THIS MONTH NNOA CELEBRATES THE SERVICE OF MUSTANG OFFICER

​LIEUTENANT JUNIOR MARCELLIS POSEY

United States Coast Guard Reserve

By Retired LCDR Roberto Concepcion, USCG

This month we recognize Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG) Posey, United States Coast Guard (Reserve). LTJG Posey reported to Port Security Unit (PSU) 309 a Deployable Specialized Forces Unit as the Communications Division Officer in October 2019.

He graduated from the Navy’s Machinists Mate (MM) “A” School out of Great Lakes, IL in 2005 before reporting to the USS Enterprise (CVN-65), The world’s first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. He deployed with the strike group on two deployments and advanced to the pay grade of Petty Officer 2nd class before joining the United States Navy Reserve in 2009-2017. He was selected by the United States Coast Guard Selected Reserve Direct Commission (SRDC) Program in July 2017.

LTJG Posey began his Coast Guard career at Sector Lake Michigan as the Planning Officer implementing and chairing the Sectors first ever reserve focused leadership and diversity council. LTJG Posey was called to serve on Title 10 Orders to support emergency management contingencies at MSU Duluth, Minnesota in 2019 serving as the Emergency Management specialist developing memoranda of agreement with critical local, state, and federal agencies pertinent to the well-being of the Great Lakes Marine Transportation System (MTS).

He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science in 2009 from Benedictine University, Master’s Degree in Liberal Studies from Loyola University Maryland in 2013 and his Masters of Social Work from the Jane Addams College of Social Work in the spring of 2017. LTJG Posey works full time as a Social Worker for the Department of Veteran Affairs and is currently a Social Work Doctoral Student at the University of Illinois at Chicago pursuing research interests that place focus on military veteran transitioning post service and the emotional impact placed on the veteran’s ability to reintegrate to civilian life.

His personal decorations include the Coast Guard Letter of Commendation Medal (2), Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Navy Battle “E” Ribbon, and the Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (2). Additionally, LTJG Posey earned both his Surface and Aviation Warfare Insignia as an enlisted sailor attached to the USS Enterprise (CVN 65).

LTJG Posey is a Chicago, Illinois native where he currently resides with his fiance Meagan and dog Zeus. 

THIS MONTH NNOA CELEBRATES THE SERVICE OF MUSTANG OFFICER

​LIEUTENANT COLONEL JASON B. DAVIS

United States Marine Corps, Retired

By Retired CDR Denise J. McCallaCreary, USN

LtCol Jason Davis served the United States Marine Corps from 11 June 1984 to 29 February 2016.  We began our conversation about his career going back to where it all started in the city of Baltimore, Maryland.

Joining the Marine Corps was not on LtCol Davis’ radar. He told himself “I would never join the Marine Corps for those guys are crazy.”  As a matter of fact, Davis tried to enlist in the National Guard having scored very high on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery Test (ASVAB) but quickly abandoned the National Guard when he discovered the recruiter was lying to him about being able to join the National Guard in his junior year of high school.  

Along came a sharp, persuasive Marine Corps Recruiter, Davis said, GySgt Alonzo M. Parker.   Parker invited him down to the recruiting station after talking to him on the phone for about an hour.  Davis went down, watched the Marine Corps recruiting video and was hooked.  That video sealed the deal.  Plus, I know I was not ready for college.  I had no money for college, and I had “discovered girls” so it was an easy decision at this point”, he said jokingly.

Davis pointed out that he had just graduated Baltimore City College, which is the 3^rd oldest high school in the nation.  He beamed with pride as he told me that the late Congressman Elijah Cummings and Commander William Bundy, one of the Centennial Seven, United States Navy, are both graduates.  He digressed to share that he made the discovery about him and Bundy graduating from the same high school, when they both noticed while in a National Naval Officers Association Board (NNOA) Board meeting, they were wearing the same class ring.   Davis went on to say his graduating class had 189 students and he had no idea his class rank.  Therefore, he knew he was making the right decision to join the Marine Corps.

Davis partied hard for eight days, then reported to Marine Corps bootcamp.  GySgt Parker had warned him that the training would push him to his limits, but he should remember no pain, no gain and try to have fun. Davis does not recall having fun but was very proud when he graduated and went on to Avionics ‘A” School in Millington, TN.  During his second tour of duty, Davis deployed to Okinawa with HMM-165 and Saudi Arabia for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm with HMH-463. He served a tour of duty with the Presidential Helicopter Squadron HMX-1 under Presidents George H. W. Bush and William Jefferson Clinton.  

I asked him for a good story while in the squadron working for United States Presidents.  The day after the death of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman we had a what was supposed to be an unannounced Presidential mission in Chicago.  Upon arrival at our hotel we were surprised to find the hotel surrounded by media.  Not having had access to the news all morning we were not aware of what happened.  It was not until a reporter knocked on the door of our hotel room asking if we had seen or heard anything that we learned of the tragedy.  As it turned out myself and Sgt Michael Fortin had been assigned not only the room next to where OJ stayed but an adjoining room. 

Davis was not satisfied to remain in the enlisted ranks as he felt as a Warrant Officer, he could bring about change to the way they did business in the Marine Corps Avionics community.  He decided he wanted to be a Warrant Officer and after five applications, he was selected for appointment in 1996.

In February 1997, Warrant Officer (WO) Davis, reported to The Basic School, Camp Barrett, MCB Quantico, VA as a student in the Warrant Officer Basic Course (WOBC).   Completing WOBC successfully in May of 1997, WO Davis reported to NAS Pensacola, FL as a student in the Aircraft Maintenance Officer (AMO) Short Course.

Upon completion of AMO School (WO) Davis reported to Commanding Officer MAG-29 for duty with HMM-365 as the Avionics Officer.  During his tour of duty with HMM-365 WO Davis deployed to the Mediterranean Sea aboard the USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) as part of the 26^th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Aviation Command Element (MEU ACE). He participated in OPERATIONS NOBLE ANVIL and SHINING HOPE in Albania, combat operations during OPERATION JOINT GUARDIAN in Kosovo and OPERATION AVID RESPONSE, providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Western Turkey. It was during this deployment that he met, then Capt David Everly another mustang who is now a Colonel and Commanding Officer of The Basic School.   Subsequent to the horrific attacks on our country on 11 September 2001, CWO3 Davis again deployed with HMM-365and the 26^th MEU, aboard the USS Bataan (LHD-5) in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Swift Freedom.

Selected for Promotion to Limited Duty Officer, CWO3 Davis reported for duty with the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training, Marine Unit New River, NC in January 2002.  Promoted to Captain in January 2003, he served as the Officer in Charge CH-53 Maintenance Training Unit until January of 2005. This was another proud moment in the life of Davis as he had been a student himself at this school. Having up to as many as 250 students under his charge, he again felt he was able to affect the life of his students to make them the best in their craft as Avionics specialists.

Jason Davis went on to be promoted to Major and later LtCol retiring in 2016.  We could not conclude our conversation without asking when and why did he join NNOA.  “I was introduced to NNOA by CWO4 Anthony Harvey, USMC.  He encouraged me to attend a NNOA meeting with him so he could “introduce me to some people.”  We were both stationed at Camp Lejeune, he said, and I decided why not.  Davis remembers his first meeting being in the presence of General Walter Gaskins, then Colonel Bailey and LtCol Blair among others.  “I went to a few meetings from 1998-99 then assignment took me away from a Chapter and I reconnected back in 2001 in Quantico.  The rest is history as Davis has been active in NNOA ever since.  He served as the National Executive Board as their Public Relations Officer from 2008 – 2014 and took over the position of Membership Director in 2015 to present.  To wrap up our conversation, I asked him what advice would he give to our youth about military service?  LtCol Davis responded, “Learn your craft.  Have a thick skin. Be flexible.  Realize no good plans survives first contact.  No matter how good your plan is, when you come up on adversary you will have to make adjustments.”  Davis was quick to emphasize that the quote about planning is not his, but advice he got along the way.  And while he confessed that he does not recall who specifically gave him the advice, he took it to heart and survived to a retirement.

Authors note:  Some parts of the story was excerpted from LtCol Jason’s biography which can be viewed in its entirety at www.nnoa.org under Board of Directors.

NNOA is honored to celebrate LtCol Jason A. Davis career as a Mustang and appreciates his years of service to the National Naval Officers Association, the United States Marine Corps and the United States of America.

THIS MONTH NNOA CELEBRATES THE SERVICE OF MUSTANG OFFICER

LIEUTENANT LENNIE R. DAY, UNITED STATES COAST GUARD

Submitted by LCDR Roberto C. Concepcion, USCG

This month, we recognize Lieutenant Lennie R. Day, United States Coast Guard.

Lieutenant Day assumed command of USCGC BENJAMIN BOTTOMS (WPC 1132) Pre-commissioning Detachment in July 2018. On May 1, 2019, he became the first Commanding Officer of the newly commissioned USCGC BENJAMIN BOTTOMS.

Previously, he served as the Military Aide to Deputy Commandant for Operations at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C. His responsibilities included scheduler and coordinator of executive level
engagements, logistics specialist, and protocol specialist for a Senior Flag Officer.

Prior to his tour at CGHQs, he served as Executive Officer on the USCGC KEY LARGO (WPB 1324) homeported in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Following KEY LARGO’s change of homeports to Gloucester, Massachusetts, LT Day remained in Puerto Rico and assumed duties as Executive Officer of pre-commissioned USCGC JOSEPH NAPIER (WPC 1115). As plank-owner of the newly commissioned JOSEPH NAPIER, he frequently deployed to the Mona Passage, Leeward Islands, and southern Dominican Republic.

His first tour as a junior officer was aboard the USCGC ESCANABA (WMEC 907) homeported in Boston, Massachusetts. During his tenure, he served as Assistant Navigator, Weapons Officer, Law Enforcement Officer, and Command, Control, Communications, Computer, and Information Officer. He routinely deployed to the Caribbean, Windward Passage, and North Atlantic supporting the Coast Guard’s missions of illegal narcotics, migrant, and fisheries enforcement.

As an enlisted petty officer, LT Day served as an independent Information System Technician on USCGC ALEX HALEY (WMEC 39) homeported in Kodiak, Alaska. Following his tour, he transferred to Electronic Support Detachment Charleston in South Carolina.

He is a proud alumnus of Mississippi State University earning a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. He later earned a Master of Science in Quality Systems Management from the National Graduate School. LT Day graduated from Officer Candidate School in December 2011.

LT Day’s personal awards include two Coast Guard Commendation Medals and two Coast Guard Achievement Medals. He is happily married to Monica Day of Beaufort, SC for 13 years.

NNOA is honored to celebrate Lieutenant Lennie R. Day career as a Mustang and appreciates his years of service to the National Naval Officers Association, the United States Coast Guard and the United States of America.

THIS MONTH NNOA CELEBRATES THE SERVICE OF MUSTANG OFFICER

CAPTAIN JESSICA D. BEARD, UNITED STATES NAVY

Submitted by CDR(sel) Desmond K. Walker, USN

“I did it the hard way…I EARNED IT!”. This phrase is the last sentence of the traditional Navy Mustang Creed. It is the closing statement of commissioning ceremonies every month for enlisted Sailors that have worked through the ranks, beginning at the deckplates, to take their place in wardrooms around the world. Forged in the fire of consistent technical performance and proficiency, the Mustang brings a technical expertise that every unrestricted line officer in executive leadership is advised to respect. With this appreciation of the Mustang contribution, I present to you our January 2020 Mustang Officer to be featured during NNOA’s yearlong recognition of Mustangs. This month, we recognize Captain Jessica Beard, United States Navy.

CAPT Beard is a native of Mobile, Alabama. CAPT Beard enlisted in the Navy in 1988 and served 8 years as a Store Keeper followed by a conversion to Hospital Corpsman. She’s been on the fast track since day one! Captain Beard began her Naval career as a Seaman Recruit at Basic Training in Orlando, Florida on December 19, 1988. Upon graduation, she reported to Meridian, MS for Storekeeper “A” school. After graduation, she reported to Naval Hospital Orlando, Florida as an E-2 Storekeeper where she worked in hospital supply and was advanced to E-4 four months later via the Accelerated Advancement Program. In 1993, she attended and graduated from Hospital Corpsman (HM) “A” school. This was possible through lateral conversion. While in HM “A” school, she was selected for the Medical Enlisted Commissioning Program (MECP). She attended the University of Central Florida from Aug 1993 to May 1996 and graduated with honors. In June 1996, she attended Officer Indoctrination School (OIS) in Newport, RI. After OIS, she reported to the National Naval Medical Center (NNMC) Bethesda, and worked as a staff Nurse on the Mother Infant Unit from August 1996 to December 1999. She later reported to Naval Hospital Jacksonville, FL and served as Charge Nurse on the Mother-Baby Unit and Labor and Delivery. She also served as Division Officer of the Nurse Call Center from January 2000 to October 2001. In October 2001, she reported to Naval Medical Clinic Annapolis where she served as Assistant Department Head of the Orthopedics Clinic until July 2005.

Also, in 2005, CAPT Beard was selected for the Duty Under Instruction (DUINS) program with a focus on Women’s Health and Midwifery. This included earning her Master of Science Degree from the University of Maryland at Baltimore. After graduation, she reported to NNMC as a staff Certified Nurse Midwife and was hand selected to be the program manager for the Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examination (SAMFE) program from June 2007 to September 2010. During this tour of duty, Captain Beard was tasked to support Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan from June 2008 to Oct 2009 where she served as Officer-in-Charge, Police Mentor Team Medical, for Afghanistan National Security Force. In September 2010, she reported to Naval Hospital Jacksonville, where she served as staff Certified Nurse Midwife and Head of the OB/FP GMEC resident program. In July 2013, she reported to U.S. Naval Hospital, Okinawa, Japan as the Associate Director for Nursing Services, staff Certified Nurse Midwife and SAMFE provider. She most recently served as Officer-in-Charge, Certified Nurse Midwife and SAMFE provider, Branch Health Clinic Iwakuni, Japan from August 2015 to August 2018, where she was integral in the opening and day-to-day operations of the Navy’s, first of its kind, Branch Health Clinic with Birthing capabilities. Captain Beard is currently serving at Naval Health Clinic Lemoore, CA, as the Senior Nurse Executive, Director, Health Care Business, Certified Nurse Midwife and SAMFE provider.

What influenced you the most to pursue a commission as a Naval Officer?
Growing up in a predominantly poor community where women’s health was not a priority, I took an early interest in educating women in their health and how to properly care for themselves. Throughout the years this passion grew. I often wondered how I could continue to have a positive impact on the female population and ensure that women were informed and educated enough to effectively participate in the decisions of their own healthcare. After I joined the military and became a Labor and Delivery Nurse, I thought what better way to do this than becoming a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)?! And there is no better way to do this than in the United States Navy Nurse Corps!
Being a CNM in the Navy is exciting and fulfilling. It takes a special person with a special set of skills to be a midwife. There are ups and downs; however, I would have to say more ups than downs on a day to day basis. There is nothing more exuberant than to assist a family in experiencing the miracle of life. However, on the other hand, we often have to deal with the family of lost miracles as well. Even with these bitter sweet moments, I wake up, on most days, looking forward to coming to work and serving my patients.

What lessons, from your time as a junior Sailor and junior Naval Officer, did you learn that you applied later in your career?
I learned early as a junior sailor that my mission was going to be to help everyone I can and for those I couldn’t help to ensure that I didn’t harm them. I also learned early in my career what kind of leader I did not want to become. I knew I did not want to hold people back and I wanted to see them succeed in any career goal they set for themselves.

As a junior officer, at my very first command, as a new Navy Nurse taking care of my very first patient on Labor and Delivery, a 19-year-old in labor complained of a feeling of “doom”. She said, “Like I’m going to die,” and then she immediately coded. She was rushed back to the operating room for an emergency C-section. Unfortunately, this young mother did not make it. I wanted to just give up. Just quit. I felt like a failure. My preceptor told me there was nothing that could have been done to save this patient. I recalled that the father of the baby wanted to stay on the post-partum ward with his newborn after just losing his wife. I didn’t see a reason why he couldn’t. The charge nurse saw differently and stated he couldn’t stay. My preceptor was busy taking care of our fallen sailor, the loss wife and mother of this new young family. I was also caring for this family, the father and the newborn, so I requested that the charge nurse show me in the unit policy where it states that a father could not stay on a post-partum unit, with his newborn, after the loss of his wife during childbirth. She still refused. So, I called the Nurse of the Day and the Chaplain and plead this young family’s case, the father was allowed to stay with his newborn until they were discharged a few days later. There were a few lessons learned that day.

• Only the CO can say no, all others are recommendations.
• Never give up on your people, if they are worth the fight (if they’re doing what’s right for the betterment of themselves and the organization).
• Always do the right thing even when it may not be the popular thing. I also believe in “paying it forward”.

What was your greatest accomplishment?
I always told myself that if I make it anywhere in this Navy where I can make change, I was going to give my all and take as many people that would follow along with me. My greatest accomplishment is to be able to live that dream and to give back to as many sailors that allow me the honor of assisting them with their career goals.

What advice would you give to newly commissioned LDO’S/CWO’S shortly after commissioning?
Stay focused, remember why they sought out a commission, and seek out mentors because they are not in this alone. We are all standing by to assist them to success. It is okay to fail as long as they get up and don’t give up. I would tell them to remember that “It may be our TIME but not our TURN”!! And, always, always, ALWAYS pay it forward…that’s the best reward ever!!

What advice would you give to senior officers (O5 and above)?
Remain humble. Remember how we got to where we are and those who assisted us along our path. Remember our chiefs that “raised” and mentored us when we were junior officers and our Sailors that supported and backed us. Always stand up for what’s right for the whole over what’s popular for a few. Make change where we can for a better military where our Sailors and fellow Officers, across all branches, are proud to don the uniform and proudly serve this great nation and the amazing people that reside here. To join or recommit to an organization, such as NNOA, that supports, mentors and guides us, as senior leaders, because contrary to what’s being told, we’re never too senior for mentorship.

Captain Beard is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, American College of Nurse Midwives, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Florida Nurses Association, Florida Military Nurses Association, American College of Healthcare Executives, and National Naval Officers Association. She is always available to support NNOA’s mission to enhance Sea Service operational readiness by supporting recruiting, professional development, and retention in an effort to achieve a diverse officer corps that reflects the demographics of our Nation.

Her personal decorations include the Navy Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (five awards), Army Commendation Medal, Good conduct Medal (3 awards) and other personal and service medals and ribbons.

Captain Beard could not have made it this far without the love and support of her husband Morris, children Latrecia, Ndegwa, and Monifa, and Grandchildren Gabrielle, Christian, Kamryn, Kennedi, Deuce and Gabrianna.

NNOA is honored to celebrate CAPT Beard’s career as a Mustang and appreciates her years of service to the National Naval Officers Association, the United States Navy and the United States of America.