Our Deckplate Leader of the Week is Chief Petty Officer Mitchell A. Robison, a storekeeper from U.S. Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile!
Robison has done some incredible work inside and outside the service.
He has bolstered the Coast Guard's partnership with Feeding the Gulf Coast Food Bank by orchestrating 36 hours of volunteer events and leading two base food drives resulting in 925 pounds of food collected for those in need.
Additionally, he assisted with distributing over 20,000 pounds of food to federal agencies during the prolonged government shutdown. This included enlisting the help of shipmates throughout the base to collectively donate their time and resources in being a leader both on and off duty.
Robison is an active member of the Chief Petty Officer Association and Aviation Training Center Mobile’s Chief's Mess. He volunteered as the social committee member while attending the Chief Petty Officer Academy, which included planning the final social event for Class 261. He continues to show support to the community by volunteering with the Chief's Mess at the Biloxi Veterans Hospital.
Robison coordinated 110 hours of acquisition training for junior personnel. This included training required to nominate one junior member to receive a $100k contracting warrant. He wrote and presented positive CG-3307s to four junior members for donating their time in packaging 970 bags of meals at the food bank for children subject to food insecurity. He also assisted seven members in advancing by coordinating service wide study groups as a Service Wide Professional Development Coach.
When asked: What makes a good Chief?
Robison said, “A good Chief is a Chief who enables leadership at every level through initiative, commitment, and empowerment. A Chief is a leader who is devoted to life-long learning, which ensures they remain an objective listener, leader, and decision maker. A Chief is someone who engages with their shipmates in a way that inspires a shared vision in accomplishing organizational goals. This includes identifying, harboring, mentoring, and cultivating the talents of our diverse workforce so every member is heard and has the chance to prosper. Most importantly, a good Chief is someone that when in charge, takes charge.”
What advice do you have for junior members?
“My advice for junior members is to never lose sight of long-term goals but at the same time focus on those short-term day-to-day goals. Success is the culmination of many micro victories that one day blossom into major milestones and achievements. Achieving long-term goals requires grit, the belief in one's ability to succeed, and maintaining a goal-oriented mindset. This includes recognizing that mistakes are part of the process in achieving goals. Become committed to tackling them with an open mind. Most importantly, balance is key in living a healthy and rich life. Take care of your body, mind, and look out for the well-being of your shipmates and family.”
