Golf Clubs & Lessons for Cedric Atkins, Senior Chief Petty Officer, U.S. Navy Retired & Birdie Samaira

A native of Chicago, Illinois, Cedric enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1997 and completed Recruit Training Great Lakes and Electrician's Mate A-school. He completed Electrical Motor Rewind C-school prior to reporting to the USS Frank Cable (AS-40). During this tour, he qualified as an Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist. He was promoted to the rank of Petty Officer Third Class, earning several awards and accolades, and three deployments.

Four years later, Cedric transferred to Naval Station Ingleside, Texas, where he served as E-Division LPO aboard the Osprey-class mine hunters USS Pelican (MHC-53) and USS Black Hawk (MHC-58). During this time, he meritoriously advanced to the rank of First Class Petty Officer.

He continued his career reporting to Navy Recruiting District Phoenix, and Navy Recruiting District Chicago, assuming the role of Division Leading Chief Petty Officer for Division Two. His ability to build and meet production requirements earned his team Most Improved Division of the Year for FY12 and LEADS Division of the Year FY13.

During twenty-six years of service, Cedric's personal decorations include four Navy Commendation Medals, four Navy Achievement Medals, and a host of unit, service, and campaign ribbons and medals.

Cedric is happily married to Alexandra Atkins and has two children, a son named Cedric Jr. and a daughter named Samaira.

Samaira, also known as Sam, was born in Chicago but lived in four different states and attended six schools. This seventeen-year-old has participated in various sports, including gymnastics for nine years, cheer and flag football for two, and softball for half a year. She is an A/B honor roll student at Bartram Trail High School and is considering Criminology or Radiology for college.