Following graduation from Wicomico High School in Salisbury, Maryland, Bushey enlisted in the United States Navy in June 1962.

Bushey received recruit training at the Naval Training Center in Great Lakes, Illinois, and completed Aviation Electrician "A" school in Jacksonville, Florida. He first saw duty at the naval Air Test Facility at the Naval Air Station in Patuxent River, Maryland, followed by further technical training in an advanced electronics "B" school. He then served on board the aircraft carrier USS Kearsarge (CVS-33), with two follow-on tours as a flight instructor for fleet replacement navigators with Heavy Attack Squadron 123 at the Naval Air Station, Whidbey Island, Washington and Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 130 at the Naval Air Station in Alameda, California, where he served as Celestial and Radar Navigation Instructor.

Bushey then served as the Assistant Aircrew Division Officer for the Aircraft Ferry Squadron Thirty One in Norfolk, Virginia. While serving with VRF-31, he qualified as an overwater navigator in several aircraft, as flight engineer for P-3 Orion aircraft and bombardier/navigator for A-6 Intruder aircraft.

Bushey was selected to attend the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy in Fort Bliss, Texas in January 1980 and while there received the General Ralph E. Hanes Jr. Award for outstanding research. Following graduation in July 1980 he returned to VRF-31 as command master chief, deploying aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71). On September 9, 1988, Bushey became the seventh Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy. He has accumulated more than 6,000 flying hours and made more than 400 carrier landings.

• 7 gold Service Stripes.