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Every leader faces moments that define their legacy. For retired US Navy Command Master Chief Gary Wise, that moment came when sailors' personal belongings—including passports, wallets, and phones—were thrown into dumpsters during a critical day of inspections aboard the USS Ashland (LSD-48) in Sasebo, Japan back in 2017.

The day had already been extraordinarily demanding. The ship was simultaneously undergoing a prestigious supply inspection (the NEY Award), conducting an engineering Light Off Assessment, and needing to vacate the temporary living quarters (berthing barge) where the crew had been staying during ship repairs. When the new Executive Officer, who'd only been aboard a week, interpreted "close of business" literally and began disposing of sailors' belongings that hadn't been moved, Master Chief Wise faced a defining leadership challenge.

Rather than simply accepting authority or creating further conflict, he assembled his Chief's Mess and led them on a dumpster-diving mission to recover everything. This powerful demonstration of putting people first exemplifies Master Chief Wise's evolved leadership philosophy: "Sailors, Mission, Patriotism." The incident required difficult conversations up and down the chain of command while maintaining team cohesion during a pivotal operational period.

This story serves as a template for authentic leadership across any organization. Master Chief Wise reveals his systematic approach to organizational assessment: gathering data, conducting individual interviews, identifying trends through focus groups, and implementing finite improvement plans. He shares how these principles have transferred from naval vessels to his current role developing high school JROTC students into future leaders.

At its core, this episode demonstrates that effective leadership isn't about position or authority—it's about having the courage to speak truth when it matters and taking action that aligns with your core values. As retired Command Master Chief Wise puts it: "If we're all on the same team and we all want the best result, we have got to be able to have candid conversations about things that really matter."

Ready to develop your own authentic leadership style? Connect with Wise Leadership Solutions, Gary's upcoming leadership development event "Ocala Inspired" or reach out to learn how his approach can transform your organization's leadership culture.

https://www.wordsfromthewise.net/