Rick West (sailor)

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Rick D. West
West in December 2008
Born	1963 (age 58–59) Rising Fawn, Georgia
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1981–2012
Rank	Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
Commands held	Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
Battles/wars	Global War on Terrorism
Awards	Navy Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit (2) Meritorious Service Medal (3) Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4) Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2)

Rick D. West (born 1963) is a retired United States Navy sailor who served as the 12th Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy.^[1][2]

Early life and education[]

West was born in 1963 in Rising Fawn, Georgia, and graduated from Northwest Georgia High School in Trenton, Georgia in 1981.

Naval career[]

West at the Skymont Boy Scout Camp in June 2009.

After graduating from high school, West enlisted in the United States Navy. He received recruit training and Quartermaster training at Orlando, Florida, followed by Enlisted Submarine School at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut. His first duty assignment was on board USS Ethan Allen, where he completed Submarine Qualifications. Other assignments include USS Thomas A. Edison, USS Sea Devil, Commander Naval Activities United Kingdom, USS Tecumseh (Blue), and Tactical Readiness Evaluation team on COMSUBPAC Staff.

Leadership assignments[]

West was then assigned as Chief of the Boat on board the San Diego-based Fast Attack Submarine USS Portsmouth, completing two Western Pacific deployments. The crew earned two Battle Efficiency "E" awards. He then served as command master chief at Commander, Submarine Squadron Eleven Upon completion of his tour, he was selected as force master chief and attended the Senior Enlisted Academy in Newport, Rhode Island.

West served as force master chief, Submarine Force, United States Pacific Fleet (COMSUBPAC) from January 2001 to January 2004.

West was then assigned to USS Preble homeported in San Diego, where he completed a deployment to the Persian Gulf and qualified as Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist. He was selected during his tour on the USS Preble to serve as United States Pacific Fleet, fleet master chief, from February 2005 to June 2007. Since 2007, West had served as the 14th fleet master chief for Commander, United States Fleet Forces Command, prior to his selection as Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) beginning December 12, 2008.

On December 12, 2008, West accepted the passing of the ceremonial cutlass from outgoing MCPON Joe R. Campa.^[3] On September 28, 2012, he stepped down as MCPON and retired from the navy after a three-decade career.^[4]

Awards and decorations[]

References[]

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rick D. West.

• Rick D. West at the Wayback Machine (archived August 5, 2011)