Susan Whitman became the 17th fleet master chief for the U.S. Pacific Fleet on August 14, 2015.

Master Chief Whitman, originally from Piety Hill, Illinois, joined the Navy in August 1985. After completing recruit training in Orlando, Florida, she attended Yeoman “A” School in Meridian, Mississippi.

Prior to her selection into the Command Master Chief (CMC) program, Master Chief Whitman served aboard Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron 3 (VQ-3), USS Holland (AS 32), USS Nimitz (CVN 68) and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69).

Her shore-duty assignments include United States Transportation Command and Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois.

Her first CMC tour was in 2007 aboard USS Vella Gulf (CG 72). Her next tour, she served as the CMC aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in 2010 and in 2012, she served as the CMC for Naval Safety Center in Norfolk, Virginia.

Prior to assuming her current duties as the U.S. Pacific Fleet master chief, she served as the force master chief for Commander, Surface Forces Atlantic.

Whitman is a graduate of the Senior Enlisted Academy (101 Blue), a Keystone Graduate, the Navy’s 2011 Captain Joy Bright Hancock Leadership Award Winner and 2011 Captain Winifred Quick Collins Award Winner for Inspirational Leadership. She has been awarded the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medals, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals and various unit and campaign awards.