Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON)(SS/SW) Rick D. West visited NAWCWD China Lake on March 8.

Rear Adm. Mat Winter, NAWCWD commander, kicked off the day with an overview of the Weapons Division and how its workforce of nearly 7,000 uses the command’s unique ranges and facilities to provide the warfighter with innovative, integrated and dominant warfighting effects.

This was West’s second trip to China Lake but his first as MCPON. He visited the NAWCWD Range Control Center and received a land range overview and tour of the facility. West heard an update on what NAWCWD’s progress with the Digital Precision Strike Suite and Precision Strike Suite for Special Operation Forces.

West also visited the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Three and witnessed an explosive disposal demonstration at the B Mountain Range Facility. Next, MCPON headed to the Branch Health Clinic where he visited several departments including aviation medicine, radiology and the dental clinic, and shared his advice with the corpsmen on how to succeed and stay competitive in today’s Navy.

“Work hard every day, stay out of trouble and get out of your comfort zone,” West said. “The Navy is the land of opportunity. You are only limited by what you want to do.”

The MCPON’s visit moved to the Michelson Laboratory where he went on a walking tour of the Chemistry Wing and heard scientists talk about their advancements with biofuels, and fingerprint detection.

West then took an up-close look at the Unmanned Systems operation currently going on at China Lake, and heard a brief about the Spike missile.

The last stop of the day was an all-hands call with about 300 Sailors and Marines serving at China Lake with Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 9, VX-31 and the Naval Air Weapons Station. He shared his thoughts on the status of today’s Navy, answered questions, and encouraged all in attendance to stay focused and remember who is depending on them.

“The things you do every day are saving warfighters’ lives and you better realize that,” West said. “The opportunities you have to make a difference as a Sailor and a Marine in the Department of the Navy is like nothing else.”