Senior enlisted advisor

The SEAs from each branch at the 2009 Commander in Chief's Ball

A senior enlisted advisor (SEA) in the United States Armed Forces is the most senior enlisted service member in a unit, and acts as an advisor to the commanding officer. Formally, E-9 billets for the senior enlisted advisor are established at service unit (e.g., battalion, wing, or higher), command, major command, force, or fleet levels to the SEAs/CSELs of DoD Agencies and the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. SEAs are also known as command senior enlisted leaders (CSEL). Always a non-commissioned officer, the SEA is the main link between the commanding officer and the enlisted service members under his or her charge.

Current senior enlisted advisors in the US military

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Service senior enlisted advisors
Position insignia Position Photo Incumbent Service branch Start date
Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman SEAC
Troy E. Black 		U.S. Marine Corps
U.S. Marine Corps 		November 3, 2023
Sergeant Major of the Army Sergeant Major of the Army SMA
Michael R. Weimer 		U.S. Army
U.S. Army 		August 4, 2023
Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps SMMC
Carlos A. Ruiz 		U.S. Marine Corps
U.S. Marine Corps 		August 10, 2023
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy MCPON
James Honea 		U.S. Navy
U.S. Navy 		September 8, 2022
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force CMSAF
David A. Flosi 		U.S. Air Force
U.S. Air Force 		March 8, 2024
Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force CMSSF
John F. Bentivegna 		U.S. Space Force
U.S. Space Force 		September 15, 2023
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard MCPOCG
Heath B. Jones 		U.S. Coast Guard
U.S. Coast Guard 		May 19, 2022
Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau SEA
Tony L. Whitehead 		U.S. Air Force
U.S. Air Force 		August 25, 2020
Senior enlisted advisors, Unified Combatant Commands
U.S. Africa Command
U.S. Africa Command
 United States Africa Command
SgtMaj
Michael P. Woods 		U.S. Marine Corps
U.S. Marine Corps 		May 1, 2023
U.S. Central Command
U.S. Central Command
 United States Central Command
FLTCM
Derrick A. Walters 		U.S. Navy
U.S. Navy
U.S. Cyber Command
U.S. Cyber Command
 United States Cyber Command
CMSgt
Kenneth M. Bruce Jr. 		U.S. Air Force
U.S. Air Force 		September 8, 2023
U.S. European Command
U.S. European Command
 United States European Command
CSM
Robert V. Abernethy 		U.S. Army
U.S. Army 		June 7, 2022
U.S. Indo-Pacific Command United States Indo-Pacific Command
FLTCM
David L. Isom 		U.S. Navy
U.S. Navy 		August 2021
U.S. Northern Command
U.S. Northern Command
 United States Northern Command
CMSgt
John G. Storms 		U.S. Air Force
U.S. Air Force 		June 14, 2024
U.S. Southern Command
U.S. Southern Command
 United States Southern Command
SgtMaj
Rafael Rodriguez 		U.S. Marine Corps
U.S. Marine Corps 		September 6, 2023
U.S. Space Command
U.S. Space Command
 United States Space Command
CMSgt
Jacob C. Simmons 		U.S. Space Force
U.S. Space Force 		August 7, 2023
U.S. Special Operations Command
U.S. Special Operations Command
 United States Special Operations Command
CSM
Shane W. Shorter 		U.S. Army
U.S. Army 		August 2022
U.S. Strategic Command
U.S. Strategic Command
 United States Strategic Command
SgtMaj
Howard L. Kreamer 		U.S. Marine Corps
U.S. Marine Corps 		September 2021
U.S. Transportation Command
U.S. Transportation Command
 United States Transportation Command
CMSgt
Brian P. Kruzelnick 		U.S. Army
U.S. Air Force 		June 7, 2023

In the United States Army, the SEA for a battalion or larger-sized unit is usually a Command Sergeant Major. For Marine battalions and larger, a sergeant major typically takes the role. Navy ships and other commands will usually have a command, fleet, or force master chief petty officer (known as the Chief of the Boat on a submarine), while an Air Force or Space Force command chief master sergeant serves at Wing, Delta, Numbered Air Force, Field Operating Agency (FOA), Major Command, Field Command or at "Joint," DoD Agency levels.[citation needed]

In the United States Army and the United States Marine Corps, the senior enlisted advisor at the company or battery level (or other unit at similar echelon) is a first sergeant. In the Air Force and Space Force, the senior enlisted member of units smaller than those listed above for command chief master sergeant is either a chief master sergeant or a senior master sergeant and may also include a separate first sergeant authorization. In the Air Force a first sergeant can be an E7, E8 or E9, depending on size and mission of the unit, and is a temporary, special duty assignment.[citation needed]

International equivalents

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Australia

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In Australia the equivalent positions within the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) are Warrant Officer of the Navy (WO-N), Regimental Sergeant Major-Army (RSM-A) and Warrant Officer of the Air Force (WOFF-AF) respectively. On 20 June 2023 the Chief of the Defence Force General Angus Campbell announced the creation of the position of Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of the Defence Force (SEAC) and that the outgoing Joint Operations Warrant Officer, Warrant Officer Ken Robertson would assume the position effective 1 July 2023.

Service senior enlisted advisors
Rank insignia Position Photo Incumbent Service branch Start date
Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of the Defence Force Warrant Officer
Ken Robertson[1] 		 Royal Australian Air Force July 1, 2023
Warrant Officer of the Navy Warrant Officer
Andrew Bertoncin[2] OAM 		 Royal Australian Navy December 16, 2022
Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army (Australia) Warrant Officer
Kim Felmingham
NSC, OAM 		 Australian Army July 1, 2022
Warrant Officer of the Air Force Warrant Officer
Ralph Clifton 		 Royal Australian Air Force December 1, 2022

Canada

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The Senior Enlisted advisor of the Canadian Forces is the Canadian Forces Chief Warrant Officer. The Army, Navy and Air Force each have their own Chief Warrant Officer acting as Senior Enlisted advisor.

Service senior enlisted advisors
Rank insignia Position Photo Incumbent Start date Service branch Ref.
Canadian Forces Chief Warrant Officer Chief Warrant Officer
Bob McCann MMM, MSM, CD 		14 April 2023  Canadian Army [3]
Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Chief Petty Officer 1st Class
Pascal Harel [4] 		May 2024  Royal Canadian Navy [5]
Chief Warrant Officer of the Canadian Army Chief Warrant Officer
J. M. Smith MMM, CD 		10 June 2021  Canadian Army [6]
Chief Warrant Officer of the Air Force Chief Warrant Officer
W. J. Hall MMM, CD 		10 June 2021  Royal Canadian Air Force [7]
Senior enlisted advisors Commands
Canadian Forces Intelligence Command Chief Warrant Officer Chief Warrant Officer
N.E. Belanger MMM, CD 		2019  Royal Canadian Air Force [8]

NATO

[edit]

NATO also has a number of Senior Enlisted Advisors taken from NATO members for various posts, including Senior Enlisted Advisor - NATO Allied Command Transformation

New Zealand

[edit]

In New Zealand the equivalent positions within the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN), New Zealand Army and Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) are Warrant officer of the Navy (New Zealand) (WON), Sergeant Major of the Army (SMA) and Warrant Officer of the Air Force (WOAF) respectively. there is also the Senior position within HQNZDF of the Warrant Officer of the Defence Force (WODF) WODR

Service senior enlisted advisors
Rank insignia Position Photo Incumbent Service branch Start date
Warrant Officer of the Defence Force (New Zealand) Warrant Officer class 1
Wiremu Moffitt[9] 		 New Zealand Army May 22, 2024
Warrant officer of the Navy (New Zealand) Warrant Officer Diver
Lance Graham 		 Royal New Zealand Navy January 29, 2021
Sergeant Major of the Army (New Zealand) Warrant Officer class 1
  New Zealand Army -
Warrant Officer of the Air Force (New Zealand) Warrant Officer
Kerry Williams[10] 		 Royal New Zealand Air Force

South Africa

[edit]

South Africa has a Warrant officer of the Defence Force, as well as Sergeant Majors of the Army, Air Force and Medical Services. The Navy equivalent is the Master at Arms of the Navy

Service senior enlisted advisors
Rank insignia Position Photo Incumbent Service branch Start date Reference
Warrant Officer of the South African National Defence Force Master Chief Warrant Officer
Mothusi Kgaladi 		 South African Army October 2012 [11]
Master at Arms of the Navy Senior Chief Warrant Officer
Matee Molefe 		 South African Navy February 1, 2018 [12]
Sergeant Major of the Army (South Africa) Senior Chief Warrant Officer
Ncedakele Mtshatsheni 		 South African Army February 1, 2017
(Acting from October 1, 2016 to January 31, 2017) 		[13]
Sergeant Major of the Air Force Senior Chief Warrant Officer
Colin Stanton-Jones 		 South African Air Force December 1, 2018 [14][failed verification]
Warrant Officer of the South African Military Health Services Senior Chief Warrant Officer
 South African Military Health Service

United Kingdom

[edit]

The Royal Navy has the Warrant Officer to the Royal Navy, the British Army has the Army Sergeant Major, the Royal Air Force has the Chief of the Air Staff's Warrant Officer and the Royal Marines the Corps Regimental Sergeant Major. In 2018, the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chiefs of Staff Committee was introduced.

Service senior enlisted advisors
Rank insignia Position Photo Incumbent Service branch Start date
Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chiefs of Staff Committee Warrant Officer Class One
Glenn Haughton[15] OBE 		 British Army November 1, 2018
Warrant Officer of the Naval Service Warrant Officer Class One
Carl Steedman[16][17] 		 Royal Navy January 31, 2020
Army Sergeant Major Warrant Officer Class One
Paul Carney[18] 		 British Army August 3, 2021
Warrant Officer of the Royal Air Force Warrant Officer
Jake Alpert[19][20] MBE 		 Royal Air Force October 2019
Corps Regimental Sergeant Major Warrant Officer Class One
Richard Angove[21] 		 Royal Marines July 2020

References

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  1. ^ "New Role Gives Personnel Direct Line to Chief". Royal Australian Defence Organisation. 3 July 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  2. ^ "Warrant Officer Andrew Bertoncin, Warrant Officer of the Navy". Royal Australian Navy. n.d. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Canadian Armed Forces Chief Warrant Officer – Biography". Canadian Government. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  4. ^ https://www.cmfmag.ca/policy/22nd-royal-canadian-navy-command-chief-petty-officer-announced/
  5. ^ "Chief Petty Officer of the Navy". navy-marine.forces.gc.ca. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  6. ^ "Chief Warrant Officer J.M. Smith, MMM, CD". army.gc.ca. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  7. ^ "Command Chief Warrant Officer of the Royal Canadian Air Force". rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  8. ^ "Chief Warrant Officer N.E. Belanger, MMM, CD". Government of Canada. 1 October 2019. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  9. ^ https://www.nzdf.mil.nz/nzdf/structure-and-leadership/warrant-officer-class-one-wiremu-moffitt-2/
  10. ^ https://www.nzdf.mil.nz/nzdf/structure-and-leadership/warrant-officer-kerry-williams/
  11. ^ "Mothusi Victor Kgaladi new WO SANDF". DefenceWeb.
  12. ^ Wingrin, Dean (February 2, 2018). "New Master-At-Arms for the Navy". Defenceweb. Retrieved February 5, 2018.
  13. ^ "Mtshatsheni is new SA Army sergeant major". Defenceweb. 2 February 2017. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  14. ^ "New commander for 515 Squadron". March 12, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  15. ^ "WO1 Glenn Haughton OBE has been appointed as the first Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chiefs of Staff Committee (SEAC)". GOV.UK. Ministry of Defence. 1 November 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  16. ^ @SEAC_Defence (30 January 2020). "Congratulations to the newly appointed Warrant Officer of the Naval Service @WOCarlSteedman . And welcome to the world of Twitter! Give him a follow, I look forward to regular sea stories and shenanigans from the @RoyalNavy" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  17. ^ First Sea Lord [@AdmTonyRadakin] (31 January 2020). "But as one WONS steps down, another steps up. Welcome to WO Carl "Speedy" Steedman, who takes up the role from today. Looking forward to working with him. Please do follow him on Twitter @WOCarlSteedman" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  18. ^ "Ground View". Soldier Magazine. 1 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  19. ^ "Chief of the Air Staff's Warrant Officer". Royal Air Force website - Senior Commanders. RAF.mod.uk. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  20. ^ "Warrant Officer of the Royal Air Force". Royal Air Force Families Federation. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  21. ^ @AdmTonyRadakin (31 July 2020). "Thank you, WO1 Mason, for your magnificent service and all that you have done for @RoyalMarines and @RoyalNavy. Congratulations on an exemplary career. And welcome to WO1 Richard Angove as the new Corps RSM. Well done on your appointment, and looking forward to working with you" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
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