From March 25-27, the Naval Academy hosted the first-ever Senior Enlisted Training Symposium for the 110 Chief Petty Officers and Gunnery Sergeants assigned to the Naval Academy, Naval Academy Band, Naval Health Clinic Annapolis, and Naval Support Activity (NSA) Annapolis.

The training symposium included presentations from a variety of guest speakers, including Navy Equal Opportunity Program Manager Alfred Harris; former Marine Capt. Vernice Armour, the Marine Corps’ first African-American female combat pilot; and retired Marine Col. Arthur Athens, director of the Naval Academy’s Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership.

Facilitators from the Senior Enlisted Academy in Newport, R.I., also participated in briefs, question-and-answer sessions, and roundtable discussions on topics ranging from selection boards, mentorship, diversity, ethics, fraternization, conflict resolution, public speaking, and more.

‘‘It’s good to get the Senior Enlisted Academy training here in Annapolis,” said Chief Boatswain’s Mate (SW⁄AW) Chris Sullivan, Leading Chief Petty Officer of the Vandergrift Cutter Shed. ‘‘It gives us a snapshot of the direction ‘big Navy’ is headed.”

In an email to the Midshipmen and Naval Academy faculty and staff, Command Master Chief (AW⁄SW) Evelyn Banks noted the roles senior enlisted Sailors and Marines play in the development of Midshipmen.

‘‘They are Senior Enlisted Leaders within Bancroft Hall. They are Craftmasters aboard the Yard Patrol (YP) craft. They are instructors in Engineering and Weapons, and in Seamanship and Navigation. They are leaders within the Naval Academy Band,” Banks wrote. ‘‘They lead Sailors in mission-accomplishment, ensuring the YPs and sailboats are ready to train; ensuring medical staffs are ready and able to provide high quality care to active duty, family members, and retirees; ensuring the Sailors standing watch at our gates are trained and equipped to carry out the mission. These Chiefs serve every day as role models to thousands of future Navy and Marine Corps officers, providing the standard of excellence in leadership we should all expect from our superiors.”

‘‘It’s all about the training we do here with the Midshipmen and how we fit into that,” said Master Chief Musician David Hanner, who has been assigned to the Naval Academy Band for 18 years. According to Hanner, the most valuable aspect of the symposium was coming together as a group to examine how each individual contributes to the mission.

‘‘It was monumental,” Hanner said. ‘‘This is the future of our Navy, and this training helps us accomplish our mission better.”

The training symposium wrapped up with a special dinner at Buchanen House March 27 honoring the Chief Petty Officer’s birthday, hosted by Naval Academy Superintendent Vice Adm. Jeffrey L. Fowler. On April 2, NSA Annapolis Commanding Officer Capt. Michael Fierro hosted a barbeque to celebrate the 115th anniversary of the Chief Petty Officer, and on April 24, the Annapolis Chief Petty Officers and Gunnery Sergeants will host a Dining Out in celebration of naval heritage.