"Ask the Chief provides a picture of the chief petty officer's community in the U.S. Navy." "As a guest of the chief petty officers mess aboard USS George Washington during Operation Enduring Freedom, Leahy was granted complete and unfettered access to all areas of the massive carrier as well as the other ships in her battle group. He interviewed nearly one hundred Navy chiefs from the aviation, surface, submarine, and special warfare communities and recounts their stories of daily life at sea. In doing so, Leahy presents the true backbone of the modern Navy: the wisdom, character, and dignity of the chief petty officer's community."--BOOK JACKET.