Making Chief

[Neutron Whisperer]

Anyone ever feel like they weren't ready to make chief when they did?  That is, didn't know enough (BZ need not apply) about what it takes to run division?  It's one thing to have a good nuclear LOK and stand a good watch, but there's a lot to running a division that a second class is oblivious to that he may now be responsible for as the LCPO.

[Fermi2]

Anyone ever feel like they weren't ready to make chief when they did?  That is, didn't know enough (BZ need not apply) about what it takes to run division?  It's one thing to have a good nuclear LOK and stand a good watch, but there's a lot to running a division that a second class is oblivious to that he may now be responsible for as the LCPO.

I can answer that, I think your real question is do you feel you weren't ready to be in the position of the food chain when you weren't only a supervisor, you were the management rep too. My opinion is no one feels they are truly ready I know I wasn't certain I was entirely ready when I became a Reactor Operator, then a Unit Supervisor then a Shift Manager, In every case I was the junior guy promoted and when I went from Unit Supervisor to Shift Manager I was going from a position where I never needed to put any thought into Management to a position where I had to discuss my decisions with Senior VPs and erven a CEO from time to time, this with only 15 months experience as a US. Yeah I was nervous and going into it I had thoughts about am I really ready? Subsequent events proved I was and yes I had errors in judgement especially in my early days as an SM. The bottom line is are you willing to listen? Are you willing to make a decision even if it's not the popular one and are you eloquent or well spoken enough to explain yourself to those who are ultimately in charge? If so you'll do ok. Also and this is a BIG also, as a chief or manager you are responsible for the performance of your department BUT you are responsible to the entire community of departments for how your department affects them. If in making M Div 1% better you've made your boat or plant 5% worse then you've failed as a manager. Never set off a sine wave or bow wave of action simply because it causes you instant gratification or gets a monkey temporarily off your back and you'll be ok.

Mike

[DDMurray]

Anyone ever feel like they weren't ready to make chief when they did?  That is, didn't know enough (BZ need not apply) about what it takes to run division?  It's one thing to have a good nuclear LOK and stand a good watch, but there's a lot to running a division that a second class is oblivious to that he may now be responsible for as the LCPO.

When I made Chief in 1991 I did not even know the results were coming out.  It was a big shock.  It was even a bigger shock 2 years later when I arrived on my boat as the E-Div Chief while the ship was deployed.  I knew I wasn't in Kansas any more when we had a shore power casualty and the CO, XO, and ENG walked off the boat to hit the beach in Singapore.  The Eng showed some concern when the CO said, "Don't worry Eng, Chief Murray will handle it".  I'd been the E-DIV Chief for about two days and those guys didn't know me from Job.  I hadn't even finished my check-in yet.  I did handle the situation and through determination and hard work go on to a successful tour as E-LCPO. 
-Derek