www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 1 | Thursday, December 22, 2022 1
IN THIS ISSUE
Naval Station Norfolk participates in local Wreaths Across America ceremony Naval Station Norfolk’s Executive Officer and local military and community volunteers participated in the ceremony at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Dec. 17. Page A2 VOL. 29, NO. 48, Norfolk, VA | flagshipnews.com
December 22-December 28, 2022
ABOVE LEFT: Rear Adm. Christopher“Scotty”Gray, right, presents Charles“Chuck”Dozier with the Navy Superior Civilian Service Award at a luncheon, Dec. 20. The Navy Superior Civilian Service Award is the highest honorary award the Chief of Naval Operations may bestow on a civilian employee in the Department of the Navy. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY TRAVIS KUYKENDALL/RELEASED)
From saving lives to a life of service By Travis Kuykendall
Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Public Affairs
NORFOLK, Va. — It was only supposed to be a temporary job. One that would last for three to six months serving as a water safety instructor, or lifeguard, at Naval Station Norfolk’s Fleet Recreation Park pool. The perfect summer gig for an 18 year-old Old Dominion University student, and varsity swim team member, to earn a whopping $1.60 an hour — minimum wage in 1971. Not only did the young lifeguard jump into the water, he jumped into a 50 year career that would propel him to the top position overseeing not only the first pool he sat above, but all pools and more in 14 states. Charles “Chuck” Dozier, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic’s director of Fleet and Family Readiness prepares to leave federal service after more than 50 years. His story is one that truly epitomizes what is possible with hard work and determination. Beginning in an entry-level hourly position and climbing the ladder to career senior management. “A classmate my senior year of high school drowned on a school field trip and shortly thereafter I was offered an opportunity to go to the national aquatic school
in the Richmond-area. [Afterwards] I just tried to put it to best use. When I started at naval station as a lifeguard, I did swim lessons as well and stuck with it,” explained Dozier. “When I graduated from ODU, my degree was in education … the offers were coming in to teach out of college but I had worked for the government at that point for about six years and the opportunity for the aquatics director for Naval Station [Norfolk] came open just about three or four weeks before I was to graduate so I put my name in for it.” Over the course of Dozier’s career, he has served in a number of capacities all within the Fleet and Family Readiness umbrella. From recreation and billeting director at the Joint Forces Staff College (formerly Armed Forces Staff College) to housing management specialist with Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command to business manager for Naval Station Norfolk. He’s watched and worked through changes to the organizational structures, the Navy’s shift from quality of life programs falling under Bureau of Naval Personnel to the establishment of Commander, Navy Installations Command, and consolidating MWR, housing and counseling services.
“The biggest change is that they really pulled everything under one umbrella. [Quality of life] were all kind of standalone programs,” explained Dozier. “I’ve been blessed to really have an opportunity that I thought was going to be a temporary job with the government for about three to six months and made it a life career. I was 18 years old when I started and it’s been such a diverse career.” Dozier led many projects that had major significance for the Navy to include federally-funded childcare services following the Military Child Care Act of 1989, which prior to was ran by wives clubs on a volunteer basis; Base Realignment and Closure for Naval Station Norfolk in 2005 resulting in the only loss being Defense Finance Accounting Service; and the first-of-itskind $48M Navy Gateway Inns & Suites-funded hotel built from the ground by the Navy in 2018. “Getting the hotel built was quite an accomplishment,” said Dozier. “If you look around our program we all try to put our heads together for the creativity of how you can do it best. Each of my programs I’ve had a proud moment but the hotel is key.” Each position Dozier held gave him the
experience and knowledge that uniquely positioned him as a top, qualified candidate for the next role as he moved from entrylevel to mid-level to senior-level. In 2020, Dozier assumed the top job in the program he spent more than four decades supporting and became responsible for all of the region quality of life programs in the Navy’s mid-Atlantic. “On behalf of multiple generations of Sailors and their families who served [in Norfolk], thank you very sincerely,” said Rear Adm. Christopher “Scotty” Gray, Commander, Navy Region Mid- Atlantic, during Dozier’s going away celebration. “[His] legacy is enshrined in the history of Norfolk and more importantly the people [he] has mentored and served with and brought along across the whole breadth and depth of [his] 50 year career.” After visiting more than 60 military bases and 54 activities across the U.S. and abroad, Dozier plans to vacation with his wife, Barbara who he met through the Navy aquatics program in 1984, so that she has an opportunity to experience some of those countries. First stop…Italy and Spain.
Better yourself with CREDO By MC3 Jordan Grimes NORFOLK, Va. — The Navy is an ever-changing organization, and Sailors and their families require special skills to help them adapt and overcome anything that comes their way. When these changes arise, Sailors are able to turn to Chaplains Religious Enrichment Development Operations (CREDO) to help them overcome the stress in their professional and personal life. CREDO offers programs covering a variety of topics, including personal resiliency, marriage enrichment, and suicide intervention. Religious Program Specialist 1st Class Matthew Malloy, the Leading Petty Officer of the Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic CREDO program, says CREDO’s goal is to provide support to service members and their families. “These programs are specifically focused
on the Sailor,” said Malloy. “Our people are our best asset. CREDO is the one providing you with how to be the best that you can be.” Malloy highlighted their CORE+ programs, which includes Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) and safeTALK. These programs help teach Sailors how to recognize a person with thoughts of self-harm and suicide and connect them with available resources. “Help is everywhere,” Malloy said. “Everyone says ‘I’m here to help,’ but being safeTALK and ASIST trained, you’ll be here to help and you’ll know how to help.” ASIST also covers how to provide suicide first aid intervention. CREDO offers their training programs monthly to Sailors and their families. For more information on CREDO programs and to sign up for upcoming dates, email cnrmacredo@gmail.com.
CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti (July 27, 2022) U.S. Navy Religious Program Specialist 2nd Class Reggie Orabuena, chapel staff on Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti (CLDJ), teaches safeTALK, a suicide prevention training, to CLDJ personnel. SafeTALK focuses on the T.A.L.K. steps (tell, ask, listen, and keep safe) to help bring individuals to a safe place. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 1ST CLASS CHRISTOPHER PREVIC)
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Sailors assigned to ACB 1 transported the NASA Artemis I Orion spacecraft from the well deck of amphibious transport dock USS Portland to a holding area onboard Naval Base San Diego. Page A3
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