Navy officer promoted: thanks ‘God, family’ during ceremony

PHILADELPHIA –

Navy Lt. Cmdr. Prince Tailey was promoted from the rank of lieutenant during a ceremony Nov. 22 at the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support in Philadelphia.

Tailey, DLA Troop Support Medical supply chain Customer Electronic Catalogue/Medical Surgical Operations Center branch chief, was recognized for his career accomplishments and provided the opportunity to thank God, family and friends for his success.

Air Force Lt. Col. Chiriga Wilson of Troop Support’s Operations and Plans Current Operations division presided over the ceremony, and took the opportunity to thank Tailey’s family for their support throughout his career.

Naomi Tailey, left, wife of Navy Lt. Cmdr. Prince Tailey, right, pins a gold oak leaf to her husband’s jacket during a promotion ceremony in his honor Nov. 22, 2019, in Philadelphia. Tailey thanked God as well as his family and friends during the ceremony held at the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support where he serves as the Customer Electronic Catalogue/Medical Surgical Operations Center branch chief for DLA Troop Support’s Medical supply chain.

“The military [promotion] ceremony … [is mainly about] the friends, family and coworkers that have afforded the member the opportunity to thrive and excel,” Wilson said.

Tailey credited the successes that led to his promotion to God and his family for their support.

“I give God all the glory, and I thank him for giving me the opportunity to be in the greatest Navy in the world,” Tailey said. “I want to thank [Troop Support leaders]… and of course my wife and kids for always supporting me.”

Tailey said he was thankful for the opportunity to serve in the capacity of a Navy lieutenant commander with Troop Support, and for the mentorship and encouragement of his coworkers.

Tailey was commissioned into the Navy’s Medical Services Corps after ten years of enlisted service in the Marine Corps. Before arriving at Troop Support, his previous assignment locations include: the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland; the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland; Naval Hospital Pensacola, Florida; and a one-year training opportunity with the Logistics Management Institute.

During his career, Tailey deployed to Afghanistan as a medical embedded training team member and advisor to the budget director for the Surgeon General of the Afghan National Police in 2010 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Tailey also volunteered to deploy to Liberia with the Department of Defense Ebola training team that educated more than 1,500 local nationals and international staff to help eradicate the virus in 2014.