by Navy Office of Community Outreach

(MILLINGTON, Tenn.) – Navy Chief Personnel Specialist Mutiu Aderinoye, from Houston, was recently promoted to chief petty officer, an accomplishment that only one in five eligible sailors achieve each year.

Chief Aderinoye, a 1994 Lagelu Grammar School graduate, is currently serving with Navy Personnel Command in Millington, Tennessee.

“Being selected as chief is a dream come true,” said Aderinoye. “It means I get to do more to help junior officers and sailors.”

Achieving the title of ‘Navy Chief’ is a major honor and milestone. According to Navy Personnel Command, there are only 8.5 percent of sailors currently serving at the chief petty officer rank.

To be selected for this promotion, sailors must be a petty officer 1st class, and successfully navigate through two qualifying factors: a job-based exam and a selection review board. A sailor’s record can only proceed to the review board after they score high enough on the exam. Once the exam is passed, their records are reviewed by a panel of senior navy leaders who meet for six weeks to determine if the individuals meet the standards for selection as a chief petty officer. A sailor’s performance is evaluated for at least five years, and each sailor attributes different experiences for their selection.

“By listen to my mentor’s advice and working outside of my rate helped me make chief,” said Aderinoye.

During the ceremony, the honored sailors invite friends and family members to pin on the two gold anchors that adorn the newly appointed chiefs’ uniforms, while the sailor’s sponsor places the combination cover on their heads.

“I have to give a big thank you to my family for their support and help as well as my mentor, Command Master Chief Quenton Newsom,” added Aderinoye.