Permission To Speak Freely
Damon and Damo (active duty Command Master Chiefs) share sea stories and have unfiltered conversations about current events, policies, and everyday life as a service member.
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About our Guest:Master Chief Hollingsworth, a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, enlisted in the United States Navy on 27 October 1998 after graduating from Alcee Fortier High School in 1998. She attended Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Illinois, and completed Cryptologic Technician Communications training in Pensacola, Florida. After seven years as a Cryptologic Technician Communications, she converted to Information Systems Technician in 2005. Her sea duty assignments include COMSEVENTHFLT permanently embarked aboard USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19), USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), and USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77). Her shore assignments include NSGA Pensacola, NSGA Misawa, Commander Task Force 72 (two tours), NAS Pensacola, CID Unit Corry Station, and Naval Education and Training Command Supply Operations Chain. She was tried, tested, and accepted into the Chief’s Mess on September 16, 2011. She is a graduate of the Senior Enlisted Academy Class 209 (Khaki) and CMC/COB Course #25070. She has earned her Information Warfare Specialist, Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist, Aviation Warfare Specialist, and Master Training Specialist designations, and is also a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt. Master Chief Hollingsworth holds an Associate degree in Business Administration, a Bachelor of Science in Human Services Management, and is currently completing a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership. Her personal awards include six Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, five Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and numerous unit and campaign awards.
About the Episode:From this point forward, we’re calling her Kedia. Damo opens the episode by telling the story of the first time he met Kedia on USS George H. W. Bush… during a disciplinary review board where she didn’t hesitate to call him out. That moment sets the tone for a conversation about accountability, leadership, and the importance of practicing what you preach. The crew discusses the recent shooting involving an ROTC instructor at Old Dominion University and reflect on the loss of CSSN Angelina Resendiz, leading into a deeper conversation about responsibility, influence, and leading by example. Damon asks Kedia if she remembers her first 72 hours in the Navy, and the group talks about how those early experiences shape the leaders we become. Is it okay to follow your Sailors or your leadership on social media? Is there value in having an “anger translator”? What does lazy leadership actually look like? Damo asks Kedia how she balances being a Command Master Chief, a mother, and a graduate student working toward her Master’s degree. The group also tackles a tough question… how do you respond when people use their struggles as an excuse for poor decisions? The conversation turns to Admiral Caudle’s recently released CNOte 5, but the crew goes so deep into the first two principles they realize they could spend an entire episode on it alone. They also discuss what’s happening aboard USS Gerald R. Ford, take a listener question about self-righteous leaders, and read some of Kedia’s social media posts that sparked real conversation across the Fleet. Kedia shares how she spends the holidays with her Sailors, talks about betting on your leadership even when the risk is high, and reflects on how you know when it’s time to retire. The episode closes with one of the most personal Do Better segments we’ve had, as she speaks on legacy, mentorship, and the responsibility of wearing the anchors. These topics and much more are covered in this episode of the PTSF Podcast.
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