“Being selected for chief petty officer means an opportunity to have a positive impact on the lives of sailors I come in contact with,” Smith said.
Achieving the title is a major honor and milestone, according to Navy Personnel Command, which notes that only 8.5 percent of sailors currently serve at that rank.
Smith, a 2001 graduate of Center Grove High School, is serving aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. “I would have to thank my mom, Sandra Thompson, and my wife, Toni, for all their love and support,” he said.