A native of Orlando, Fla., Command Master Chief Herbert Lee Stephens entered Naval Service in 1989. He attended Recruit Training in Great Lakes, Illinois. Upon completion of Basic Training, he attended Operations Specialist “A” School at Fleet Combat Training Center Atlantic in Virginia Beach, Va.

Following graduation, he reported to the USS MACDONOUGH (DDG 39) home-ported in Charleston, S.C., where he participated in the opening days of Operation DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM. His next assignment was aboard the USS REASONER (FF 1063), at San Diego, Cal.  Following its decommissioning and transfer to the Turkish Navy, Stephens transferred to Fleet Area and Surveillance Facility Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. His next sea tour was aboard USS NIMITZ (CVN 68) out of Bremerton, Wash.  Stephens participated in the ship’s world cruise to Newport News, Va. and served as Project Coordinator for the Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH). 

He returned to San Diego and joined the USS ANTIETAM (CG 54) crew, where he was selected for Chief Petty Officer and earned his Force Air Warfare and Tactical Action Officer (TAO) qualifications.  Remaining at sea for his next assignment, he reported to the USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67) home-ported in Mayport, Fla., where he was selected for Senior Chief Petty Officer. Following a successful tour on “Big John”, he transferred to Fleet Area and Surveillance Facility Jacksonville, Fla., filling the role as the Senior Enlisted Advisor.  During this tour, he volunteered for an Individual Augmentee assignment in 2006, where he was embedded with the Joint Special Operations Center (JSOC) on Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. In 2008, he completed the Army’s Combat Advisor course at Fort Riley, Kansas. His next assignment was in USS VICKSBURG (CG 69), where he was selected to Master Chief.  His next shore assignment was Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. as the Officer-in-Charge of the Temporary Personnel Detachment and the Limited Duty (LIMDU) Coordinator.

In February 2013, Master Chief Stephens was selected for the Command Master Chief Program, and served as USS THE SULLIVANS’ (DDG 68) Command Master Chief during the ships successful 2013 FIFTH Fleet deployment before reporting to Naval Air Station Whiting Field as the Command Master Chief in April 2016. 

Stephens is a graduate of the Navy Senior Enlisted Academy Class, and the CMC/COB Command Leadership Course. He earned a Master Certificate in Project Management from Villanova University, and is a certified Green Belt in Lean Six Sigma. He is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Logistics and Transportation from the University of West Florida.   

His personal decorations include Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist, Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist, Joint Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (Four Awards), Navy Achievement Medal (Four Awards), Combat Action Medal and various other unit and campaign awards.