John Hagan (sailor)


John Hagan is a retired senior sailor of the United States Navy who served as the eighth Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy.

Early life and education

Hagan was born in Luton, England on May 20, 1946. He was born to an American father, serving in the United States Army Air Corps, and a British mother, serving in the British Auxiliary Territorial Force. He moved to Asheville, North Carolina when he was an infant. He grew up and attended school there until his enlistment in the Navy.

Naval career

After high school, Hagan enlisted in the United States Navy in December 1964 and attended basic training at Recruit Training Center, San Diego, California. He then attended Electronics Technician "A" School at Naval Training Center, Treasure Island, California, and completed a short assignment at Naval Air Test Center Patuxent River, Maryland.
After he completed Ground Control Approach Radar Technician School at Naval Air Technical Training Center, Glynco, Georgia, Hagan reported to Naval Air Station, Whidbey Island, Washington,ultimately becomin as the Leading Petty Officer for the Air Search Radar Maintenance Division. During his tour there, he earned an Associate of Arts degree from Skagit Valley College and was the recipient of the President's Honor Medal.
Hagan's next permanent assignment was aboard, homeported in Naples, Italy. During a subsequent tour of sea duty as a support maintenance technician at Underwater Demolition Team 21 in Little Creek, Virginia, he was advanced to Chief Petty Officer and qualified as a naval parachutist. While assigned to a shore tour at Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Center in Louisville, Kentucky, he was advanced to senior chief petty officer. While there, he earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from McKendree University.
In September 1980, Hagan reported aboard, homeported in Charleston, South Carolina. While there, he qualified as an Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist and was advanced to master chief petty officer. Shortly after reporting to his next assignment at the Naval Air Technical Training Center at Memphis, Tennessee, he was selected as the Force Master Chief for the Chief of Naval Technical Training.
In April 1988 Hagan reported to Pre-Commissioning Unit Philippine Sea in Bath. After the vessel's commissioning the following year, she reported to her homeport in Mayport, Florida, and subsequently deployed to the Red and Mediterranean Seas in support of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. During this tour of duty, he qualified as Officer of the Deck, and stood the OOD UW for his entire CMC tour.
Soon after reporting to Helicopter Anti-Submarine Warfare Squadron 48 at Mayport, Florida, as the command master chief, Hagan was selected as the eighth Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy. He assumed his position on 28 August 1992.
Hagan served as MCPON for nearly six years, serving under three Chiefs of Naval Operations, Admiral Frank Kelso, Admiral Mike Boorda and Admiral Jay Johnson. This tour length anomaly was due in large part to the death of Admiral Boorda in May, 1996 and the subsequent request by Admiral Johnson that Hagan continue to serve. Hagan retired as MCPON in 1998.

Personal life

Hagan is married to Cathy Hagan. They have three children, Robert Hagan, Melissa Smith, and Melody Blanchard. Robert Hagan, the oldest, retired from the Marine Corps in 2014 as a Colonel with 25 years service, and is married to Linda Hagan, with two children. Melissa Smith is married to Deane Smith, who retired in June 2017 from a 30 year USCG career as a BMCM. She has three children. His youngest, Melody Blanchard is married to Lloyd Blanchard, a college professor at UCONN, with one child. John continues leading his Chiefs through his active riding and mentoring role in the Old Dogs Veteran's Motorcycle Association.

Awards and decorations