Texan Randy Hardin spent 15 years aboard ships in the Navy before he was assigned to his first shore duty. Hardin enlisted at the age of 18 in the Navy in his hometown of Longview, Texas in 1974. He arrived at bootcamp two days after his high school graduation and spent the next 30 years in the United States Navy.
Hardin retired as a command master chief on April 9, 2004.
“My first ship was the USS Sperry (AS-12), a sub-tender stationed out of San Diego. From there I went to the USS Inflict (MSO-45), a mine-sweeper stationed in Little Creek, Virginia,” Hardin said. “Then I served on the USS Point Loma (AGDS-2) and then the USS Bagley (FF-1069), both out of San Diego. That took up 15 years. Then I was assigned to my first shore duty in New Orleans, Louisiana.”
Hardin applied for and was accepted to the command master chief program and left shore duty early to complete his training. Before that, however, Hardin was an electronics technician. Hardin made chief in 1984 and was promoted to master chief petty officer in 1990; he received orders as a command master chief in 1992.
According to the Navy, a command master chief petty officer is the most senior enlisted sailor in a United States Navy. The command master chief serves as a liaison between commissioned officers and enlisted sailors.
Hardin echoes this, saying, “My job as a command master chief was to serve people. I helped sailors and their families while also helping the ship complete its mission.”
As a command master chief, Hardin was also called upon to ensure active communication throughout the chain of command while also upholding the Navy ethos and Navy core values.
His first tour as a command master chief was USS Texas (CGN-39) in 1992. The ship has since been decommissioned.
“It’s long gone — probably razor blades by now,” Hardin said.
The USS Texas was stationed at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for refurbishing when it was decommissioned. Hardin, not one to wait idly for anything, transferred to Newport, Rhode Island, as an instructor for leader training at the US Navy Senior Enlisted Academy.
Hardin was selected as Command Master Chief of the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) for two years. His final duty station was Naval Station Kitsap-Bangor. Hardin oversaw shore commands in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska.
While serving in an active leadership role, Hardin continued his education. He received a Bachelors of Business Administration from Northwood University and a graduate certificate in organizational leadership from Chapman University.
Several months before retiring, he researched and started his own business, Abiding Home Care, which he ran with his wife Jerrine, from 2004 to 2010. In 2010, he sold the business to Martha & Mary.
“I was part of the deal,” he said with a laugh. “I have served at Martha & Mary as the Administrator of Home and Community Services since 2010.”
Both Hardin and his wife came from families that actively participated in the care and nurturing of their elderly relatives. Hardin recalled memories of his family packing up the car with cleaning supplies and food and sundries. His family would go once a week and clean relatives’ homes, stock the pantry and refrigerator with food and prepared meals and spend time with them.
Hardin said they would consistently do this, visiting those relatives that still lived independently and those that were residing at nursing homes.
“The culture and economy has pushed the care of our elderly family away from us,” Hardin said. “My guiding principle (in starting a home care business) was that I wanted to go to bed each night knowing I had helped someone. That’s why I was also so open to being acquired by Martha & Mary,” he said.
Hardin has lived in Kitsap County for the past 15 years. That’s not to say that his home state doesn’t appeal to him.
“Like any good Texan, I yearn for Texas sometimes,” he said with a laugh.
Hardin is very active in his job at Martha & Mary. He is also very involved with his church, St. Elizabeth Orthodox Church in Poulsbo.
“I serve on the parish council and with the finance committee,” he said.
Hardin has some advice for those ready to retire: “Be flexible. Don’t think you’re going to do just one thing. Expand your vision and look for ways to continue to serve.”
He also has some sage advice for the younger folks looking into the military as a career.
“The military should always be an option,” he said. He cautions, however: “It’s not a job, though. It’s a way of life. You’ve got to be ready to adopt the traditions, structure and hierarchy and make it your own.”
Hardin is proud of his service in the Navy. He’s also proud to be a veteran.
“A veteran, to me, is a hero,” he said. “I don’t want to get into politics (Hardin quickly mentions recent events like the national veteran memorial closures), but I don’t think we treat them well enough.”
Story by Jessica Ginet