IT FINALLY HAPPENED!!!

If you hadn't heard already, I was selected for advancement to Chief Petty Officer today by the Navy! I am so freaking happy and excited! I have worked SO hard for this and it has all finally paid off. According to the results, I was the fourth selectee out of twenty-one total selected Surface Nuclear Electrician's Mates. I beat out two of my good friends who also made it this year: Jeff White and Shane Floding, who were in fifth and sixth place respectively. I want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart who has worked for me in the past 6 years that I have been in a supervisory position of some sort (ranks listed are the rank they were at when I last saw them):

USS Enterprise
EM3 Josh McGrew
EM1 Jeremy Norville
EMC Travis Post
EM1 Hoffmaster
EM3 Jasmine Johnson
EM2 Josh Adams
EM3 Heather Chaney

EM3 Josh Ferguson
EM3 Eric A.
EM2 Timothy Hawkins

MARF Prototype
EM1 Matt Emerson
EM2 Brandon Kent
EM1 Jay Stirrat
EM1 Jesse Rayburn
EM3 Jene Phillips
EM1 Wilbert Veit
EM1 Robert Avelis
EM1 Kristopher Bair
EMC Amy Van Natta
EM1 Dana Gregory
EM1 Durand Adams
... and countless students!

USS Nimitz
EM3 Bryan Peña
EM3 Suelema Sanchez
EM2 James Burke
EM2 James Sapp
EM2 Austin Usher
EM2 Cassandra Perando
EM2 Travis Rupp
EM3 Katelin Mays
EM2 Steve Slovyan
EM2 David Gainey
EM3 Kyle Meredith
EM3 Jo Zoril
EM2 Theodore Pilalas
EM3 Glen Kirby
EM2 Jamie Guerrero
EM2 Jacques
EM3 Nigel Walker
EM2 Shawn Brehm
EM2 Robert Kottelanne
EM2 Gregory LaFleur
EM2 Michael Hughes
EM3 Craig Braxton
EM3 Craig Weight
EM3 Eric Tabor
EM2 Zack Josker
EM3 Reggie Wilhelmson
EM3 William Williams
EM2 James Bowen
EM2 Matthew Wimberly

I apologize if there was anyone that I have forgotten. My memory is hazy at times... =(

It was only through the hard work, sweat, and blood letting that these individuals have done that I have reached this new milestone in my career. Thank you all for your incredible effort during the countless Operational Reactor Safeguard Exams, Mobile Training Team visits, deployments and shipyard availabilities. Thank you to my family (especially Juri) as well, for standing by me through the best and worst of times in my life.

Now for two months of Hell before I get my anchors pinned on me... =)