vessels and shore billets during his career. He comes to his new job after a stint as command senior enlisted leader for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
“When I was selected for MCPON, I thought heavily on what my tenure means and what I could bring to you all,” Honea said in his acceptance speech during the ceremony. “I’m glad I chose to be challenged by this adventure and I’m proud of what it has brought me. I am proud to be your shipmate, and I’m privileged to be your MCPON.”
Days after he was sworn in, Honea outlined his priorities:
• Warfighting competency: “We have to keep our systems 100-percent ready so we can fight our adversaries, and when we take damage, we will restore as much capability as quickly as possible to remain in the fight and win,” he stated.
• Professional and character development: We must recruit, retain, and efficiently manage the talent of a diverse workforce to unleash their full potential at any given moment.”
• Quality of life: “Our sailors are the most important element to us retaining our asymmetric advantage against our adversaries. Behind those successful sailors are their families, and we cannot overlook that important element. We need one another.”
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