BLACK-DELBERT

Delbert D. Black was a military pioneer.  He was the first Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy.  Born and raised in Oklahoma, he graduated from high school in 1940 and joined the Navy on March 14, 1941.  Following recruit training in San Diego, California, he was assigned to the battleship USS MARYLAND (BB-46) and was at Pearl Harbor during the attack on December 7, 1941.  Over his Navy career he spent 21 of his 30 years aboard a variety of ships while advancing to the rank of Master Chief Gunner's Mate (GMCM).

In 1966 Navy leaders realized that they were out of touch with what the enlisted sailors were truly feeling and to provide a permanent channel for input from the enlisted force to their senior leadership, the position of Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) was established.  On January 13, 1967, GMCM Black was appointed MCPON, the most senior enlisted member of the Navy and the advisor to the Chief of Naval Operations.  He served in this post until retirement on April 1, 1971.  Although the MCPON is a non-commissioned officer, the billet is protocol equivalent to a Vice Admiral.  After leaving active duty he remained busy with the USO and the Fleet Reserve Association until his death from a heart attack on March 5, 2000, in Florida.  GMCM Black has the distinction of being the first Navy enlisted man to be awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal.  He has been buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

In his honor, the Delbert D. Black Leadership Award was established which is awarded annually to one outstanding Command Master Chief in the Navy based on their personal example of excellence in deckplate leadership, commitment to developing Sailors, enforcement of standards, and overall effectiveness and efficiency of mission execution.

Submitted by CDR Roy A. Mosteller, USNR (Ret)