by Rick Burke, Navy Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs(NORCO, Calif.) In a ceremony at Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Corona Division, Dec. 18, Chief Petty Officer Allen L. McCarty said farewell to shipmates and friends, ending his 22-year career in the U.S. Navy.
McCarty, a native of Flora, Indiana, enlisted at 18 in 1996 and completed a bachelor's degree in business management, just one day prior to his retirement. Nicknamed "Flip Flop" by his early superiors, McCarty spent nearly half his career on warships, with two of four deployments to the Arabian Gulf. During his final tour at NSWC Corona, he was the Leading Chief Petty Officer for the Performance Assessment Department military personnel and program manager for Command Physical Readiness, Drugs and Alcohol Awareness, Family Advocacy and Individual Medical Readiness programs.
Capt. Rick Braunbeck, commanding officer, praised McCarty for his achievements.
"Through superb leadership and initiative, Chief McCarty developed over 1,400 exercise analysis reports and high-interest video reconstructions for numerous fleet missile firing events," he said. "He expertly processed, analyzed and delivered rapid feedback results from over 12,000 data points observed during a wide range of ballistic missile defense exercises, fleet strike events, high-speed tracking exercises and combat system ship qualification trials."
Braunbeck added that McCarty's exceptional professionalism, unrelenting perseverance and loyal devotion to duty reflected great credit upon him and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Navy.
Nearly 100 friends and shipmates attended the event, including family who traveled from Indiana. McCarty's eldest daughter sang the National Anthem, youngest two daughters led the Pledge of Allegiance and several Navy mentors shared praise and jokes in a tribute that brought tears to both the stage and audience.
The Southern California ceremony took place under clear blue skies on the lawn in front of the command's headquarters building and ended in naval tradition with McCarty requesting to go ashore, the commanding officer approving his request and McCarty departing along the ceremonial red carpet for the last time as an active duty Sailor.
"This was just indescribable," an emotional McCarty said after of the ceremony. "It's kind of bittersweet. I'm going to miss the Sailors and teaching them." But he said he and his wife, Lauren, and three daughters are anxious to make their new home in central Indiana where he will decide on the next chapter of his life.
Reflecting on his Navy career, McCarty quoted President John F. Kennedy during his remarks.
“I can imagine no more rewarding a career. And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction: 'I served in the United States Navy.”
- - Naval Surface Warfare Center Corona Public Affairs