David Isom was named Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Joint Chiefs, becoming the US military’s top enlisted leader. He replaces Sgt. Maj. Troy E. Black.
The United States Department of Defense (DoD) announced this week that Navy Fleet Master Chief David Isom has been named the US military’s top enlisted leader and will serve as the sixth Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Isom has been serving as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader of the US Indo-Pacific Command and will replace SEAC Sgt. Maj. Troy E. Black, USMC.
Isom is expected to assume the SEAC role by the end of June 2025.
The SEAC position was established in 2005, and according to Task and Purpose, it is considered the most senior enlisted leadership position. The SEAC operates a de facto right-hand man to the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff instead of acting “as a direct supervisor within a chain of command.”
Who Is SEAC David Isom?
The son of a Korean War Army veteran, Isom enlisted in the United States Navy in 1987. He is a former member of the Navy Special Warfare Development Group, SEAL Team Six.
According to his bio, he also served as Command Senior Enlisted Leader, Special Operations Command Pacific (SOCPAC), Senior Enlisted Leader, Special Operations Command North, and Command Master Chief, Naval Special Warfare Group TEN.
“His education and training include Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL Training, the Command Master Chief Course, the Joint Special Operations Senior Enlisted Academy, the US Special Operations Command Summit Course, National Defense University’s Keystone Course, and Naval Postgraduate School’s Navy Senior Leader Seminar. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Strategic Studies from Norwich University,” his biography noted.
He saw combat and operational deployments in the 1990s, including Operation Desert Shield in 1990 and Operation Desert Storm in 1991. He also served in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan in 2001 and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. He was also deployed to the Pacific and the Horn of Africa.
He has earned the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, four Bronze Stars, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal twice, the Meritorious Service Medal twice, the Joint Service Commendation Medal twice, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbons, and Presidential Unit Citations, among other campaign and service awards.
He assumed the most recent duty with the Indo-Pacific Command in June 2022.
He was reportedly selected by Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, following two rounds of interviews.
Who Is Sgt. Maj. Troy E. Black?
Stg. Maj. Black has served as SEAC for approximately two years, having been selected to the post by US Army Gen. Mark Milley. Black previously served as the sergeant major of the United States Marine Corps and, more recently, was the SEAC to US Air Force Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown Jr., whom President Donald Trump fired as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in February.
It was announced last month that Gen. Caine opted not to renew Black’s assignment for a second two-year term.
Black is just the most recent departure within leadership posts with the US military since Trump returned to the White House. Other dismissals have included Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti and Air Force Vice Chief Gen. James Slife.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a thirty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Gunnery Sgt. Kassie McDole.
