PCU John F. Kennedy Welcomes New Chiefs and Carries Legacy of Leadership

JOINT EXPEDITIONARY BASE LITTLE CREEK, Va. — At Gator Theater on board Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Eustis, Pre-Commissioning Unit John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) pinned 29 1st Class Petty Officers to Chief Petty Officer during a ceremony with crew members, command leaders, family and friends in attendance, September 17, 2026. Congratulations to our newest Chiefs! Stand on business!

For the new Chiefs, the ceremony represented more than an advancement. It marked the beginning of a chapter not defined by a new title or gold insignia, but greater responsibility, higher expectations and a commitment to developing the Sailors entrusted to their leadership. Chief Aviation Electronics Technician Christopher Torres, assigned to Engineering Department, shared his first takeaways from the ceremony.

“The feeling of having these anchors is great,” said Torres. This is something I have worked towards for a long time, and it was the result of a combination of people believing in me and me doing the work. The six weeks of initiation Chief had its ups and downs for sure and you may not understand it all at first, but it was definitely rewarding.”

Established April 1, 1893, the Chief Petty Officer rank has long represented technical expertise, deckplate leadership and mentorship. Chiefs connect the Navy’s officer and enlisted ranks while upholding the standards necessary to maintain an effective fighting force.

Chiefs must set an example to help Sailors understand what right looks like, correct deficiencies, recognize achievement, and provide guidance for professional and personal growth. They must also maintain an environment in which Sailors are treated with dignity and respect while also being held accountable for their actions when necessary. The new Chiefs aboard John F. Kennedy inherited this legacy and responsibility as the ship prepares for fleet operations. The standards they establish today will influence the Sailors who will take the ship to sea, operate its systems and carry out its missions around the world. John F Kennedy’s Commanding Officer, Captain Doug Langenberg, congratulated the Chiefs and pointed towards their new standards and practices for the ship.

“The Navy does not expect you to merely preserve what they handed you - [the U.S. Navy] expects you to strengthen it, to improve it, to add your mark, so that when your time is done, your Navy is better than when you found it,” said Langenberg. “This is the infinite responsibility of the Chief Petty Officer: to lead in such a way that Sailors who come after you will inherit not only the same Navy, but a stronger, more resilient one…To our newest Chiefs, congratulations.”

Chiefs do not carry those responsibilities alone. The Chiefs Mess brings together leaders with different experiences and perspectives to identify challenges, develop solutions and support the command’s mission. Its strength comes from a collective willingness to share lessons, support one another and place the crew’s needs above personal interests. By observing performance, teaching technical skills and encouraging professional development, Chiefs help Sailors become confident members of a cohesive crew. They reinforce watchstanding standards, promote readiness and show Sailors how their duties contribute to the ship’s mission.

Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) Braxton James, assigned to Air Department, shared a crucial skill in understanding how he has learned to lead.

“A big thing I learned from the Chief initiation is to ask for help,” said James. “Sometimes we get caught up in thinking we can do everything ourselves and that is going to lead to the accolades that we want. You have to realize that along the way you needed help. Even if you didn’t ask for it, you always have help. It is not a weakness to ask for it.”

That responsibility to help is especially important aboard John F. Kennedy as its Sailors establish the foundation for future Sailors that will operate the world’s most advanced aircraft carrier.

The Chiefs who lead those Sailors have an opportunity to shape individual careers as well as the future of the ship’s culture. Welcoming new members strengthens the John F. Kennedy’s Chiefs Mess by adding their skills and perspectives to its collective experience. The new Chiefs’ success will be measured not only by their accomplishments, but also by the Sailors they develop, the teams they strengthen and the examples they set.

John F Kennedy’s Command Master Chief Craig Johnson communicated a call to action for the ship’s newest Chief Petty Officers.

“It is going to take the Chief to inspire these Sailors - to make sure that we are doing the right thing,” said Johnson. “We are going to maintain the standards, enforce standards, and are going to own our professional and personal development and that of the Sailors we are charged to lead.”

The pinning ceremony served as a reminder that the Navy’s strength depends on its people and the leaders who prepare them to serve. As John F. Kennedy continues its transition toward fleet operations, its newest Chiefs will help shape the ship’s culture, strengthen its crew and prepare Sailors for the challenges of operating at sea.

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