Susanville Standouts: LHS Grad Selected as One of Four High-Ranking U.S. Navy Master Chiefs

A Lassen High graduate has proven himself to be pretty exceptional in the eyes of the United States Navy. Russell Smith left Susanville for San Diego after graduating in 1988, to begin his career as an Airman in the Navy. 28 years later Smith, who is currently serving as the U.S. Naval Academy’s Command Master Chief, has been selected to become one of only four Fleet Master Chiefs in the U.S. Navy.

In January CMDCM Smith will become the fourth Manpower, Personnel, Training and Education Fleet Master Chief.

Smith was among three master chiefs selected by the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy to interview for the position. He received the phone call about his selection from Vice Adm. Robert Burke, Chief of Naval Personnel, in early July.

“I was speechless,” said Smith. “It was a weird moment, because I wasn’t expecting it. My wife called her boss and said she was going to be late so she could be there when I got the phone call. It was really neat that she was able to be home to get that phone call because if I was going to be crying about it, it would be nice if she was there. It was just as nice to high-five her.”

Smith will be the first Master Chief from the Naval Academy to move on to a fleet master chief position.

In his new assignment, Smith will be the senior enlisted leader for all strategy and resource policies concerning manpower and training program matters.

“I’m honored and grateful beyond words that Vice Adm. Burke gave me this opportunity,” said Smith. “I’m looking forward to finishing strong here at the Naval Academy in the next five to six months.”

A Standout Career in the Navy

Smith became a Weapons Technician in 1990, then converted to the Intelligence Specialist rating in 1993 and was selected for the Command Master Chief program in 2007. He has served in a myriad of sea duty assignments, including USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65), SEAL Team FOUR, USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70), two tours in USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN 72), and most recently as the Command Master Chief in USS MOMSEN (DDG 92).

His previous shore tours include service as the Operations NCO at the United States Defense Attaché Office in Moscow, Russia, on the OPNAV Staff as the Senior Enlisted for the Intelligence Community, as the CMC for the Office of Naval Intelligence and most recently as the OPNAV Command Master Chief in the Pentagon in Washington, DC.

Smith completed six shipboard deployments to the Western Pacific and Central Command AORs in support of Operations DESERT STORM and DESERT FOX, a 292-day combat deployment during Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM, disaster relief operations in Indonesia and counter-piracy operations in the Horn of Africa.

He also served on numerous deployments and detachments while attached to Naval Special Warfare and Defense Intelligence Agency elements. CMDCM Smith was recently selected by the Chief of Naval Personnel to serve as the next Fleet Master Chief for Manning, Personnel, Training and Education, beginning in January 2017.

Command Master Chief Smith is a graduate of the U.S. Navy Senior Enlisted Academy (Class 125/Blue) and CMC/COB Course (Class 42), and has been awarded the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (four awards) and various other personal and unit awards. He received the Edwin T. Layton Leadership Award in the Fall of 2002 for leadership in the Intelligence Community.

Good job Command Master Chief Smith! Susanville is proud of you!