{{Short description|U.S. Navy SEAL}} {{Infobox military person | name = David Isom | image = SEAC David L. Isom.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Official portrait, 2025 | nickname = | birth_place = | birth_date = | death_date = | death_place = | burial_place = | allegiance = United States | branch = United States Navy | service_years = 1987–present | rank = Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman | service_number = | unit = | commands = | battles = Gulf War<br />Iraq War<br />War in Afghanistan | awards = Defense Superior Service Medal<br />Legion of Merit<br />Bronze Star Medal (4) with Combat Distinguishing Device (2)<br />Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2) | relations = | other_work = }} '''David L. Isom''' is a United States Navy SEAL serving as the 6th senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (SEAC) since 2025.<ref name="DoD2025">{{cite web |title=Senior Enlisted Advisor Announcement |url=https://www.war.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4197808/senior-enlisted-advisor-announcement/ |website=U.S. Department of Defense |date=June 20, 2025 |access-date=June 21, 2025}}</ref><ref name="Stripes2025">{{cite web |last=Burchett |first=Caitlyn |title=Indo-Pacific's top sailor, SEAL tapped to serve as top senior enlisted adviser |website=Stars and Stripes |date=May 27, 2025 |url=https://www.stripes.com/branches/navy/2025-05-27/navy-seal-top-senior-enlisted-adviser-17928168.html |access-date=June 23, 2025}}</ref> He is the most senior enlisted member and non-commissioned officer in the United States Armed Forces. Isom previously served as the command senior enlisted leader of United States Indo-Pacific Command.
== Military career == [[File:Fleet Master Chief David Isom and Sgt. Maj. Troy E. Black 2025.jpg|thumb|Isom with SEAC Troy Black in May 2025]] Isom enlisted in the United States Navy in 1987 and completed recruit training at Recruit Training Command Great Lakes. He was first assigned to the USS Mauna Kea (AE-22) and later to the USS Mount Hood (AE-29). Following these early sea assignments, Isom was selected to attend Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) Training, becoming a Navy SEAL.<ref name="SOCOM2021">[https://www.socom.mil/socpac/Documents/CMDCM%20David%20Isom%20Bio%2011AUG2021.pdf Command Master Chief David Isom Biography] (August 11, 2021). United States Special Operations Command Pacific. Retrieved June 24, 2025.</ref>
He began his career in Naval Special Warfare Command with an assignment to SEAL Team One. Over the following years, Isom served in a series of increasingly senior positions, including with Naval Special Warfare Development Group, Joint Special Operations Command, and later at Tactical Development and Evaluation Squadron One. He was also assigned to Special Reconnaissance Team Two, where he served as the command master chief.<ref name="SOCOM2021" /><ref name="INDOPACOM2022">[https://www.pacom.mil/Contact/Directory/Bio-Display/Article/3067553/senior-enlisted-leader-us-indo-pacific-command/ Senior Enlisted Leader, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command – Fleet Master Chief David L. Isom]. United States Indo-Pacific Command. Retrieved June 24, 2025.</ref>
thumb|left|Isom being sworn in as the 6th SEAC on June 24, 2025
Following his operational tours, Isom served as the command master chief of Naval Special Warfare Group Ten. He subsequently held senior enlisted positions as the command senior enlisted leader of Special Operations Command North and then Special Operations Command Pacific.<ref name="SOCOM2021" /> On June 30, 2022, he assumed duties as the command senior enlisted leader of United States Indo-Pacific Command.<ref name="INDOPACOM2022" />
Isom deployed in support of multiple combat and contingency operations including Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He also participated in numerous deployments throughout the Pacific and the Horn of Africa.<ref name="SOCOM2021" /><ref name="INDOPACOM2022" />
His military education includes the Command Master Chief Course, Joint Special Operations University Senior Enlisted Academy, the U.S. Special Operations Command Summit Course, the National Defense University's Keystone Course, and the Naval Postgraduate School's Navy Senior Leader Seminar. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Strategic Studies from Norwich University.<ref name="SOCOM2021" /><ref name="INDOPACOM2022" />
In May 2025, Isom was selected for appointment as the senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, by General Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.<ref name="Stripes2025" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Schogol |first=Jeff |date=27 May 2025 |title=Navy SEAL Team 6 operator will be the military's new top enlisted leader |url=https://taskandpurpose.com/news/navy-seal-senior-advisor/ |access-date=25 June 2025 |work=Task and Purpose}}</ref> In June 2025, he assumed the rank and position, becoming the senior-most enlisted service member in the United States Armed Forces.<ref name="DoD2025" /> Isom is the first member of the U.S. Navy to serve in the position.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shane III |first=Leo |date=May 27, 2025 |title=Pentagon leaders name new senior enlisted adviser |url=https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2025/05/27/pentagon-leaders-name-new-senior-enlisted-adviser/ |work=Military Times |access-date=October 14, 2025}}</ref>
== Awards and decorations ==
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |- | colspan="3" | 200px |- | colspan="3" | {{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106px}} {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=106px}} {{Ribbon devices|number=3|type=award-star|other_device=nv|ribbon=Bronze Star Medal ribbon.svg|width=106px}} |- | {{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Defense Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106px}} | {{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=award-star|ribbon=Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106px}} | {{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Joint Service Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=106px}} |- | {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal ribbon, 2nd award.svg|width=106px}} | {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal ribbon, 2nd award.svg|width=106}} | {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Combat Action Ribbon, 2nd award.svg|width=106px}} |- | {{Ribbon devices|ribbon=United States Navy Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg|width=106px}} | {{Ribbon devices|ribbon=Joint Meritorious Unit Award-3d.svg|width=106px}} | {{Ribbon devices|ribbon=U.S. Navy Unit Commendation ribbon.svg|width=106px}} |- | <div style="position: relative; display: inline-block; width: 106px;">106px<span style="position:absolute; top:2px; left:28px;">18px</span><span style="position:absolute; top:2px; left:46px;">18px</span><span style="position:absolute; top:2px; left:64px;">18px</span></div>
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106px}} | {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Southwest Asia Service Medal ribbon (1991-2016), 1st award.svg|width=106px}} |- | {{Ribbon devices|ribbon=Afghanistan Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106px}} | {{Ribbon devices|ribbon=Iraq Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106px}} | {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg|width=106px}} |- | {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Global War on Terrorism Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106px}} | {{Ribbon devices|number=3|type=service-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.svg|width=106px}} | {{Ribbon devices|ribbon=Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) ribbon.svg|width=106px}} |- | {{Ribbon devices|ribbon=Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) ribbon.svg|width=106px}} | {{Ribbon devices|ribbon=United States Navy Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon with expert device.svg|width=106px}} | {{Ribbon devices|ribbon=United States Navy Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon with expert device.svg|width=106px}} |- | colspan="3" | 200px |- | <span title="Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge">106px</span> | | 106px|USN SEAC badge |}
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |- | colspan="3" | SEAL Trident |- | Defense Superior Service Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster | Legion of Merit | Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" and three gold award stars |- | Defense Meritorious Service Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster | Meritorious Service Medal (United States) with gold award star | Joint Service Commendation Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster |- | Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with gold award star | Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with gold award star | Combat Action Ribbon with gold award star |- | Presidential Unit Citation | Joint Meritorious Unit Award | Navy Unit Commendation |- | Navy Good Conduct Medal with two silver service stars and one bronze service star | National Defense Service Medal | Southwest Asia Service Medal with bronze campaign star |- | Afghanistan Campaign Medal | Iraq Campaign Medal | Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal |- | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal | Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with three bronze service stars | Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) |- | Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) | Navy Expert Rifleman Medal | Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal |- | colspan="3" | Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia |- | Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge | | Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman |}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{s-start}} {{s-mil}} {{s-bef|before=James Honea}} {{s-ttl|title=Senior Enlisted Leader, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command|years=2022–2025}} {{s-aft|after=Eric D. Cook}} |- {{s-bef|before=Troy E. Black}} {{s-ttl|title=Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman|years=2025–present}} {{s-inc}} {{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Isom, David L.}} Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Norwich University alumni Category:SEAL Team Six personnel Category:United States Navy chiefs Category:United States Navy SEALs Category:United States Navy personnel of the Gulf War Category:United States Navy personnel of the Iraq War Category:United States Navy personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)