BELLEVIEW, FL (352today.com) – U.S. Navy Command Master Chief Gary Wise brings a wealth of experience into any room he walks into whether it be life or professional.
He’s the founder along with his wife Erica, of Wise Leadership Solutions, and is also one of the Navy JROTC instructors at Vanguard High School. He was the featured speaker at the Belleview CEP’s Belleview on the Rise breakfast Sept. 23, 2025, at the Belleview High School Auditorium.
Wise joined the U.S. Navy in 1996, and shipped off to Japan, and spent the next 25 years of his life traveling the world, got married, had children, and spent 16 years as a firefighter in the service, before transitioning over to the Master Chief Command program. The Command Master Chief eventually would obtain his master’s degree in organizational leadership.
He works with 180 students Vanguard, and is impressed with the way they conduct themselves, and sees a bright future for tomorrow’s leaders.
“I’ve been leading adults since I was 18 years old, since I joined the service,” said Wise. “These kids are amazing. So, I’m here to tell you, don’t be worried be optimistic.”
He started Wise Leadership Solutions as he recognized there are a lot of adults and organizations that don’t have access to the things he had been given access to throughout his life.
“Organizational leadership is my bread and butter, that’s what I did in the military,” said Wise.
Wise’s experience in the Navy, where he spent the first 16 years training people to fight fires because on ships, everyone is a firefighter, he said.
“Leaders have to make priorities relatable to the team,” said Wise. “My training has taught me to defeat the enemy. On the ship, the fire was the enemy, everybody on the ship was supposed to be on the same team, and what was going to hurt me was the fire, the flood, the toxic gas, the water coming into the inside of the hull. Those were the things I was worried about.”
Wise put together the key points to leadership, with the number one variable being perseverance. Wise would rather lean into the opportunities and the challenges that present themselves, rather than reacting, as there is much emphasis in today’s society on resilience.
“I don’t mind getting up off the ground,” said Wise. “I would much rather see people persevere and focus on persevering and be proud of persevering. I want you to have that energy of persevering, and it you’re not in a space, where you’re able to persevere, that’s something you should look at.”
The second variable in the equation is accountability, accountability for a leader, for a person who has the ability to take ownership, as honest mistakes do happen, and by taking accountability, it will generate additional opportunities.
Adaptability is the third variable in the equation, said Wise.
“As leaders, we have a responsibility to look for new ways to do things and to challenge the status quo, and to lead people into seeing there are fresh ideas coming out every day,” said Wise. “You should wake up every day optimistic, hoping that some things will change your path and not be afraid of it. If it makes you concerned, go for it.”
The final variable is faith. You have to believe, he said. Wise also believes in his people, his team, their training, and their ability to win.