After nearly 32 years of faithful and honorable service, Naval Medical Forces Atlantic (NMFL) Command Master Chief (CMC) Zachary Pryor, a native of Alliance, Nebraska, went ashore for the final time during his retirement ceremony on board Naval Support Activity (NSA) Hampton Roads – Portsmouth Annex, April 19, 2024.
Together with his son, Ensign Timothy Pryor, currently assigned to the U.S. Bureau of Navy Medicine and Surgery (BUMED) they represent more than 40 years of Naval Service. His son, a prior enlisted corpsman, was commissioned as part of the Health Professions Scholarship Program, which provides educational and commission opportunities for service members and civilians.
“Serving alongside my father in the Navy has been an incredible honor,” said Pryor. “I am grateful for all his years of service and selfless sacrifice to our great nation. He’s developed leaders, deployed into harm’s way, around the world, thanked those on duty every chance he could, healed the sick and cared for the wounded. He could shoot as well as any Marine, and genuinely loved serving with his Sailors, Officers, and his Chief's Mess. I am incredibly proud to call him my father.”
The NMFL CMC was recently awarded the Legion of Merit by Rear Adm Matthew Case, commander, NMFL, and chief, Medical Service Corps for his years of service.
“It's been a heck of a ride, huh?” Case laughed. “It's been a whirlwind and I thank you for being part of that incredible run with us as we traveled throughout the country and the world as we thanked our Sailors and along the way we discovered and fixed things to improve their ability to do their mission and to improve the quality of service that they get and that they provide to our Navy. Thank you for all you have done.”
The Bureau of Navy Medicine and Surgery Force Master Chief PatrickPaul Mangaran recounted Pryor’s career, sharing how they had met, and the legacy he will leave behind.
“Zach’s legacy that he leaves behind are Sailors like me, and his son, Ensign Pryor. I mean, everything that you've done to teach me and mentor me ... and here we are today and you're still providing me mentorship. ... Zach, you've left a legacy for each and every one of us to continue to serve one another and to build relationships. Thank you.”
As Pryor prepares for retirement, and transitions into a leadership role within a hospital setting he took a moment to share a heartfelt nugget of wisdom with all Sailors before departing.
“I want you all to think about these next words,” began Pryor, a proud smile on his face. “All of you, every single one of you in uniform right now, since 1775, from the war of independence to the World Wars, the United States has been the Super Bowl champions of the world when it comes to warfare, and as we all know, everybody wants to beat the Super Bowl champions. But, if you have the watch, if you're holding the line, nobody is going to beat us. I want you to go back and tell your Sailors that, to get them to understand that.
They have to be the best at what they do every day from when they put their uniform on to when they show up in their shop or whatever they're doing for the Navy. Be infectious with your leadership, there is a reason you stuck around in this fantastic organization; likely because you looked at somebody and said, I want to be like that person. There's somebody in your shop that's looking at you and thinking that same thought right now; I guarantee you! It's been an honor and a privilege to serve for 31 years as one of your nation's protectors. Thank you!”
Pryor holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Care Management from Touro University International and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Trident University.
His warfare qualifications include: Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist, Enlisted Expeditionary Warfare Specialist, and Enlisted Fleet Marine Force Warfare Specialist. His personal awards include Legion of Merit, Meritorious Achievement Medal (2 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (5 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (7 awards), Combat Action Ribbon and numerous unit and campaign awards.
NMFL, headquartered in Portsmouth, Virginia, delivers operationally focused medical expertise and capabilities to meet Fleet, Marine and Joint Force requirements by providing equipment, sustainment and maintenance of medical forces during combat operations and public health crises. NMFL provides oversight for 21 NMRTCs, logistics, and public health and dental services throughout the U.S. East Coast, U.S. Gulf Coast, Cuba, Europe, and the Middle East.
Navy Medicine – represented by more than 44,000 highly-trained military and civilian health care professionals – provides enduring expeditionary medical support to the warfighter on, below, and above the sea, and ashore