James Lee Herdt the ninth Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy

Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy

The Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy is a unique non-commissioned rank in the United States Navy, which has a paygrade of E-9. The holder of this rank and post is the most senior enlisted member of the U.S...

 was appointed on March 27, 1998. A native of Casper, Wyoming

Casper, Wyoming

Casper is the county seat of Natrona County, Wyoming, United States.. Casper is the second-largest city in Wyoming , according to the 2010 census, with a population of 55,316...

, Herdt enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1966. After attending Machinist's Mate "A" School in Great Lakes, Illinois, he served sea tours aboard the USS Independence (CV-62)

USS Independence (CV-62)

The fifth USS Independence is a of the United States Navy. It was the fourth and final member of the Forrestal-class conventional-powered Supercarrier...

 and USS Will Rogers (SSBN-659) and shore tours at Nuclear Power Training Unit, Windsor, Connecticut

Windsor, Connecticut

Windsor is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States, and was the first English settlement in the state. It lies on the northern border of Connecticut's capital, Hartford. The population was estimated at 28,778 in 2005....

, and Radiological Repair Facility in New London, Connecticut

New London, Connecticut

New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....

.

After leaving active duty in 1974, Master Chief Herdt enlisted in the Naval Reserve

United States Navy Reserve

The United States Navy Reserve, until 2005 known as the United States Naval Reserve, is the Reserve Component of the United States Navy...

 serving in various Selected Naval Reserve units while attending Kansas State University

Kansas State University

Kansas State University, commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States...

. Returning to active duty in 1976, he served as a Naval Reserve Recruiter in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...

, and in 1978 rejoined the regular Navy.

Master Chief Herdt served aboard USS Texas (CGN-39)

USS Texas (CGN-39)

USS Texas was the second Virginia-class nuclear guided missile cruiser. She was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named in honor of Texas.-Construction:...

, USS Cincinnati (SSN-693)

USS Cincinnati (SSN-693)

USS Cincinnati , a Los Angeles-class submarine, was the fourth ship of the United States Navy to be named for Cincinnati, Ohio. The contract to build her was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia on 4 February 1971 and her keel was laid down on 6 April...

, and on the staff of the Nuclear Power School in Orlando, Florida

Orlando, Florida

Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...

, prior to his tour as Chief of the Boat

Chief of the boat

Chief of the Boat is an enlisted sailor on board a U.S. Navy submarine or Cyclone Class Coastal Patrol Ships, who serves as the senior enlisted advisor to the commanding officer and executive officer, and assists with matters regarding the good order and discipline of the crew. The Chief of the...

 aboard USS Skipjack (SSN-585)

USS Skipjack (SSN-585)

USS Skipjack , the lead ship of her class of nuclear-powered attack submarine, was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named after the Skipjack tuna fish....

. He has served as Command Master Chief at Nuclear Field "A" School, Orlando, Fla., onboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71)

USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71)

USS Theodore Roosevelt is the fourth Nimitz-class supercarrier. Her radio call sign is Rough Rider, the name of President Theodore Roosevelt's volunteer cavalry unit during the Spanish-American War...

, and at Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Ill.. In 1996, he was selected to serve and as the Chief of Naval Education and Training Force Master Chief. He was sworn in as the ninth Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy on March 27, 1998.

On March 10, 2000, the first MCPON, Delbert Black

Delbert Black

Delbert D. Black was the first Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, from 13 January 1967 to 1 April 1971.-Biography:Black was born in Orr, Oklahoma, graduating from high school in 1940...

, was buried at Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...

. Herdt, who was just beginning his enlistment during Black's tour as MCPON, delivered the eulogy.

Master Chief Herdt is a graduate of the U.S. Navy Senior Enlisted Academy and U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy. He has earned a Master of Business Administration

Master of Business Administration

The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...

 degree with a concentration in human resources

Human resources

Human resources is a term used to describe the individuals who make up the workforce of an organization, although it is also applied in labor economics to, for example, business sectors or even whole nations...

 management from Florida Institute of Technology

Florida Institute of Technology

Florida Institute of Technology, also known as Florida Tech, is an independent private technical research university located in Melbourne, Florida, United States. Founded in 1958 as Brevard Engineering College, the institute has been known by its present name since 1966. Florida Tech's curriculum...

. He is "triple qualified" (authorized to wear the Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist

Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist Badge

The Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist insignia is a military badge of the United States Navy which was created in March 1980. The insignia recognizes those members of the Navy’s enlisted force who have acquired the specific professional skills, knowledge, and military experience that result in...

, Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist

Surface Warfare Badge

The Surface Warfare Insignia is a military badge of the United States Navy which is issued to those Naval personnel who are trained and qualified to perform duties aboard United States surface warships. The Surface Warfare Pin was first proposed in 1972 and, by 1980, several classes of the Surface...

, and Enlisted Submarine Warfare Specialist

Submarine Warfare insignia

The Submarine Warfare Insignia is a uniform breast pin worn by enlisted men and officers of the United States Navy to indicate that they are qualified in submarines. The Submarine Warfare Insignia is considered one of the Navy's three major warfare pins along with the Surface Warfare Badge and...

 breast insignias). Master Chief Herdt is also certified as a Master Training Specialist. His personal awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal

Meritorious Service Medal (United States)

The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969...

 with two gold award star

Award star

An award star is a decoration issued to personnel of the United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard in lieu of multiple awards of the same award. An award star is very similar to an oak leaf cluster, which serves the same purpose in the United States Army and United States Air Force...

s, the Navy Commendation Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal with gold award star, and numerous campaign and unit awards.