Eric S. Watkins was commissioned as a Chief Warrant Officer during a ceremony aboard the USS Boxer on December 1, 2013. The ceremony included the national anthem, invocation, remarks from Captain Gumbleton about Watkins' career and accomplishments, his discharge from enlisted rank and removal of collar devices, the oath of office, and a silver dollar salute tradition for his first salute as an officer. Watkins had an exemplary 19-year career rising through the enlisted ranks from Aviation Electronics Technician to Senior Chief before being selected for warrant officer, having earned numerous awards and accomplishments.

1. COMMISSIONING CEREMONY FOR
SENIOR CHIEF
AVIATION ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN(AW)
ERIC S. WATKINS
1 DECEMBER 2013
USS BOXER (LHD 4)

2. SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
MASTER OF CEREMONY
CWO3 COWAN
NATIONAL ANTHEM
INVOCATION
CDR MORTON
WHAT IS A MUSTANG?
CO’s REMARKS
CAPT GUMBLETON
DISCHARGE FROM ENLISTED RANK
CAPT GUMBLETON
REMOVAL OF COLLAR DEVICES
ATCS SCIMONE & AECS HILL
RETIRING OF COVER
CMDCM GRUCHALLA
OATH OF OFFICE
CWO4 VALENTINE
SILVER DOLLAR SALUTE
CWO2 WATKINS REMARKS
BENEDICTION

3. SENIOR CHIEF AVIATION ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN(AW)
ERIC S. WATKINS
Senior Chief Watkins was born in
Louisville, Kentucky March 21, 1976 and was
raised in Lake Mary, FL. He graduated from Lake
Mary High School in June 1994.
In May 1995 he enlisted in the Navy and
in November 1995 he went to recruit training at
RTC Great Lakes. In February 1996 he reported to
NATTC Millington, Tennessee for AT(I) A-School.
After successful completion of his initial training
he received orders to CNATTU Tinker AFB for
E-6A Avionics training located in Oklahoma
City, OK. In February 1997 ATAN reported to
Commander Strategic Communications Wing One.
After a successful first tour and promotion to AT3
he transferred to AIMD Oceana SEAOPDET in
May 1999.
Shortly after reporting to AIMD Oceana
for his first sea tour, he was promoted to Second Class Petty Officer. He completed two
SEAOPDET deployments as an F-14 Fire Control Radar Technician and Collateral Duty
Inspector onboard the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72). At the completion of his second
deployment in May 2003, he was promoted to AT1. He subsequently transferred to AIMD
Oceana for shore duty in July 2003 after completion of CASS Operator/Maintainer training
at CNATTU Oceana.
Assigned to AIMD Oceana as an Avionics shift supervisor first, quickly turned
into the Avionics Work Center Leading Petty Officer position and culminated in his
assignment as Avionics Division Production Control Leading Petty Officer. He continued
to run Avionics Division PC until his transfer in November of 2006.
AT1 reported for sea duty onboard the USS JOHN F KENNEDY (CV-67) home
ported in Mayport, Florida. As the CASS LPO he processed all CASS items for disposition
in preparation of the Kennedy’s decommissioning in March 2007. During his brief time
onboard the Kennedy he received orders for VP-26 in Brunswick, Maine.
After completion of P-3C O-level Avionics training at CNATTU Jacksonville he proceeded
north to VP-26. While en route he was notified of his selection to Chief Petty Officer. He
reported to VP-26 in August 2007 and while there he completed two deployments and
numerous detachments where he excelled as the Operations LCPO in Djibouti, Africa and
the Maintenance Control LCPO in Sigonella, Sicily.
In June 2010 he reported to CNATT Pensacola, Florida where he completed a successful
tour in the Technical Support directorate as the F-18/CASS/Common Avionics IPT Lead.
He was selected to Senior Chief Petty Officer in June 2012.
In March 2013, while en route to his next duty station onboard the USS BOXER as the
Quality Assurance Officer he was selected for Chief Warrant Officer, Aviation Maintenance,
commissioning in December 2013.
During his career Senior Chief Watkins has been awarded two Navy and Marine Corps
Commendation Medals, four Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, six Good
Conduct Medals and various campaign and unit awards.

4. What is a Mustang?
In the Navy, a Mustang is an Officer who has
promoted up from the ranks of the Navy enlisted
personnel through an in-service procurement
program, with no interruption of his/her active
duty status. It is also understood that the
Mustang Officer is a career Sailor, and normally
wears one or more Good Conduct Medals.
The term “Mustang” is a relatively modern
term, originating either just prior to, or during
World War II. It is believed to be a Sea Service term,
although other service officers are beginning
to be described as Mustangs. It literally refers to
the mustang horse, which is a wild animal and
therefore not a thoroughbred. A mustang, after
being captured, can be tamed and saddle broken
but it always has a bit of a wild streak, and can
periodically revert to its old ways unexpectedly
and therefore the owner needs to keep an eye on it
at all times.
By the same token, however, since a mustang was
formerly a wild and free animal, it may very well
be smarter, more capable and have a better survival
instinct then thoroughbreds. The mustang can
take care of itself when things get tough, thriving
on rough treatment, while the thoroughbred,
having been pampered its whole life, cannot.
You can easily see the parallel between horses
and Naval officers. The term “Mustang” is used in
the complimentary sense, most of the time. A Chief
Warrant Officer is an officer by appearance and
in the minds of the “top brass,” and an enlisted
technician at heart. The creed of the LDO/CWO,
upoNreceiving their commission is:
“I did it the hard way.....I earned it.”

5. CAPT Gumbleton
COMMANDING OFFICER
A native of Falmouth, Massachusetts, he
graduated from Norwich University in 1989 where
he earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental
engineering. He was commissioned an Ensign upon
completion of the NROTC program and reported
directly to Pensacola, Florida for flight training. He
was designated a Naval Aviator in October 1990 and
qualified as a SH-60B pilot at the Fleet Replacement
Squadron in Mayport, Florida.
Captain Gumbleton has served in a
variety of sea and shore assignments. At sea,
his assignments include HSL-44 deploying in
USS Samuel B Roberts (FFG-58) as Detachment
Training Officer and USS Vicksburg (CG-69) as
Detachment Maintenance Officer. Twice serving
at HSL-46, he deployed in USS Ticonderoga (CG47) as officer-in-charge. Reporting back to HSL46 he served as Squadron Operations Officer and as officer-in-charge while deployed
in USS Taylor (FFG-50). His shore assignments include the Bureau of Naval Personnel
as War College and graduate education detailer; Flag Lieutenant to Commander, Naval
Air Systems Command; Legislative Fellow to Senator John Warner of Virginia; and
Congressional Liaison, Appropriations Matters Office in the Office of the Assistant
Secretary of the Navy (FM&C). His most recent assignment was as military assistant to
Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff Allied Command Transformation Staff Element Europe.
Captain Gumbleton commanded the Vipers of HSL-48. He reported as
Executive Officer in September 2005 and assumed command in December 2006. Viper
detachments deployed in support of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group to the
Persian Gulf. He holds a Master of Science degree in information systems from The
George Washington University (GWU), a Master of Arts degree in National Security
and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College and most recently attended the GWU/
MIT National Security Management Course. Captain Gumbleton was selected below
the zone for his current rank and was subsequently selected for Major Command.
In January 2013, Captain Gumbleton assumed command of USS BOXER (LHD 4).
His personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious
Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal and other unit
awards.

6. Chief Petty Officer
Transition Creed
YOU HAVE
EXPERIENCED THAT,
WHICH COMES TO MANY
OF US WHO SERVED AS
A CHIEF PETTY OFFICER
IN OUR NAVY, I SAY
“OUR NAVY” BECAUSE
YOUR DEPARTURE FROM
THE CHIEF’s MESS IN
NO WAY TERMINATES
OUR RELATIONSHIP,
OUR REGARDS, OUR
OBLIGATIONS TO THE
SERVICE AND OUR FELLOW
CHIEF PETTY OFFICERS.
THE RESPECT THAT YOU
EARNED AS “THE CHIEF”
WAS BASED ON THE SAME
ATTRIBUTES THAT YOU
WILL CARRY INTO YOUR
LEADERSHIP ROLE AS A
NAVAL OFFICER. HAVE NO
REGRETS. WE VIEW YOUR
COMMISSIONING ORDERS
NOT AS AN END TO AN
ERA, BUT AS ORDERS TO
A NEW CHALLENGING
ASSIGNMENT. REMEMBER
WELL THAT YOU HAVE
BEEN, AND WILL ALWAYS
BE AN ACCEPTED MEMBER
OF THE MOST EXCLUSIVE
OF ALL MARITIME
FRATERNITIESTHAT OF A
UNITED STATES NAVY
CHIEF PETTY OFFICER.

7. SILVER DOLLAR SALUTE
The first salute is a long standing 19th century
tradition that requires newly commissioned
officers to give a silver dollar to the recipient of
their first salute. Navy tradition states that you
have to buy your first salute and then earn every
salute thereafter through your performance
by gaining the respect of your subordinates.
Today, naval officers paying for their first salute
is considered a way to show respect for those
superior enlisted personnel who helped the
officer achieve commissioned status.