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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/

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In this captivating episode, I take you through one of the most transformative periods of my naval career—the journey from being a newly-minted DC2 (Damage Controlman Second Class) to earning my Chief's anchors against seemingly impossible odds.

When I reported to the USS Ogden in 2003, I walked into chaos. The damage control shop was in shambles, maintenance records were scattered across the floor as makeshift matting, and I was greeted with the discouraging words, "you are so effed." Rather than accepting the dysfunction, I made bold decisions that would reshape not just my division but my entire career trajectory.

You'll hear how I transformed a broken system by challenging conventional Navy thinking about damage control responsibilities. When faced with being told only seven people would make DC1 in the entire Navy, I share how my daily visualization practice—inspired by "The Secret"—helped me become one of those seven sailors. The power of mindset becomes a recurring theme as seemingly random opportunities align to create an unexpected path forward.

My story weaves through intense deployments supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, responding to an oil platform explosion, and confronting pirates off the Horn of Africa. These experiences built the foundation for leadership lessons that would serve me throughout my twenty-six-year career. The most powerful revelation came not from achieving my original goal of becoming an officer, but from discovering that the Chief's path was actually where I belonged all along.

Whether you're military, corporate, or entrepreneurial, this episode offers valuable insights about challenging broken systems, the power of visualization, and how sometimes the universe delivers exactly what you need—even when it's not what you initially thought you wanted.

https://www.wordsfromthewise.net/

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How do you turn an unwanted assignment into your biggest career breakthrough? When I stepped aboard USS Ogden in the Persian Gulf at 2AM and heard "you are so effed" echo down the passageway, I had no idea this moment would fundamentally alter my Navy journey.

The DCPO shop I inherited was a disaster - unbearably hot, papers everywhere, sleeping sailors, and a maintenance program built on falsified documentation. But rather than maintaining the broken system, I saw opportunity. By cleaning out the shop, establishing new standards, and challenging the way things had "always been done," I transformed not just my workspace but the ship's entire damage control program.

What seemed like a punishment became my platform. After proposing a revolutionary approach to ship-wide maintenance that distributed responsibility to department heads, I earned the Executive Officer's trust and changed the organizational structure. This visibility and innovation helped propel me to becoming one of only seven sailors Navy-wide selected for DC1 that cycle.

The challenges continued—responding to an oil platform explosion in the Persian Gulf, conducting counter-piracy operations off Africa, and stepping up as acting LCPO when my Chief was medically evacuated. Each obstacle became another opportunity to demonstrate leadership.

My journey from DC2 to Chief in three years wasn't just about advancement—it was about discovering my true calling. While initially set on becoming a Limited Duty Officer, the process of becoming a Chief revealed where I truly belonged. This revelation led me to fight for assignment to Afloat Training Group instead of accepting recruiting duty, setting me on the path to eventually becoming a Command Master Chief.

Have you found that your toughest assignments often become your greatest opportunities? Share your experience of turning challenges into career breakthroughs.

https://www.wordsfromthewise.net/