Adm. Samuel Locklear, Commander, U.S. Pacific Command, accepted the Surface Navy Association's (SNA) "Old Salt" Award at the National Museum of the United States Navy at the Washington Navy Yard, May 7.

"In the Navy, we have an expression for respected, experienced and knowledgeable mariners. We call them 'Old Salts,'" said Vice Adm. Barry McCollough, U.S. Navy (Retired), president of the Surface Navy Association. "It is fitting that we acknowledge our lore, customs and traditions, and honor the most senior of all our active duty Surface Warriors with the 'Old Salt' designation. It is the old salts who have made it possible for our traditions to be kept alive."

The Old Salt Award is given to one active duty Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) who has qualified as an officer of the deck (OOD) while underway, but there is a catch. The recipient must be the officer who has held the SWO qualification for the longest amount of time.

The award has been earned by many admirals including former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Michael Mullen, former Commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Adm. John Harvey and U.S. Naval Academy Superintendents such as Vice Adm. Rodney Rempt.

After last Friday's retirement of the most recent Old Salt, Vice Adm. Michael Lefever, and today's ceremony, Locklear, a 1977 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, now assumes the title of the fleet's "Old Salt."

"I'm really kind of awed to be here," said Locklear. "I never thought I'd make it to be the Old Salt. But I can assure you I'll take the time-honored statue with me to Hawaii and display it proudly at [Pacific Command] headquarters and look forward to a time when I can transition it to another great surface warrior. I will take care of it, I promise you."

The names of past Old Salts have their names engraved on brass plates added to the base of the Old Salt Statue. The statue is then held in the custody of the current Old Salt for the remainder of his active duty tenure. Upon Locklear's retirement, the Old Salt statue will be passed to the next officer once determined by a search of records, a recommendation by Director of Surface Warfare, and approval by the Board of SNA.

LeFever, the former Old Salt, most recently served as the Deputy Director for Strategic Operational Planning, National Counterterrorism Center.

"It's been a great honor to be the Old Salt," said Lefever. "It's a tremendous tradition, and now, Admiral, you are the new Old Salt, sir."

LeFever, like all former Old Salts, will receive a replica of the Old Salt statue presented by the President of SNA at the Annual SNA Symposium Banquet. According to the SNA, the replica presentation serves to cement the initial recognition, and acts as a reaffirmation of faith by SNA nationally that receiving a surface warfare officer qualification was, is and will remain important.

This article was originally published at: http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=80870

- PACOM: (posted May 8, 2014) -