Machinist's Mate (MM) Nuclear Citations
Repair Department Master Chief
Senior Chief Machinist's Mate Brendon B. Shearer distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious service while serving as Repair Department Master Chief and Command Hold Leading Chief Petty Officer at Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit Ballston Spa, New York, from 15 June 2025 to 31 March 2027.
LEADERSHIP AND DEPARTMENTAL MANAGEMENT. As Repair Department Master Chief, Senior Chief Shearer provided senior enlisted leadership and oversight to a department comprised of 52 Sailors supporting the Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit mission. He established clear organizational expectations, strengthened accountability, and improved the department's ability to consistently execute its operational responsibilities. His leadership ensured personnel were properly trained, organized, and prepared to support command requirements while maintaining the high standards expected within the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program.
OPERATIONAL STANDARDIZATION. Senior Chief Shearer identified the need for a comprehensive reference governing Repair Department operations and personally developed a 95-page Repair Department Operations Manual. The manual established the department's operational organization, defined responsibilities and processes, and provided standardized guidance for the execution of departmental duties. This initiative created a sustainable framework for current and future Repair Department leadership, improved continuity during personnel turnover, and ensured consistent execution of critical departmental functions.
TRAINING AND WATCHSTANDING. Recognizing the importance of developing qualified and capable Sailors, Senior Chief Shearer established a comprehensive Repair Department training program designed to provide structured training and ensure personnel understood the knowledge and skills required to perform their assigned responsibilities. He also established the Repair Duty Officer program, creating a formalized system for after-hours departmental oversight, accountability, communication, and response. These initiatives strengthened operational readiness and provided the department with sustainable programs that will continue to benefit future Sailors.
SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE. Senior Chief Shearer demonstrated an unwavering commitment to Sailor safety by partnering with the local Environmental Safety and Health Department in the development and writing of six shop-specific Job Hazard Analyses. These analyses evaluated hazards associated with individual shop operations and established appropriate controls and safe work practices. His efforts directly supported compliance with the Corporate Safety Manual, strengthened the department's safety culture, and provided Sailors with clear guidance for safely executing maintenance and repair activities.
COMMAND HOLD LEADERSHIP. In addition to his duties as Repair Department Master Chief, Senior Chief Shearer assumed the critical responsibility of Command Hold Leading Chief Petty Officer. In this capacity, he provided senior enlisted leadership and oversight for Sailors awaiting their next assignments, ensuring accountability, administrative requirements, training, and transition requirements were effectively managed. His leadership was instrumental in ensuring the successful transition of more than 750 Sailors to the Fleet. Through meticulous coordination and sustained attention to detail, he helped ensure Sailors were properly prepared for their follow-on assignments, directly contributing to the readiness and manning of Fleet commands.
MISSION IMPACT. Senior Chief Shearer's ability to simultaneously lead a 52-Sailor Repair Department and manage the Command Hold population demonstrated exceptional organizational ability and leadership. His initiatives established lasting processes, improved operational standardization, strengthened training and watchstanding, enhanced safety compliance, and contributed directly to the successful movement of more than 750 Sailors to Fleet commands. His efforts produced tangible improvements that will continue to benefit Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit Ballston Spa beyond his tenure.
RETIREMENT AND 20 YEARS OF SERVICE. Senior Chief Shearer concludes a distinguished 20-year career in the United States Navy with a record characterized by sustained superior performance, dedicated leadership, and unwavering devotion to mission accomplishment. His final tour at Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit Ballston Spa exemplified the leadership, technical expertise, and commitment to Sailors that defined his naval career. His contributions created lasting improvements to the command and strengthened the Navy's ability to train, prepare, and deliver highly qualified Sailors to the Fleet.
Senior Chief Shearer's distinctive accomplishments, exceptional leadership, and steadfast devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
NUCLEAR MARINE MACHINIST
FOR PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT WHILE SERVING AS A NUCLEAR MARINE MACHINIST AT NUCLEAR REGIONAL MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT, KINGS BAY, FROM JANUARY 2022 TO JANUARY 2025. PETTY OFFICER WARD CONSISTENTLY PERFORMED HIS DEMANDING DUTIES IN AN EXEMPLARY AND HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL MANNER. HIS SUPERIOR MECHANICAL KNOWLEDGE AND CAN DO ATTITUDE WERE PARAMOUNT IN THE COMPLETION OF FOUR PRIMARY RELIEF VALVE TESTING EVOLUTIONS, RESULTING IN OVER 500 HOURS OF PREPARATION AND DECK PLATE WORK. ADDITIONALLY, PETTY OFFICER WARD WAS AN INSTRUMENTAL ASSET IN TWO DUEL MEDIA DISCHARGE CASUALTY ASSISTANCE TEAMS, KEEPING WARSHIPS READY AND CAPABLE TO PERFORM THEIR ASSIGNED TASKING. HIS CONSISTENT TOP PERFORMANCE AND DRIVE TO EXCEL SET THE STANDARD FOR HIS PEERS. PETTY OFFICER WARD'S OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE AND DEVOTION TO DUTY REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIM AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATED NAVAL SERVICE.
KEY EVENTS TEST COORDINATOR DIVISION LPO
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT WHILE SERVING AS LEADING PETTY OFFICER FOR THE KEY EVENTS TEST COORDINATOR DIVISION AT NUCLEAR REGIONAL MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT (NMRD), KINGS BAY FROM JULY 2024 TO SEPTEMBER 2024. AS THE LEADING PETTY OFFICER FOR THE KEY EVENT TEST COORDINATOR, PETTY OFFICER WRIGHT EFFECTIVELY LED A TEAM OF THREE SAILORS, SUCCESSFULLY COORDINATING OVER 275 CRITICAL TESTING MILESTONES FOR THE WEST VIRGINIA'S REFIT PERIOD. PETTY OFFICER WRIGHT EXEMPLIFIES EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP, MILITARY BEARING, AND INITIATIVE, RESULTING IN HIS SELECTION AS THE NRMD JUNIOR SAILOR OF THE QUARTER, FOURTH QUARTER 2024. PETTY OFFICER WRIGHT'S STERLING PERFORMANCE AND LOYAL DEVOTION TO DUTY REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIM AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATED NAVAL SERVICE.
FLEET INTERACTIVE DISPLAY EQUIPMENT (FIDE) LEAD INSTRUCTOR
MERITORIOUS SERVICE WHILE SERVING AS S6G FLEET INTERACTIVE DISPLAY EQUIPMENT (FIDE) LEAD INSTRUCTOR, NAVAL SUBMARINE SCHOOL, GROTON, CONNECTICUT FROM JULY 2023 TO SEPTEMBER 2024. CHIEF RIOS WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN MAXIMIZING WARFIGHTING READINESS ON THE NEW LONDON WATERFRONT WITH HIS ADROIT GUIDANCE OF OVER 75 TRAINING SESSIONS ACROSS SIX COMMANDS. NOTED AS A KEY SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT, HE WAS HEAVILY INVOLVED IN LEADING THE STAFF TO EXCEPTIONAL RESULTS ON THE MOST RECENT NUCLEAR PROPULSION EXAMINATION BOARD WITH SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN TRAINING, EVALUATION, AND INSTRUCTOR LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE. DUE TO HIS PROFESSIONAL DEMEANOR AND FERVENT DEDICATION TO IMPROVING STAFF READINESS, HE FACILITATED ONE HUNDRED PERCENT COMPLETION OF MASTER TRAINING SPECIALIST QUALIFICATION BETWEEN S6G FIDE STAFF AND NUCLEAR QUALITY MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTORS. CHIEF PETTY OFFICER RIOS' PROFESSIONALISM, INITIATIVE AND ENDURING DEVOTION TO DUTY REFLECTED GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
REACTOR CONTROLS LEADING PETTY OFFICER
FOR SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN THE PERFORMANCE OF HER DUTIES WHILE SERVING AS REACTOR CONTROLS LEADING PETTY OFFICER FOR THE NUCLEAR PROPULSION SECTION, ENGINEERING DIVISION, ABOARD THE USS BAINBRIDGE (DDG 96) FROM 15 FEBRURAY TO 15 JUNE 1999, WHILE DEPLOYED WITH THE FIFTH FLEET TO THE PERSIAN GULF, NORTH ARABIAN SEA, AND THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ. MM1 JOHNSON'S EXTRAORDINARY PERFORMANCE HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE SUCCESSFUL PARTICIPATION IN OPERATION SOUTHERN WATCH AS WELL AS THE EFFECTIVE EXECUTION OF MARITIME INTERCEPT OPERATIONS IN THE ARABIAN GULF UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE COMMANDER, U.S. NAVAL FORCES, CENTRAL COMMAND. DISPLAYING NOTABLE INITIATIVE, LEADERSHIP, AND DEDICATION TO DUTY AS A NUCLEAR PROPULSION SPECIALIST, PETTY OFFICER JOHNSON AUTHORITATIVELY GUIDED HER WORKCENTER THROUGH A CHALLENGING AND PROLONGED DEPLOYMENT AND A SUCCESSFULL TRANS-ATLANTIC CROSSING. PETTY OFFICER JOHNSON'S EXEMPLARY PERFORMANCE WAS RECOGNIZED AND PRAISED BY THE ENGINEERING DIVISION, WHICH FOUND NO SIGNIFICANT DISCREPANCIES WITH ANY PROGRAM UNDER HER WATCH. PETTY OFFICER JOHNSON'S PROFESSIONALISM, INITIATIVE AND LOYAL DEVOTION TO DUTY REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HERSELF AND HER SHIP AND IS IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER (EOC) LEADING PETTY OFFICER
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN THE SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTIES WHILE SERVING AS LEADING PETTY OFFICER FOR THE NAVAL BASE GUAM EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER (EOC) FROM JULY 2022 TO JUNE 2023. PETTY OFFICER OSWALDO MOBRAY SUPERVISED AROUND THE CLOCK OPERATIONS AND WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROTECTION OF U.S. NAVY ASSETS ASSIGNED TO GUAM AND TRANSITING ITS SURROUNDING WATERS. HE DIRECTED THE COORDINATED ACTIONS OF MORE THAN 40 PERSONNEL ACROSS MULTIPLE COMMANDS WHICH LED TO AN UNPRECEDENTED LEVEL OF SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AND OVERALL READINESS. BY HIS EXCEPTIONAL ABILITY, PERSONAL INITIATIVE AND TOTAL DEDICATION TO DUTY, PETTY OFFICER MOBRAY REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND UPHELD THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
MACHINERY DIVISION LEADING PETTY OFFICER
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT WHILE SERVING AS MACHINERY DIVISION LEADING PETTY OFFICER ABOARD USS INDIANA FROM FEBRUARY 2022 TO DECEMBER 2022. DURING THIS PERIOD, CHIEF NELSON PLANNED AND LED THE EXECUTION OF TWO PRE-OVERSEAS MOVEMENT AVAILABILITIES. HE GUIDED HIS DIVISION THROUGH MULTIPLE AIR CONDITIONING REPAIRS AND HEADED EMERGENT REPAIRS TO A MAIN STEAM SAFETY MECHANISM, RESULTING IN THE SHIP GETTING UNDERWAY ON TIME FOR A CRITICAL TASKING. IN ADDITION, CHIEF NELSON MENTORED FOUR JUNIOR OFFICERS AND 10 DEPLOYABLE SAILORS WHICH ULTIMATELY IMPROVED HIS DEPARTMENT'S LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE AND DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTED TO USS INDIANA'S SUCCESS DURING OPERATIONAL REACTOR SAFEGUARD EXAMINATION (ORSE). CHIEF PETTY OFFICER NELSON'S PROFESSIONALISM, INITIATIVE AND DEVOTION TO DUTY REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND IS IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
REACTOR CONTROLS LEADING PETTY OFFICER
MERITORIOUS SERVICE WHILE SERVING AS REACTOR CONTROLS LEADING PETTY OFFICER FOR THE NUCLEAR PROPULSION SECTION, ENGINEERING DIVISION, ABOARD THE USS ATOM (SSN 127) WHILE DEPLOYED WITH THE FIFTH FLEET TO THE PERSIAN GULF, NORTH ARABIAN SEA, AND THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ. MMN1 JOE GAGE'S EXTRAORDINARY PERFORMANCE HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE SUCCESSFUL PARTICIPATION IN OPERATION SOUTHERN WATCH AS WELL AS THE EFFECTIVE EXECUTION OF MARITIME INTERCEPT OPERATIONS IN THE ARABIAN GULF UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE COMMANDER, U.S. NAVAL FORCES, CENTRAL COMMAND. DEMONSTRATING INITIATIVE, LEADERSHIP, AND DEDICATION TO DUTY AS A NUCLEAR PROPULSION SPECIALIST, PETTY OFFICER GAGE CONFIDENTLY GUIDED HIS WORKCENTER THROUGH A CHALLENGING AND PROLONGED DEPLOYMENT AND A SUCCESSFULL TRANS-ATLANTIC CROSSING. MOREOVER, HIS EXEMPLARY PERFORMANCE WAS RECOGNIZED AND PRAISED BY THE ENGINEERING DIVISION, WHICH FOUND NO SIGNIFICANT DISCREPANCIES WITH ANY PROGRAM UNDER HIS WATCH. PETTY OFFICER GAGE'S EXCEPTIONAL PROFESSIONALISM, UNRELENTING PERSEVERANCE AND LOYAL DEVOTION TO DUTY REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIM AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
REACTOR MECHANICAL DIVISION LEADING PETTY OFFICER
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT WHILE SERVING AS ONE PLANT REACTOR MECHANICAL DIVISION LEADING PETTY OFFICER FROM OCTOBER 2020 TO OCTOBER 2021. DURING THIS PERIOD, PETTY OFFICER MARQUIS WARREN'S LEADERSHIP ABILITY AND SUPERVISION SKILLS LED TO THE CORRECTION OF MORE THAN 450 MATERIAL DEFICIENCIES AND FACILITATED THE FIRST ON TIME UNDOCKING OF A CVN IN OVER TEN YEARS. ADDITIONALLY, HE DEVELOPED A WORK ENVIRONMENT THAT ENCOURAGED PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, RESULTING IN THREE SAILORS PURSUING ADVANCED WATCHSTATION QUALIFICATIONS, SEVEN REENISTMENTS, AND 11 PERSONNEL ADVANCING TO THE NEXT PAY GRADE. PETTY OFFICER WARREN'S EXCEPTIONAL PROFESSIONALISM, UNRELENTING PERSEVERANCE AND LOYAL DEVOTION TO DUTY REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIM AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.