A former Carthage woman was recently promoted to chief petty officer, according to the Navy Office of Community Outreach.
The promotion of Chief Boatswain’s Mate Katrina Williams was recently announced, and it is an accomplishment that only one in five eligible sailors achieve each year.
Chief Williams, a 2002 Union Pines High School graduate, is currently serving aboard USS Bonhomme Richard.
“Being selected as a chief petty officer is a dream come true,” said Williams. “I watched my chief’s mess when I was a third class petty officer and they truly embodied the spirit of ‘Ask the Chief’ and I knew then and there that I wanted to be a chief.”
To be promoted, sailors must be a petty officer 1st class while passing a job-based exam and being reviewed by a board of superiors. In addition, Williams performance was evaluated for at least five years. According to the news release, Williams is now among 8.5 percent of sailors currently serving at the chief petty officer rank.
“You do not get selected for chief by what you do alone,” said Williams. “It is what your junior sailors do on a daily basis, so taking care of them and mentoring them is what helped me get selected for chief.”
Williams was pinned with two gold anchors that adorn her newly appointed chief’s uniform while her sponsor placed the combination cover on her head according to the release.
“I would not have made it this far or this long in the Navy without the support of my family and friends,” said Williams. “Knowing that I would be gone for months at a time and being stationed states or countries away from them was very hard. Also, every sailor I have worked with, whether it be junior or senior, has guided me to towards this path and I would not be here without them.”
Feature photo courtesy of Navy Office of Community Outreach
