Washington D.C. - Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO) Adm. Robert Willard meritoriously advanced the 2006 Sailors of the Year (SOY) to chief petty officer during a ceremony July 20, at the Pentagon.

CNO Shore SOY, Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (FMF/DV) Jeromy Cronin; Atlantic Sea SOY, Machinist's Mate 1st Class (SS/SW/AW/DV) Jordan Rosado; Pacific Fleet Sea SOY, Aviation Electrician's Mate 1st Class (AW) Dennis Simpson; and Navy Reserve Force SOY, Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (FMF) David L. Worrell each received a Navy Commendation Medal prior to receiving their chief's anchors.

Throughout the week, the four Sailors of the Year and their spouses met with Defense Department and Navy leaders, visited historical sites, and enjoyed special events held in their honor in the Washington, D.C., area.

Prior to the pinning, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) (SW/FMF) Joe R. Campa Jr., who hosted the week's events, offered his remarks to the Sailors preparing to enter a chief’s mess with more than 100 years of history and experience.

“The uniform you put on today, and the anchors that will soon be placed on your collars, carry with them a new responsibility and new expectations. The importance of your new role cannot be overstated,” said Campa. “I am privileged and honored to welcome you into the chief’s mess today.”

The VCNO began his remarks by addressing his expectations of the four top enlisted Sailors as they approached the culmination of months of interviews throughout the selection process.

“Their promotions are not as much a reward for past performance as they are a vote of confidence in their future abilities. These Sailors have proven themselves ready for increased authority, responsibility and accountability,” said Willard.

“As chiefs you’ll be evaluated on your ability to accomplish the mission and on your dedication to the growth and development of your Sailors,” he said. “I can guarantee you’ll face challenges you’ve never dreamed of, but with these great challenges come great opportunity, and I know you’ll succeed.”

Willard then spoke about the importance of strong leadership, taking pride as leaders in the achievements of their junior Sailors, and the important roles family members have in the life of a service member.

“As we all know, such accomplishments as these men have achieved are not possible without the enduring support of one’s family, spouse and children,” said Willard. “I sincerely thank you for your sacrifice and your continued service to your nation.”

While each of the four Sailors expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to represent their respective communities, Worrell, the Reserve SOY, also recognized the many Sailors and Marines with whom he served in Iraq and the chiefs, senior chiefs, and master chiefs who mentored him throughout his 15-year career. He also spoke to the other three Sailors who were recognized at the ceremony.

“To be included in this group never ceases to amaze me. I’m really honored to be associated with them,” said Worrell.

Throughout the Sailor of the Year competition, the Akron, Ohio, native has represented 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines, where he currently serves as assistant battalion chief in Brook Park, Ohio. In the past year, he was mobilized and subsequently deployed to the Al Anbar Province, Iraq. As Weapons Company leading petty officer, he was responsible for the medical care of more than 200 Marines and Sailors. While in Iraq, he established temporary aid stations during numerous high intensity combat operations. After he returned stateside, he stayed on active duty for 30 days and personally tracked 15 Marines from his unit through the medical system.

Rosado, the Atlantic Sea SOY, said he found the opportunity to learn about the other SOYs' backgrounds very interesting, especially regarding the different experiences they’ve had in the Navy from Worrell’s experience with the Marines in Iraq, Simpson’s experience in the aviation community, his own experience with submarines, and Cronin’s experience with diving.

“There was one common theme I noticed,” he said while discussing the SOYs' similarities, “was the drive and determination and the desire to succeed.”

Rosado continued by saying, “You don’t strive to become the Sailor of the Year. You just strive to do your work, serve your country and do the best you can.”

The youngest of the four new chiefs and Brooklyn, N.Y., native, Rosado entered the Navy May 12, 1998. He is currently serving aboard USS Seawolf (SSN 21), where he is the Auxiliary Division leading petty officer and the command fitness leader. He is qualified in Submarine Warfare, Scuba Diver, Diving Officer of the Watch, Chief of the Watch and Duty Chief Petty Officer.

Simpson, the Pacific Sea SOY, said he enjoyed meeting with and hearing the individual perspectives of senior leaders in the Navy from the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, Vice Chief of Naval Operations, and Secretary of the Navy, to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of Defense.

He gave insight to future Sailors interested in being selected next year on what to expect with the SOY process, based on his experience.

“I think the majority of the boards were focused on trying to see how much you knew about the Navy – not just about your squadron, your command, or your region. All of these guys have that same knowledge of the entire Navy from what’s going on at home to what is happening in 5th Fleet.”

Simpson was born in New Bern, N.C, and is currently assigned as an instructor at the Naval Leadership Training Unit, Little Creek, Va. As the Pacific Sea SOY, with 10 years experience in the Navy, he represents Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron 3, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. During his assignment there, he held various positions, including work center supervisor, compass calibration program manager, and fuel cell entry supervisor. At the completion of his tour, he was the Night Check Maintenance Control supervisor and was one of only two first class petty officers qualified to release aircraft “Safe for Flight.”

Cronin, the CNO Shore SOY, summed up the importance of the afternoon ceremony and what it personally meant to him to receive the honor of meritorious advancement to chief.

“I think every young Sailor when you come in, you look at leadership and the first thing the enlisted Sailor looks at is the chief," Cronin said. "The chief always has the answer. If you have any issue no matter how small or large you always go to the chief. To become that chief is a pinnacle of a career.”

Born in Tucson, Ariz., Cronin entered the Navy July 14, 1993. He is currently serving as a high-risk instructor at the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center. He was hand selected as lead instructor and corpsman for the inaugural SCUBA Mobile Training Team mission to Beirut, Lebanon. He provided valuable medical support, taught diving medicine and supervised more than two dozen dives for members of the Lebanese armed forces.

CNO Adm. Elmo Zumwalt and MCPON Jack Whittet initiated the Sailor of the Year program in 1972 to recognize outstanding Atlantic and Pacific Fleet Sailors; the next year, the program honored the top Shore Sailor of the Year. Sponsored by the CNO, the program annually provides recognition to the Navy's outstanding Sailors through numerous presentations, awards and meritorious advancement to the next pay grade.