NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. — Thunderous applause, hoots and hollers rained down on 15 newly pinned chief petty officers during a Sept. 15 ceremony at the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) headquarters building.

Donning their service khakis for the first time following a six-week initiation, the new chiefs received their anchor pins before hundreds of family, friends and fellow chiefs. Meanwhile, hundreds of colleagues assembled along the four upper floors of the atrium to observe, adding to the resounding congratulations.

During the ceremony, family members and close friends pinned two gold anchors to each chief’s lapel and placed combination covers atop their head, signifying each selectee’s official graduation to chief petty officer.

“You are now chief petty officers in the greatest navy the world has ever known, and probably will ever see. You are entrusted to keep it that way,” said Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) Commander Rear Adm. Shane Gahagan. “Fifteen to 20 years from now, our Navy has to be even better than it is today, and if it’s not, then we in khaki have failed.”

Gahagan stressed to the new chiefs that they’re most important role now will be as leaders and mentors to the next generation of Sailors, some of whom will one day join them in the chiefs’ mess.

“Leadership is 24/7. You never take a day off,” he said. “You’re success will be a measure of how motivated people are to work around and for you.”

Retired master chief Michael Sekeet reinforced those themes, telling each of the newly minted chiefs that they are indebted to their families and the Sailors they will be tasked with leading into future conflict.

“You owe,” Sekeet said. “You have to continue to take care of Sailors, because they’re who got you here. They got you promoted.”

As one of the newly minted chiefs, Aviation Electronics Technician, Chief Petty Officer Andrew Vitter took those messages to heart. Being a chief petty officer “means being able to have a bigger voice for Sailors who don't have one,” he said.

“I also have to honor those who helped get me here and living up to high expectations while at the same time being humble,” said Vitter, lead chief petty officer for Fleet Readiness Center Mid-Atlantic Detachment Patuxent River’s Calibration Laboratory.

The 15 new CPOs were:

• Jamie Reis, Aircraft Simulation Division
• Charles Davis, Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 20
• Branden Deal, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1
• Maxo Decat, VXS-1
• Jason Freese, Naval Test Wing Atlantic (NTWL)
• Joseph Lynn, Aviation Survival Training Center
• Justin Metivier, VXS-1
• Norman Patton, NTWL
• Robert Cohen, VX-23
• Jason Snyder, Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron (VQ) 4
• David Stubaus, VX-1
• Andrew Vitter, Fleet Readiness Center Mid-Atlantic Detachment Patuxent River
• Macon Wilson, VX-1
• Nicholas Wyandt, VX-1
• Brian Scott, U.S. Coast Guard