Senior enlisted advisor

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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.

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 - Army 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]
Command Chief Petty Officer of the Royal Canadian Navy Chief Petty Officer 1st Class
Pascal Harel

MMM, CD[4]

May 2024  Royal Canadian Navy [5]
Canadian Army Sergeant-Major Chief Warrant Officer
J.C. Robin MMM, CD 		12 July 2024  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

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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

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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

Singapore

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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 insignia Position Photo Incumbent Service branch Start date
SAF Sergeant Major Chief Warrant Officer
Chua Hock Guan[11] 		 Singapore Army March 30, 2022
Sergeant Major of the Army Chief Warrant Officer
Sanjee Singh s/o Saraina[12] 		 Singapore Army May 5, 2023
Master Chief Navy Senior Warrant Officer
Seck Wai Kong[13] 		 Republic of Singapore Navy August 1, 2025
Air Force Command Chief Military Expert 6
Ng See Lye[14] 		 Republic of Singapore Air Force May 25, 2021
Chief Expert, Digital and Intelligence Service Military Expert 6
Noh Kok Tiong[15] 		Digital and Intelligence Service October 28, 2022

South Africa

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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 [16]
Master at Arms of the Navy Senior Chief Warrant Officer
Matee Molefe 		 South African Navy February 1, 2018 [17]
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) 		[18]
Sergeant Major of the Air Force Senior Chief Warrant Officer
Colin Stanton-Jones 		 South African Air Force December 1, 2018 [19][failed verification]
Warrant Officer of the South African Military Health Services Senior Chief Warrant Officer
 South African Military Health Service

United Kingdom

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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.[20]

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
Sarah Cox 		 British Army 2025
Warrant Officer of the Royal Navy[a] Warrant Officer Class One
Jamie Wright[21] 		 Royal Marines July 2022
Army Sergeant Major Warrant Officer Class One
John Miller[22] 		 British Army April 2025
Warrant Officer of the Royal Air Force[b] Warrant Officer
Murugesvaran Subramaniam[23][24] 		 Royal Air Force April 2023
Corps Regimental Sergeant Major Warrant Officer Class One
Tim Jukes[25] 		 Royal Marines June 2024

United States

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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 insignia Position Photo Incumbent Service branch Start date
Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman SEAC
David L. Isom 		U.S. Navy
U.S. Navy 		June 20, 2025
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
John J. Perryman IV 		U.S. Navy
U.S. Navy 		September 8, 2025
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force CMSAF
David R. Wolfe 		U.S. Air Force
U.S. Air Force 		December 8, 2025
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
Phillip N. Waldron 		U.S. Coast Guard
U.S. Coast Guard 		July 25, 2025
Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau SEA
John T. Raines III 		U.S. Army
U.S. Army 		November 8, 2024
Senior enlisted advisors, Unified Combatant Commands
U.S. Africa CommandU.S. Africa Command United States Africa Command CSM
Garric M. Banfield 		U.S. Army
U.S. Army 		November 20, 2025
U.S. Central CommandU.S. Central Command United States Central Command FLTCM
Lateef N. Compton 		U.S. Navy
U.S. Navy 		September 2025
U.S. Cyber CommandU.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 CommandU.S. European Command United States European Command CSM
Thomas J. Holland 		U.S. Army
U.S. Army 		June 17, 2025
U.S. Indo-Pacific Command United States Indo-Pacific Command SgtMaj
Eric D. Cook 		U.S. Marine Corps
U.S. Marine Corps 		June 26, 2025
U.S. Northern CommandU.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 CommandU.S. Southern Command United States Southern Command SgtMaj
Rafael Rodriguez 		U.S. Marine Corps
U.S. Marine Corps 		September 6, 2023
U.S. Space CommandU.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 CommandU.S. Special Operations Command United States Special Operations Command CSM
Andrew J. Krogman 		U.S. Army
U.S. Army 		September 6, 2025
U.S. Strategic CommandU.S. Strategic Command United States Strategic Command CSM
JoAnn Naumann 		U.S. Army
U.S. Army 		December 5, 2025
U.S. Transportation CommandU.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]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Formerly called Warrant Officer of the Naval Service
  2. ^ Formerly called Chief of the Air Staff's Warrant Officer

References

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  1. ^ "New Role Gives Personnel Direct Line to Chief". Royal Australian Defence Organisation. 3 July 2023. Archived from the original on 30 November 2024. 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.C. Robin, MMM, CD". www.canada.ca. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
  7. ^ "Command Chief Warrant Officer of the Royal Canadian Air Force". rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 21 October 2021. 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. ^ "Chief Warrant Officer Chua Hock Guan". Ministry of Defence (Singapore).
  12. ^ "National Awards Recipients from 1998". Ministry of Defence (Singapore).
  13. ^ "Senior Warrant Officer Seck Wai Kong". Ministry of Defence (Singapore).
  14. ^ "Military Expert 6 Ng See Lye". Ministry of Defence (Singapore).
  15. ^ "Military Expert 6 Noh Kok Tiong". Ministry of Defence (Singapore).
  16. ^ "Mothusi Victor Kgaladi new WO SANDF". DefenceWeb.
  17. ^ Wingrin, Dean (February 2, 2018). "New Master-At-Arms for the Navy". Defenceweb. Retrieved February 5, 2018.
  18. ^ "Mtshatsheni is new SA Army sergeant major". Defenceweb. 2 February 2017. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  19. ^ "New commander for 515 Squadron". March 12, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  20. ^ "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.
  21. ^ "Warrant Officer Class 1 Jamie Wright RM | the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity". Archived from the original on 2023-02-06. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  22. ^ "Sergeant Major Swap: Signaller WO1 John Miller takes top Army job". Soldier Magazine. No. April 2025. April 2025. p. 10. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  23. ^ "Warrant Officer of the Royal Air Force". RAF.MoD.uk. Royal Air Force. 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  24. ^ 1st Lt. Charles Rivezzo (24 January 2023). Readout of STARCOM Senior Leaders' travel to the United Kingdom (JPG) (photograph-description). RAF High Wycombe: United States Air Force. 230125-F-OR751-0003. Retrieved 31 August 2023. Warrant Officer Subby Subramaniam, command warrant officer of U.K. Space Command, ... pose for a photo during a visit to Headquarters, U.K. Space Command at RAF High Wycombe
  25. ^ "WO1 (CRSM) Tim Jukes RM". The Royal Marines Charity. Retrieved 16 September 2025. In June 2024 he was honoured to be appointed as the seventeenth Royal Marines Corps Regimental Sergeant Major, the senior enlisted serving Royal Marine.
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