About our guest:

Paul Kingsbury is a retired Fleet Master Chief (U.S. Fleet Forces Command) with 31 years of service. He currently serves as the Director of Uniformed Service Relations at the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. He’s the host of the ‘Cutlass Podcast,’ a podcast specializing in leadership lessons and guidance. He’s authored or co-authored the 2nd Edition of the Chief Petty Officer’s Guide, the Petty Officer’s Guide, and the latest edition of the Bluejacket’s Manual. He’s served as the President of the Non-Commissioned Officers Association (NCOA) and the co-director of Outreach and Brand Ambassador for the U.S. Naval Institute. He’s published several articles on Navy policy and issues in Proceedings, the USNI Blog, and Joint Forces Quarterly, receiving awards in both the U.S. Naval Institute General Essay and Enlisted Essay Contests.

About the Episode:

Congrats are in order for the newly selected Command Master Chiefs and Command Senior Chiefs. Damo made it y’all. Damon and Tish poke a little fun and congratulate Damo on his selection as a Senior Enlisted Leader. He discusses his thoughts and anticipation about going into a new role. They briefly discuss the story about the Chief who’s recently been accused of espionage.

Retired Fleet Master Chief, Paul Kingsbury joins the show to just chat it up with the gang. He talks about his upbringing as a catholic altar boy in a blue-collar family in South Florida in the 1980s. He discusses his early days as an Electrician’s Mate (EMN) in the Nuclear Power Plant. How do you even become a Fleet Master Chief? What’s the difference between a Force and a Fleet Master Chief? How easy is it for a Fleet Master Chief to make changes? This leads us down a dark rabbit hole about who really runs the military. How’s the work/life balance of a CMC moving up to FLTCM? How did Paul get the opportunities to write (and co-author) the CPO Guide, Petty Officer Guide and Bluejacket’s Manual? How is the transition to a civilian after 31 years of Military Service?  Paul details the craziest thing that he’s seen on a ship while underway. How difficult is it to sustain relationships the higher you climb up the leadership level? Paul explains why he thinks the CPO Selection board has an impact on CPO behavior. Paul’s #Dobetter - “What got you here, won’t get you there.” These and more topics are covered in this episode of the ‘Permission to Speak Freely’ podcast. Remember to follow the ‘Permission to Speak Freely’ podcast on TikTok, Facebook, Discord, Instagram, and Twitter, and subscribe on YouTube.

Keep up with the ‘Permission to Speak Freely’ podcast on our social media and YouTube - https://linktr.ee/Ptsfpodcast

Listen to The Cutlass Podcasty (by Paul Kingsbury) - https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paul-kingsbury03

Keep up with Paul Kingsbury on his social media platforms:

U.S. Naval Institute - https://www.usni.org/people/paul-kingsbury

Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-kingsbury-3bb8a8b3/

Cutllass Leadership (Website) - https://www.cutlassleadership.com/paul

X - https://twitter.com/kingsburypaul1?lang=en

For the Books:

The Chief Petty Officer’s Guide (Paul Kingsbury) - https://www.usni.org/press/books/chief-petty-officers-guide-2nd-edition

Petty Officer’s Guide (Paul Kingsbury & Daniel Richard) - https://www.usni.org/press/books/petty-officers-guide

The Bluejacket’s Manual, 26th Edition (Thomas J. Cutler, Mark T. Hacala, and Paul Kingsbury) - https://www.usni.org/press/books/bluejackets-manual-26th-edition-0

Links and more from this Episode:

Navy Chief Charged with Espionage - https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13110621/amp/us-navy-chief-japan-charged-espionage.html

Air Force Member Set Himself on Fire Outside Israeli Embassy - https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/us-air-force-member-set-fire-israeli-embassy-dc-died-rcna140455

Additional Credits:

PTSF “Theme Music” - Produced by Lim0