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     USS CHIEF (MCM-14) is the third U. S. Navy ship to bear the name. The first, AMC-67, was renamed BOLD in 1941; the second, AM-315, was commissioned on 09 October 1943 and earned five battle stars for World War II service and two for Korean War service. Placed out of commission on 7 February 1955, the ship was sold to Mexico and is currently serving in the Mexican Navy as JESUS GONZALEZ ORTEGA (C83). The vessels were named for the "head or leader of a group," but not specifically for the chief petty officer rank or grade. Many World War II minesweepers were given the names of positive qualities or words denoting accomplishments.

     More than 4,000 people, including a host of chief petty officers, both active and retired, were on hand to note the coincidence of the new ship's name and watch as USS CHIEF began her active Navy career November 5, 1995, at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek in Norfolk, Virginia. The ship is the last of 14 Avenger-class ships.

     The USS CHIEF MCM-14 is named for the former USS CHIEF AM-315, and to honor the service and tradition of the Chief Petty Officer's of the United States Navy. USS CHIEF MCM-14 was christened by Mrs. Susan Bushey (the wife of the seventh Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, MCPON Dwayne Bushey) on 12 June 1993. Construction and fitting-out was done in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, and the ship was accepted from Mr. Ellsworth Peterson on behalf of the United States Navy, and placed in commission by Lieutenant Commander Timothy S. Garrold, USN, her first Commanding Officer.

     Chiefs weren't just in the audience, though. They played an active role throughout the planning and execution of the ceremony. There were several chiefs, active and retired, on the commissioning committee. There was an all-CPO color guard. The ushers were all Chiefs. The courtesy vehicles were all driven by Chiefs. The band consisted of 52 CPO musicians from all over the world. Most of them traveled at their own expense, just for the chance to participate in the event.

     There was also a strong CPO presence on the speaker's platform. Joining other distinguished guests and speakers were
every living previous Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) and the current MCPON, Master Chief Electronics Technician (Surface Warfare) John Hagen.

     "Chief. What a great name for a ship," said Admiral Mike Boorda, Chief of Naval Operations and principal speaker at the ceremony. "The very name says it all. The best, number one, a winner in every way. Everyone knows the word leadership and the title of Chief go together."

Mine Countermeasures Ships - MCM
Description: Ships designed to clear mines from vital waterways.

Background: In the early 1980s, the U. S. Navy began development of a new mine countermeasures (MCM) force, which included two new classes of ships and minesweeping helicopters. The vital importance of a state-of-the-art mine countermeasures force was strongly underscored in the Persian Gulf during the eight years of the Iran-Iraq war, and in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1990 and 1991 when the Avenger (MCM 1) and Guardian (MCM 5) ships conducted MCM operations.

Avenger class ships are designed as mine hunter-killers capable of finding, classifying and destroying moored and bottom mines. The last three MCM ships were purchased in 1990, bringing the total to 14 fully deployable, oceangoing Avenger class ships.

These ships use sonar and video systems, cable cutters and a mine detonating device that can be released and detonated by remote control. They are also capable of conventional sweeping measures. The ships are of fiberglass sheathed, wooden hull construction. They are the first large mine countermeasures ships built in the United States in nearly 27 years.