While in a small corner of the desk, photos and mementos sit neatly stacked with special care, a pile on the floor grows increasingly taller. All signs of another tour coming to an end; in fact the 13th “in the books” for 7th Fleet Command Master Chief Crispian Addington.
Methodically rummaging through his photos on the desk, Addington points out with exceptional recollection names and faces – relationships he’s built and what he says he most cherishes during his time as the fleet’s top enlisted Sailor.
“It has been a challenge,” Addington admits. “It’s also been one of the best tours of my career in the fact that I get to talk and meet Sailors in so many different communities and have them show me what they do.”
He said the relationships and connections being made in 7th Fleet are increasingly important in this part of the world.
“As we march forward, we have to look at how we communicate, how we interrelate with these other countries during peacetime because that will translate directly to how we communicate during a disaster,” Addington said.
He cited the assistance 7th Fleet provided to Japan during Operation Tomodachi in the aftermath of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami as an example. “The ability for us to be able to communicate directly with the Japanese and our counterparts allowed us to bring that disaster relief forward.”
His ability to foster stronger relationships is a skill set Addington aims to apply in his new assignment as the senior enlisted advisor at U.S. European Command in Stuttgart, Germany. In his new job Addington will advise the commander on enlisted issues and provide leadership to the 82,000 joint service members assigned to over 400 bases and facilities in 51 countries.
“I’m not there just to make sure the boss succeeds. I’m there to make sure every service member and civilian succeeds, and I hope that some of why I was selected for this job is because of that ability to go out and break down barriers so that people can achieve their goals.”
While greatly anticipating German food and culture, Addington said he most looks forward to making a difference in people’s lives.
Addington is turning over responsibility to Command Master Chief Benjamin Howat (SW/AW/SS), who most recently was the command master chief of Commander, Task Force 76.
For information on Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet, visit www.c7f.navy.mil.
For more news from 7th Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/c7f/.