Navy Supply Corps Newsletter: Supply department on board Navy's newest aircraft carrier prepares to transfer Navy's First Chief Warrant Officer 5

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Supply department on board Navy's newest aircraft carrier prepares to transfer Navy's First Chief Warrant Officer 5

Eve M. Doucet

The Navy's newest aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), is ready to transfer her first Food Service Officer and the Navy's first Chief Warrant Officer 5 (CWO5), Leon Cole, after a challenging 30-month tour that not only set up food operations for over 3,000 Sailors, but set new standards of service throughout the fleet.

CWO5 Leon Cole, a native of Antigua, West Indies, is headed to Navy Family Support at Naval Supply Systems Command Headquarters in Mechanicsburg, Pa., to become the Readiness Officer. There, he will use his nearly 30 years of experience in food service operations to set policy, review criteria for Captain Edward F. Ney awards, work Prime Vendor issues and other fleet support issues.

Commissioning an aircraft carrier is no easy feat, but the Supply team on board Ronald Reagan worked together to ensure that the carrier's "firsts" were flawlessly executed despite numerous obstacles. Cole states that, "The positive mental attitudes of the cooks that we have here make all the difference. I was amazed at their eagerness to learn and receptiveness to what I had to share with them. I truly believe that is why we were able to do so much more with what we had--because they trusted me."

During his tour aboard Ronald Reagan, Cole achieved many personal milestones. He obtained his Surface Warfare Supply Corps Officer designation and was the first of 17 to be advanced to CWO5 from a field of 222 candidates. The rank of CWO5 was established in October 2002 to ensure the Navy attracts and retains the very best technical leadership for a full 30-year career ... a perfect fit for the five-time Ney Award winner.

No stranger to hard work, Cole had been on the precommissioning crews for USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) and the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) before accepting orders to PCU Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). He says he took the orders because, ".. it was an opportunity to do something for the kids (referring to the Culinary Specialists he works with). I saw the Ronald Reagan as a way to teach the young Sailors and share all the knowledge that I've gained, so that they learn correctly, from the beginning."

As he says this, Seaman Garcia from the CPO Mess enters the Food Service Office to shake the hand of his mentor and to thank him for everything he has taught him. The two exchange pleasantries and Cole beams as the young Sailor leaves. "That is why I love my job. I'm going to stay in the Navy as long as the Navy will let me!"

LT Eve Doucet received her commission from Officer Candidate School in 1999. Her previous tour was Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff for Logistics at Commander, Naval Forces Marianas, Guam.