United States Navy officers and enlisted personnel have always recognized the unique power and capability of the senior enlisted community that binds these groups together and is integral to the success of Navy operations. Yet, little has been systematically written about the leadership characteristics of this group that make them so vital to the Navy. This study examines senior enlisted leadership in the U.S. Navy, focusing on the unique community of master chief petty officers. Data were attained through in-depth interviews of 19 master chief participants who were identified as particularly successful. Results identify characteristics of the chief petty officer (CPO) that are common to all good leaders, but also characteristics that are unique to this group. For example, the camaraderie of the Chief’s Mess provides the CPO Mess immense power, Navy-wide. A philosophy of “command first, person second” is widely endorsed, which creates the ultimate team experience, led by the Command Master Chief. The master chief’s unique and innovative characteristics will be critical in sustaining Naval operations in the course of leading the Millennials into the 21st century. Further research on senior enlisted leadership is suggested.
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