CHINA LAKE, CALIF. NAVAL AIR WARFARE CENTER WEAPONS DIVISION--Nine Navy chief petty officer selectees from two squadrons, VX-31 and VX-9, the SeaBee unit and Navy reserves transitioned from blueshirts to khakis on Friday, September 15.

Weapons Division Commander Rear Admiral Mark Skinner spoke at the time-honored ceremony. “Not only will you be expected to know the answers, you will also be expected to show them. As the technical experts, you will show Sailors how to turn orders into actions. This is the great responsibility that goes with the privilege of wearing the hat you are about to receive.”

The selectees were pinned with the infamous fouled anchor insignias by family members and friends and were ceremonially piped aboard under the call, “Navy chief arriving.”

The new chiefs are: AMC Jack Murphy, Jr.; ADC(AW) John Latimer, BMC Craig Siefkas, EOC(SCW) Mark Lee, AMC(AW) William Blaschke, HMC(FMF/AW/DV/NAC) Jason Owen, EOD(EWS/SW) Scott Williams, EOC(SCW) Ricardo Jimenez, and EOC(SCW) Jason Phillips.

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PHOTO CUTLINE: Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division Commander Rear Admiral Mark Skinner was the first to congratulate the new chiefs at their pinning ceremony on Friday, September 15. Photo by PH1 Darryl Wellborne, AIR TEST AND EVALUATION SQUADRON NINE