Senior enlisted advisor

Last updated
U.S. SEAs from each branch at the 2009 Commander in Chief's Ball US-President Obama Commander in Chief's Ball 2009.jpg
U.S. SEAs from each branch at the 2009 Commander in Chief's Ball

A senior enlisted advisor (SEA) is the most senior enlisted service member in a unit, and acts as an advisor to the commanding officer.

Contents

Australia

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 insigniaPositionPhotoIncumbentService branchStart date
Australia RAAF OR-9b.svg Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of the Defence Force Blank.svg Warrant Officer
Ken Robertson [1]
Air Force Ensign of Australia.svg  Royal Australian Air Force July 1, 2023
Royal Australian Navy OR-9b.svg Warrant Officer of the Navy Blank.svg Warrant Officer
Andrew Bertoncin [2] OAM
Naval Ensign of Australia.svg  Royal Australian Navy December 16, 2022
Australian Army OR-9b.svg Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army (Australia) Blank.svg Warrant Officer
Kim Felmingham
NSC , OAM
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australian Army July 1, 2022
Australia RAAF OR-9b.svg Warrant Officer of the Air Force Blank.svg Warrant Officer
Ralph Clifton
Air Force Ensign of Australia.svg  Royal Australian Air Force December 1, 2022

Canada

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 insigniaPositionPhotoIncumbentStart dateService branchRef.
Canadian RCN OR-10.svg Canadian Forces Chief Warrant Officer Blank.svg Chief Warrant Officer
Bob McCann MMM , MSM , CD
14 April 2023Flag of the Canadian Army.svg  Canadian Army [3]
Canadian RCN OR-9c.svg Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Blank.svg Chief Petty Officer 1st Class
Pascal Harel

MMM, CD [4]

May 2024Naval ensign of Canada.svg  Royal Canadian Navy [5]
Canadian Army OR-9c.svg Chief Warrant Officer of the Canadian Army Blank.svg Chief Warrant Officer
J. M. Smith MMM , CD
10 June 2021Flag of the Canadian Army.svg  Canadian Army [6]
Canadian RCAF OR-9c.svg Chief Warrant Officer of the Air Force Blank.svg Chief Warrant Officer
W. J. Hall MMM , CD
10 June 2021Royal Canadian Air Force ensign.svg  Royal Canadian Air Force [7]
Senior enlisted advisors Commands
Canadian RCAF OR-9c.svg Canadian Forces Intelligence Command Chief Warrant Officer Blank.svg Chief Warrant Officer
N.E. Belanger MMM , CD
2019Royal Canadian Air Force ensign.svg  Royal Canadian Air Force [8]

NATO

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

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 insigniaPositionPhotoIncumbentService branchStart date
New Zealand-Army-OR-9.svg Warrant Officer of the Defence Force (New Zealand) Blank.svg Warrant Officer class 1
Wiremu Moffitt [9]
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Army May 22, 2024
RNZN OR-9.svg Warrant officer of the Navy (New Zealand) Blank.svg Warrant Officer Diver
Lance Graham
Naval Ensign of New Zealand.svg  Royal New Zealand Navy January 29, 2021
New Zealand-Army-OR-9.svg Sergeant Major of the Army (New Zealand) Blank.svg Warrant Officer class 1
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Army -
RNZAF OR-9.svg Warrant Officer of the Air Force (New Zealand) Blank.svg Warrant Officer
Kerry Williams [10]
Air Force Ensign of New Zealand.svg  Royal New Zealand Air Force

Singapore

Singapore has a Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Sergeant Major (SAFSM), as well as Sergeant Major of the Army (SMA), Master Chief Navy (MCN), Air Force Command Chief (AFCC) and Chief Expert, Digital and Intelligence Service (CXDI).

Service senior enlisted advisors
Rank insigniaPositionPhotoIncumbentService branchStart date
SGEWO-CWO.svg SAF Sergeant Major Blank.svg Chief Warrant Officer
Chua Hock Guan
SingaporeArmyinfoboxflag.png  Singapore Army March 30, 2022
SGEWO-CWO.svg Sergeant Major of the Army Blank.svg Chief Warrant Officer
Sanjee Singh s/o Saraina
SingaporeArmyinfoboxflag.png  Singapore Army May 5, 2023
SGMDES-ME6.svg Master Chief Navy Blank.svg Military Expert 6
Goh Leng Yan
Naval Ensign of Singapore.svg  Republic of Singapore Navy September 30, 2015
SGMDES-ME6.svg Air Force Command Chief Blank.svg Military Expert 6
Ng See Lye
RSAFinfoboxflag.png  Republic of Singapore Air Force May 25, 2021
SGMDES-ME6.svg Chief Expert, Digital and Intelligence Service Blank.svg Military Expert 6
Noh Kok Tiong
Digital and Intelligence Service October 28, 2022

South Africa

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 insigniaPositionPhotoIncumbentService branchStart dateReference
SAA-WO-5.svg Warrant Officer of the South African National Defence Force Blank.svg Master Chief Warrant Officer
Mothusi Kgaladi
Flag of the South African Army.svg  South African Army October 2012 [11]
SAA-WO-4.svg Master at Arms of the Navy Blank.svg Senior Chief Warrant Officer
Matee Molefe
Naval Ensign of South Africa.svg  South African Navy February 1, 2018 [12]
SAA-WO-4.svg Sergeant Major of the Army (South Africa) SCWO Mtshatsheni AFRICOM Africa Senior Enlisted Leader Conference (38275818772) (cropped).jpg Senior Chief Warrant Officer
Ncedakele Mtshatsheni
Flag of the South African Army.svg  South African Army February 1, 2017
(Acting from October 1, 2016 to January 31, 2017)
[13]
SAA-WO-4.svg Sergeant Major of the Air Force Blank.svg Senior Chief Warrant Officer
Colin Stanton-Jones
Ensign of the South African Air Force.svg  South African Air Force December 1, 2018 [14] [ failed verification ]
SAA-WO-4.svg Warrant Officer of the South African Military Health Services Blank.svg Senior Chief Warrant Officer
South African Military Health Service

United Kingdom

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 insigniaPositionPhotoIncumbentService branchStart date
British Army OR-9c.svg Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chiefs of Staff Committee Glenn Haughton and SAC (cropped).jpg Warrant Officer Class One
Glenn Haughton [15] OBE
Flag of the British Army.svg  British Army November 1, 2018
British Royal Navy OR-9.svg Warrant Officer of the Naval Service Carl Steedman.jpg Warrant Officer Class One
Carl Steedman [16] [17]
Naval ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy January 31, 2020
British Army OR-9c.svg Army Sergeant Major Paul Carney (cropped).jpg Warrant Officer Class One
Paul Carney [18]
Flag of the British Army.svg  British Army August 3, 2021
British Chief of the Air Staff's Warrant Officer.svg Warrant Officer of the Royal Air Force CASWO Jake Alpert 1.jpg Warrant Officer
Jake Alpert [19] [20] MBE
Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg  Royal Air Force October 2019
British Corps Regimental Sergeant Major.svg Corps Regimental Sergeant Major Warrant Officer Class One
Richard Angove [21]
Flag of the Royal Marines.svg  Royal Marines July 2020

United States

In the United States Armed Forces 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.

Service senior enlisted advisors
Position insigniaPositionPhotoIncumbentService branchStart date
Flag of the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman.svg Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman
SEAC David L. Isom.jpg
SEAC
David L. Isom
Emblem of the United States Navy.svg
U.S. Navy
June 20, 2025
Flag of the Sergeant Major of the United States Army.svg Sergeant Major of the Army SMA Michael R. Weimer (2).jpg SMA
Michael R. Weimer
Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
August 4, 2023
USMC-E9-SGMMC.svg Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps SMMC Carlos A. Ruiz.jpg SMMC
Carlos A. Ruiz
Emblem of the United States Marine Corps.svg
U.S. Marine Corps
August 10, 2023
MCPON Full.png Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy MCPON James M. Honea.jpg MCPON
James Honea
Emblem of the United States Navy.svg
U.S. Navy
September 8, 2022
Flag of the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force.svg Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force CMSAF David A. Flosi.jpg CMSAF
David A. Flosi
Military service mark of the United States Air Force.svg
U.S. Air Force
March 8, 2024
Flag of the Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force.svg Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force CMSSF John F. Bentivegna.jpg CMSSF
John F. Bentivegna
Seal of the United States Space Force.png
U.S. Space Force
September 15, 2023
USCG - MCPOCG.png Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard MCPOCG Phillip N. Waldron.jpg MCPOCG
Phillip N. Waldron
Seal of the United States Coast Guard.svg
U.S. Coast Guard
July 25, 2025
Positional flag of the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau.svg Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau SEA John T. Raines III.jpg SEA
John T. Raines III
Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
November 8, 2024
Senior enlisted advisors, Unified Combatant Commands
U.S. Africa Command Seal of the United States Africa Command.svg
U.S. Africa Command
United States Africa Command
Michael P. Woods (5).jpg
SgtMaj
Michael P. Woods
Emblem of the United States Marine Corps.svg
U.S. Marine Corps
May 1, 2023
U.S. Central Command Official CENTCOM Seal.png
U.S. Central Command
United States Central Command
Derrick A. Walters (5).jpg
FLTCM
Derrick A. Walters
Emblem of the United States Navy.svg
U.S. Navy
U.S. Cyber Command Seal of the United States Cyber Command.svg
U.S. Cyber Command
United States Cyber Command
CMSgt Kenneth M. Bruce (2).jpg
CMSgt
Kenneth M. Bruce Jr.
Military service mark of the United States Air Force.svg
U.S. Air Force
September 8, 2023
U.S. European Command USEUCOM.svg
U.S. European Command
United States European Command
CSM Thomas J. Holland (5).jpg
CSM
Thomas J. Holland
Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
June 17, 2025
US Indo-Pacific Command Seal.svg United States Indo-Pacific Command
SgtMaj Eric D. Cook (3).jpg
SgtMaj
Eric D. Cook
Emblem of the United States Marine Corps.svg
U.S. Marine Corps
June 26, 2025
U.S. Northern Command Seal of the United States Northern Command.png
U.S. Northern Command
United States Northern Command
CMSgt John G. Storms (3).jpg
CMSgt
John G. Storms
Military service mark of the United States Air Force.svg
U.S. Air Force
June 14, 2024
U.S. Southern Command Seal of the United States Southern Command.svg
U.S. Southern Command
United States Southern Command
SgtMaj Rafael Rodriguez (4).jpg
SgtMaj
Rafael Rodriguez
Emblem of the United States Marine Corps.svg
U.S. Marine Corps
September 6, 2023
U.S. Space Command United States Space Command emblem 2019.svg
U.S. Space Command
United States Space Command
CMSgt Jacob C. Simmons (5).jpg
CMSgt
Jacob C. Simmons
Seal of the United States Space Force.png
U.S. Space Force
August 7, 2023
U.S. Special Operations Command United States Special Operations Command Insignia.svg
U.S. Special Operations Command
United States Special Operations Command
Shane W. Shorter (3).jpg
CSM
Shane W. Shorter
Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
August 2022
U.S. Strategic Command Seal of United States Strategic Command.svg
U.S. Strategic Command
United States Strategic Command
Howard L. Kreamer (4).jpg
SgtMaj
Howard L. Kreamer
Emblem of the United States Marine Corps.svg
U.S. Marine Corps
September 2021
U.S. Transportation Command US-TRANSCOM-Emblem.svg
U.S. Transportation Command
United States Transportation Command
CMSgt Brian P. Kruzelnick (4).jpg
CMSgt
Brian P. Kruzelnick
Military service mark of the United States Air Force.svg
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 ]

References

  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.