Chief of Navy Reserve Fourth of July Message 2021

01 July 2021

From Chief of Navy Reserve (CNR) Vice Adm. John Mustin

Greetings shipmates. As we prepare to celebrate Independence Day this weekend, I want to express my gratitude to our Navy Reserve Sailors and their families for their service to our Nation. Thank you for your contribution to transforming and modernizing our Force and for keeping our Navy Reserve warfighting-ready in this era of strategic competition.
Greetings shipmates. As we prepare to celebrate Independence Day this weekend, I want to express my gratitude to our Navy Reserve Sailors and their families for their service to our Nation. Thank you for your contribution to transforming and modernizing our Force and for keeping our Navy Reserve warfighting-ready in this era of strategic competition.
 
Shortly after the Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia in 1776, celebrations took place throughout the colonies.  The former colonists fired cannons and held drum parades expressing their support for independence.  Today, we celebrate with fireworks, barbeques, and maybe a day at the beach. 
 
But 245 years ago, before the celebrations began (and John Hancock signed his signature so large that King George would not have to use his spectacles to see it) the atmosphere was far more sober.  The signers of the Declaration of Independence risked their lives by signing that piece of parchment. Benjamin Franklin famously said, “We must all hang together, or assuredly, we will hang separately.”
 
Because of the grounding-breaking collective vision of our Founding Fathers, and the courageous actions of the many men and women who fought on behalf of independence during the American Revolution, we enjoy a legacy of freedom, and are free to live lives based on the idea that all people possess certain unalienable rights – to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That spirit transcends today through the millions of Americans across generations who have protected our democracy against tyranny, oppression, and persecution.  As former Secretary of Defense Ash Carter famously said: “It’s the risks you take, and the sacrifices you make, that ensure those ideals endure for all of us.”
 
This Fourth of July, let us take a moment to remember the foundation of our country, those serving at sea or downrange away from loved ones, and what it means to be a Navy Reserve Sailor.   You have much to be proud of, and a high bar to maintain as a member of our team. 
 
Finally, as you take some well-earned time off, remember to treat liberty as a mission – and to be safe.  Plan travel and other outings ahead of time and allow enough time to get to your destination.  Make smart decisions, exercise moderation in the use of alcohol, and know who to call if you find yourself in an unexpected situation. 
 
I want to thank each of you again for your service to our great nation.  I wish you and your families a happy, safe, and patriotic Independence Day.

Vice Admiral John Mustin
Chief of Navy Reserve
Commander, Navy Reserve Force

 
Acting Chief of Navy Reserve, Acting, Commander, Navy Reserve Force

Rear Admiral Richard S. Lofgren

Acting Chief of Navy Reserve, Acting, Commander, Navy Reserve Force

Rear Adm. Richard S. Lofgren serves as the Acting Chief of Navy Reserve and Acting Commander, Navy Reserve Force. In this role, he provides strategic leadership and oversight for Navy Reserve personnel and operations worldwide, supporting the readiness and integration of Reserve forces across the fleet. A Surface Warfare Officer, Rear Adm. Lofgren brings extensive operational and command experience across maritime expeditionary, coastal riverine, and surface warfare missions, including service in senior leadership roles supporting U.S. naval operations in multiple geographic combatant commands. His career reflects a sustained commitment to operational excellence, leadership development, and the effective employment of Navy Reserve forces in support of national security objectives.

 

 
Commander, Navy Reserve Forces Command, Deputy Commander, Navy Reserve Force

Rear Admiral Luke A. Frost

Commander, Navy Reserve Forces Command, Deputy Commander, Navy Reserve Force

Rear Adm. Luke Frost is a Surface Warfare Officer with extensive operational, command, and strategic leadership experience across the fleet. He has served in senior command roles at sea and ashore, including command of major surface combatants and amphibious forces operating throughout the Central Command and Indo-Pacific areas of responsibility. As a Flag Officer, Rear Adm. Frost served as Director, Reserve Warfare (OPNAV N0959) on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations, where he provided oversight and strategic guidance for Reserve force integration and readiness. His career reflects a deep commitment to warfighting excellence, joint operations, and the effective employment of naval forces in support of U.S. national security objectives.

 

 
Commander, Naval Air Force Reserve/Deputy Commander, Naval Air Force U.S. Pacific Fleet/Vice Commander, Naval Air Forces

Rear Admiral John Saccomando

Commander, Naval Air Force Reserve/Deputy Commander, Naval Air Force U.S. Pacific Fleet/Vice Commander, Naval Air Forces

Rear Admiral John Saccomando is a Naval Aviator with extensive operational, command, and strategic leadership experience across both active and reserve components. He has served in multiple senior command and flag assignments supporting naval aviation, expeditionary operations, and installation readiness, including leadership roles within U.S. Fleet Forces and Naval Air Forces Atlantic. A combat-experienced aviator, Rear Adm. Saccomando brings deep expertise in joint operations, force integration, and operational readiness, reflecting a sustained commitment to advancing naval capabilities and supporting U.S. national security objectives worldwide.

 

 
Commander, Naval Information Force Reserve

Rear Admiral Gregory K. Emery

Commander, Naval Information Force Reserve

Rear Adm. Greg Emery is a Navy Reserve flag officer with extensive leadership experience across naval oceanography, intelligence, and information warfare. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, he has served in a wide range of operational, command, and staff assignments supporting global naval and joint operations, including senior leadership roles within Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command and the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. Rear Adm. Emery brings deep expertise in intelligence integration, operational support, and information warfare, reflecting a sustained commitment to advancing decision advantage and mission readiness across the fleet.

 

 
Navy Reserve Force Master Chief

Force Master Chief Nicole C. Rios

Navy Reserve Force Master Chief

Force Master Chief Nicole C. Rios serves as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of Navy Reserve, advising on the readiness, welfare, and professional development of approximately 59,000 Reserve Component Sailors supporting Navy, Marine Corps, and joint operations worldwide. A seasoned Command Master Chief, she brings extensive experience across aviation, expeditionary, and information warfare communities, with senior enlisted leadership assignments at the unit, regional, and force levels. Her career reflects a sustained commitment to Sailor advocacy, operational readiness, and the effective integration of Navy Reserve forces in support of national defense objectives.

 

 
Command Master Chief, Commander, Navy Reserve Forces Command

Master Chief Robert W. Lyons II

Command Master Chief, Commander, Navy Reserve Forces Command

Command Master Chief Lyons brings extensive operational and shore-based leadership experience across aviation, logistics, manpower, and readiness organizations within the Navy Reserve enterprise. Selected as a Command Master Chief in 2016, he has served in senior enlisted leadership roles at Navy Operational Support Center Pearl Harbor, Navy Personnel Command, Maritime Support Wing, Fleet Readiness Center Mid-West, and currently serves as the Command Master Chief for Commander, Navy Reserve Forces Command. An Aviation Warfare Specialist, he is recognized for sustained excellence in leadership and readiness, earning multiple personal, joint, and unit awards throughout his career.


 
Command Master Chief, Commander, Naval Air Force Reserve

Master Chief Van "Chris" Louvier

Command Master Chief, Commander, Naval Air Force Reserve

Command Master Chief Louvier enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1997 and brings extensive aviation maintenance and readiness leadership experience across multiple Fleet Logistics, Strike Fighter, Helicopter, and Reserve aviation commands. Selected as a Command Master Chief in 2015, he has served in senior enlisted leadership roles at VR-56, Commander, Tactical Support Wing, Fleet Readiness Center Reserve Mid-West, and currently serves as the Command Master Chief for Commander, Naval Air Force Reserve. An Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist, he is a graduate of the Senior Enlisted Academy and multiple executive leadership programs and has earned numerous personal and unit awards for sustained excellence in leadership and mission readiness.


 

Master Chief Jerry E. Dotson

Command Master Chief, Commander, Naval Information Force Reserve

Master Chief Jerry E. Dotson was born in Garden Grove, California, and raised in Sacramento. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on July 29, 2002, and completed recruit training and Electrician’s Mate “A” School in Great Lakes, Illinois. His career spans operational, reserve, aviation, and senior enlisted leadership assignments, and he currently serves as the Command Master Chief for Commander, Naval Information Force Reserve.

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