“From the Deckplates is the starting point – one Chief’s attempt to write down what usually only gets passed along in the Chief’s Mess, ship to ship, generation to generation…”
Donald R. Sawyer, a Minden product, hasn’t just moped around twittling his thumbs since retiring from the U. S. Navy as a Senior Chief on December 31, 2017. The 1986 graduate of Glenbrook School lived in Minden until he joined the Navy at the age of 23. He enlisted in 1991 as a Data Systems Technician, later serving as an Electronics Technician.
Throughout his Naval career, he served in various leadership capacities, from the deckplates of the USS Independence (CV-62), USS Carter Hall (LSD-50) and USS Vicksburg (CG-69) to Officer in Charge of the Type Commander Transient Personnel Unit.
Since transitioning from active duty, Don has continued in senior leadership roles, including Director of Operations of SAIC and Operations Director at General Dynamics IT. He currently serves as Senior Systems Analyst at Titanium Cobra Solutions, supporting naval systems integration.
The son of Donald Sawyer and stepson of Lee Branton of Minden is completing his Doctor of Business Administration in Organizational Leadership and Development at Capella University. He holds master’s degrees in management (Project Management) and Human Resources Management and Services, along with bachelor’s degrees in Counseling Psychology and Secondary Education.
Chief Sawyer (retired) has most recently released From the Deckplates: A Chief’s Guide to Naval Leadership for New Officers. The book offers new naval officers real-world leadership advice and enlisted perspectives often absent from formal training – the unwritten rules, the human element, and the real-world advice that technical manuals cannot capture.
Drawing from 26 years of naval service, Don addresses the real challenges new officers face: managing divisions, working with chiefs, navigating wardroom politics, earning warfare qualifications, and developing into effective leaders.
“Everything I learned about what makes a junior officer succeed came from the Chiefs who taught me – and from the mistakes I watched junior officers make when they didn’t understand deckplate culture. This book is my attempt to pass that on,” Sawyer said.
The book is published by Casemate Publishers and will be released Oct. 1, 2026. The price is $24.95 and the publication is paperback, 288 pages. Preordering is available at casematepublishers.com/9781636247052/from/the/deckplates/.
