dChan - Q Origins Project Archive

Command Master Chief (CMC) Samira McBride, a native of Chad, Africa, enlisted in the U.S. Navy in September 1999. Following completion of basic training at Recruit Training Command (RTC), Great Lakes, Illinois, she attended Operations Specialist "A" School in Dam Neck, Virginia.

Her initial tour of duty was on USS Fletcher (DD 992), Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, where she served as Combat Information Center Track Supervisor and Harpoon Engagement Planner completing two Western Pacific deployments. In July 2003, she reported to USS Gonzalez (DDG 66), Norfolk. Virgina, where she served as an Anti-Submarine Tactical Air Controller and Arabic Linguist completing one deployment to the Mediterranean and Persian Gulf. In July 2005, she transferred to Assault Craft Unit Four (ACU-4) where she served as Operations Department Executive Assistant and French Linguist where she conducted intensive training for welldeck, Ramp Marshall and communications procedures aboard French Naval Vessel BPC Tennerre. In October 2008, McBride reported to USS Lassen (DDG 82), Yokosuka, Japan and served as Operations Intelligence (OI) Division Leading Petty Officer. She was selected as USS Lassen 2009 Senior Sailor of the Year.

In April 2010, she was selected as Pacific Fleet Sea Sailor of the Year and was meritoriously promoted to Chief Petty Officer (CPO) and transferred to USS Boxer (LHD 4), San Diego, California and OI Division Leading Chief Petty Officer (LCPO) where she completed one Western Pacific Deployment. In February 2013, she transferred to RTC as a Recruit Division Commander. In May 2016, she reported to PCU Thomas Hudner (DDG 116), Norfolk, Virginia as Operations Department LCPO where she was selected to the Command Senior Chief (CSC) program and handpicked to serve as a U.S. Fleet Forces Command Fleet CPO Training Team Facilitator. In July 2018 she reported to USS Gonzalez (DDG 66) where she served as the CMC and was the recipient of the Delber Black Leadership Award 202. She served as CMC at Afloat Training Group, Norfolk. In February 2023 she reported to USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) where she is currently serving as the CMC.

McBride is a graduate of the Senior Enlisted Academy Class 156 (BLUE), the CMC/Chief of the Boat/CSC Course Class 174 and Keystone and Executive Leadership Seminar (ELS). Her decorations include Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (six awards), Navy, Marine Corps Achievement Medal (six awards), a Meritorious Service Medal (MSM), and various service campaign medals.

By U.S. Embassy Ndjamena

2 MINUTE READ

December 16, 2024

Ambassador Laskaris recognized the distinguished service of Les McBride during a retirement ceremony honoring his five decades of service at the U.S. Embassy in Chad. Les McBride is an American citizen who dedicated 50 years of his life to strengthening the bonds of friendship and cooperation between Chad and the United States. Les arrived in Chad in 1974 as a volunteer with the U.S. Peace Corps and taught English in Biltine, in the Wadi Fira region. At the conclusion of his service with the Peace Corps, he remained in Chad and played a key role in coordinating projects led by the U.S. Embassy and USAID, focusing on improving education, healthcare, combating desertification, and strengthening communities.

This long-standing collaboration allowed him to form friendships with Chadians from all corners of Chad and from many different backgrounds. Several of the Chadian students he taught in 1974 attended the ceremony. These former students have become influential leaders, successful farmers, senior officials, teachers, as well as mothers and fathers. Their success is a testament to the profound impact one person can have when dedicated to a mission with passion and commitment. We wish Les a peaceful and well-deserved retirement in the United States, and we invite you to explore photos taken during the retirement ceremony and throughout Les’ 50 years in Chad.

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>Command Master Chief Samira McBride

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>Command Master Chief (CMC) Samira McBride, a native of Chad, Africa,

107 views Sep 11, 2022

CMDCM Samira McBride and I came together as mentor and host of this Lean On Navy session seemingly to inspire YOU. Instead, based on audience interaction, YOU ended up inspiring US!

Isn’t that sometimes how it just works? We go out there, trying to lead and mentor, coach and inspire, thinking we are “paying it forward” and “doing the right thing” day after day. . . and sometimes, to our great surprise, WE are the ones who are getting paid, filled up and inspired!

That’s how I felt, listening to Samira’s story. There was no shred of self-pity — it was all humility and gratefulness — as she told her story of being born in a refugee camp during a civil war in Chad. She moved to the United States in high school, and at US Navy boot camp her initial grasp of the English language was misinterpreted and they thought she would fail.

Now, as the first woman to earn the “Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Delbert Black Leadership Award,” it’s still her Navy recruit graduate ball cap that she is most proud of.

Her story inspired us, her audience, to bring out the best in ourselves, and why we serve. Her previous Captain, CAPT Chris Schwarz, hopped on the call to add rich context to Samira’s story on USS Gonzalez (DDG 66), and the previous Chief of Naval Operations, ADM(ret) John Richardson, reflected how Samira’s example represented the best of all of us. No surprise, then, that toward the end of this session, it was Samira who shared that SHE felt the most inspired here.

That’s the power of connection.

Rarely do I get to meet my mentors in person, but as luck would have it, Samira and I were both guests at MCPON Russ Smith’s retirement ceremony the day before this event, so we got to take a selfie together!

Lean On, friends!

Emily Bassett