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Forty-Five Ronald Reagan Sailors Selected
for Advancement to Chief Petty Officer

FOR RELEASE: 8/15/2007

From USS Ronald Reagan Public Affairs

USS RONALD REAGAN, San Diego, CA -- Forty-five Sailors aboard USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) have been selected to “put on the anchors” and advance to the rank of chief petty officer in September following conclusion of the 2007 induction season.

Navy-wide, the service advanced 4,173 first class petty officers out of 19,714 eligible Sailors. The number of selectees is down from 4,744 candidates selected last year. With 45 Sailors selected, Ronald Reagan makes up just over one percent of the Navy’s total number of selectees.

"Ronald Reagan Sailors have a reputation for excellence and I wasn't surprised at our high number of selectees," said Ronald Reagan Command Master Chief (SW/AW) Jim DeLozier. "The selection board always looks for Sailors with sustained superior performance and we have the top performers from just about every department on the ship in this group."

According to DeLozier, the group of Ronald Reagan selectees, like groups of other selectees from commands throughout the Navy, will spend the next six weeks learning what it takes to wear the uniform of a chief petty officer.

"The induction process is not easy and is designed to test selectees and the chiefs mess both mentally and physically," said DeLozier. "We look forward to welcoming these 45 new members to the CPO [Chief Petty Officer] mess upon conclusion of the induction season."

Personnel Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Kron Lovins, a 17-year Navy veteran, said having his name on this year’s selectee list was symbolic of never giving up on his quest to advance to the rank of chief petty officer.

“I finally made it,” said a smiling Lovins, who served as the leading petty officer of Ronald Reagan’s Educational Services Office for both the maiden deployment in 2006 and surge deployment in 2007. “I never gave up.”

Lovins, who has been aboard Ronald Reagan for more than two years, said the Ronald Reagan CPO mess has a reputation of being strong, unified and dedicated to making things happen on the ship.

“I look forward to being able to join the mess and to be able to help take care of my Sailors that much more,” said Lovins.

The other Ronald Reagan selectees said they have similar feelings on being selected to wear the khaki uniform and being pinned as a chief petty officer.

“I have family in San Diego and there will be lot of family here to watch me put on the anchors on Sept. 21,” said Machinist’s Mate 1st Class (SW) Jasen Napp, who requested orders to Ronald Regan’s Reactor Department more than two years ago to be part of the crew of the Navy’s newest aircraft carrier.

Ronald Reagan is currently undergoing a planned incremental availability in her homeport of San Diego following a three-month surge deployment in support of operations in the Western Pacific.

For related news, visit the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/cvn76/.