As he grabbed his seabag on his way out of Seattle’s Sea-Tac Airport on the way to begin training with Submarine Squadron 11 at Point Loma, San Diego, he never could have known he’d put his recertification to use so quickly.
Walking from the tarmac up the ramp and into the airport terminal for his connecting flight, Musgrove heard a woman cry out in distress. He spun quickly around to see a man in a pilot’s uniform laying on the ground.
Musgrove said he took action immediately.
“I get down on the ground and I start assessing him and checking him over and he’s taking some really heavy, deep gasps, and then he just stops breathing,” said the 43 year-old Musgrove, who serves as the Chelan County, Washington, Chief of Patrol in his civilian law enforcement career. Musgrove checked for a pulse and quickly determined the man needed CPR. He performed chest compressions for 5-6 minutes alongside a woman, who also knelt down to help. The pair continued performing chest compressions until an airline employee brought out an automated external defibrillator (AED).
“One of the airline employees dropped an AED right next to us,” said Musgrove. “I pulled [the pilot’s] jacket open and ripped his shirt, and we put the AED on him. We energized it and shocked him, and he immediately goes to take a deep breath and then stops breathing again.”
The pair immediately went into performing more chest compressions for a few tense minutes.
“We gave him a few rescue breaths,” said Musgrove, “and then he started breathing again. That was probably about six or seven minutes into it.”
Aid crews arrived shortly thereafter and took the man away for medical treatment. While Musgrove said he never got a full update on the man’s condition, a subsequent phone call from San Diego to Seattle provided some encouraging news.
“I got down to San Diego and I called back up to the airport and they connected me over to the battalion chief from the fire department,” said Musgrove. “And he says ‘I can't give you all of the details, but just know that when we loaded him up and put him into the ambulance, he was talking.’ I’m glad I could be there to help out.”
As a SELRES Sailor, Musgrove serves as the senior enlisted leader for Naval Reserve SSGN Continuous Maintenance Availability Pacific (CMAV) out of Bangor, Washington.
Administratively attached to NOSC Kitsap, his command is an expeditionary maintenance unit with a primary mission to work on the guided missile submarines USS Ohio (SSGN-726) and USS Michigan (SSGN-727).
A key element of the Navy's fighting force, the SSGN features tremendous payload capacity, dual crew deployment, and inherent stealth. Each SSGN brings mission flexibility and enhanced capabilities to the warfighter, something Musgrove and his team routinely support in the growing global playing field of the Great Power Competition.
“I started a program several years ago called the SMART program,” said Musgrove. “It’s designed to utilize our Reserve Sailors from the expeditionary maintenance units. We provide an opportunity for those Reservists from across the country to come out and work on fast attack submarines when they’re in their shipyard periods. We provide needed maintenance with some of these Reservists who go out and alleviate the workload.”
Musgrove said a fleeting thought occurred to him during his recertification course, one made more profound after the events of that fateful fall day at the Seattle airport.
“When I was taking the CPR refresher course, for a moment I actually thought to myself, ‘I’ve never had to use this before,” said Musgrove. “Sure enough, the very next week — boom.”
The senior chief offered some valuable experiential advice for every Sailor to consider.
“I will tell you one thing. Just make sure that you're taking every bit of training seriously,” he said. “I have almost 25 years in the Navy and this was the first time I’d ever had to use my CPR training. Absolutely take it seriously, because you just never know when you'll be put into a position where you will have to actually utilize it.”
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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 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 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.