Master Chief Petty Officer Hank Steinford, Retired

A volunteer at the United States Submarine Force Library and Museum, Margil L. “Hank” Steinford, pictured at 83 years young, served in the Navy’s submarine fleet from 1946 to 1977, acquiring the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer (E-9), the highest enlisted rank within the United States Navy. While serving aboard the USS Charr (SS-328), Hank realized that Admiral Hymen G. Rickover, now known as the Father of the Nuclear Navy, was winning the political battle to make nuclear the submarine fleet, also known as the Silent Service. Not wanting to leave the Service and not wanting to become tied to an obsolete technology, Hank reenlisted and began the process to become nuclear certified. He would later go on to serve aboard the USS George Washington (SSBN-598), the world’s first nuclear ballistic missile submarine. Hank described his time aboard “The Georgefish” during the Cuban missile crisis as “unbelievably tense” while the crew maintained “absolute and total pindrop silence” as they “awaited news of the worst”.

To Hank Steinford and all members of the Silent Service, past, present and future: I salute you.