The top enlisted sailor in Japan will soon be one of the military's foremost enlisted advisers. sailors in the military.

Command Master Chief (SS/SW) Crispian Addington, the top sailor at Yokosuka, Japan-based U.S. 7th Fleet, is moving to Europe to become the senior enlisted leader at U.S. European Command, according to a Wednesday EUCOM release.

Marine Gen. Joe Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, chose Addington to replace Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Craig Adams, who was fired in September after a loss of confidence in his abilities.

Addington, a career submariner who has served aboard five attack boatssubmariner, will report to EUCOM head Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove, EUCOM said in a Wednesday release.

The Navy's top enlisted sailor praised Addington's selection, saying he was "absolutely the right guy for the job."

"He's a really top-notch command master chief," Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (AW/NAC) Michael Stevens said in a Wednesday phone call. "I know 7th Fleet is about as far away from EUCOM as you can get, but the skills he's built out there to build relationships with our partners are going to be invaluable. He really has an ability to get everybody working together."

In his role in Japan, Addington focused on building relationships with allies and partners but also on professional development and leadership training for enlisted sailors, Stevens said.

Addington's selection is also a win for the Navy's command master chief program, Stevens said.

"We’ve got three combatant commanders got filled by command master chiefs now: [U.S. Pacific Command, U.S. Northern Command] and now EUCOM," Stevens said. "It’s a testament to how far the program has come. There was a time when we didn’t have any COCOMs filled with CMCs."

Addnington joined the Navy in 1985 and served primarily in attack submarines. He has had his fair share of sea time, serving aboard the attack submarines Tautog, Barb, Norfolk, La Jolla and Jefferson City.

He joined the command master chief program at the 19-year mark and served as chief of the boat on the attack sub Helena. He has also been the top sailor at Submarine Squadron 7Seven in Pearl Harbor and Navy Recruiting District, Seattle, Washington.

About David B. Larter

David B. Larter was the naval warfare reporter for Defense News.

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