SEAC Black assumed his current post as the 5th Senior Enlisted  Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Nov. 3rd, 2023  following his selection and service as the 19th Sergeant Major of the  Marine Corps. A native of Louisville, Kentucky, he attended recruit  training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., in April of  1988 and attended the School of Infantry and Marine Corps Security  Force School.  

Throughout his career, SEAC Black has been assigned numerous  duties to include: 0331 Machine Gunner, Machine Gun Squad and  Section Leader; Weapons Platoon Sergeant and Weapons Platoon  Commander; Drill Instructor, Senior Drill Instructor, Fleet AntiTerrorism Security Team Company (FAST) Platoon Sergeant and  Operations Chief, Series Gunnery Sergeant, DI School Instructor, and RTR Drill Master; First Sergeant, G  Company 2d Bn, 1st Marines, E Company 3d Amphibious Assault Battalion, Officer Candidates School;  Sergeant Major, 3d Bn, 7th Marines, Combat Logistics Battalion 5, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, 1st  Marine Logistics Group, and Manpower and Reserve Affairs.  

He has deployed aboard the USS Forrestal (CV-59) in support of Operation Just Cause and to the  Mediterranean in 1989 ; deployed in support of Operation Sea Soldier, Desert Storm/Desert Shield, and  Sea Angel with 3rd Bn, 5th Marines in 1990, and to Okinawa in 1992; deployed with FAST Company in  support of 5th and 6th Fleet operations to Bahrain, Italy, Pearl Harbor, and Bangor Washington; deployed  to Iraq with 2d Bn, 1st Marines in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II (OIF) in 2004; deployed with 13th  Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) during Operation Bright Star and to Iraq in  support of Operation Iraqi Freedom IV (OIF) in 2005; to Afghanistan with 3d Bn, 7th Marines in support of  Operation Enduring Freedom in 2010; deployed with Combat Logistics Battalion 5 in support of Operation  Enduring Freedom in 2012; and deployed in support of WESTPAC 14.2 and Operation Inherent Resolve  with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit in 2014.  

SEAC Black’s personal awards include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit w/ 2 Gold  Star’s, Bronze Star w/ Combat Distinguishing Device, Meritorious Service Medal w/ 2 Gold Stars, Navy and  Marine Corps Commendation Medal w/ Combat Distinguishing Device and 3 Gold Stars, Navy and Marine  Corps Achievement Medal w/ Gold Star and the Combat Action Ribbon with 2 Gold Stars.  

SEAC Black has a Bachelor of Science in Terrorism and Counterterrorism Studies from National American  University and graduated from the Joint Special Operations Forces Senior Enlisted Academy December of  2011.