FORCM Laura S. Nunley, USN (Ret.)
Force Master Chief Laura S. Nunley, USN (Ret.)
In 2014, the Naval Order established a Distinguished Sea Service Award - Senior Enlisted (DSSA-SE) to each year honor a recently retired senior enlisted member of one of the sea services who, over a total career, so distinguished himself/herself and the Naval Services, that he/she should be singled out as one who stands "First Among Firsts.” The 2025 recipient of the DSSA-SE is FORCM Laura S. Nunley, USN (Ret.)
Master Chief Laura S. Nunley was the Command Master Chief ( CMC) of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) from 2019-2021. Selected as a CMC in 2011, she also served as the CMC of USS Bainbridge (DDG 96) and Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 15. In 2021, Nunley became the first woman selected as the deputy MCPON. Naval Information Forces team celebrated Force Master Chief Laura Nunley's retirement in the Hall of Heros in Suffolk, Va., 19 July. A friend, shipmate, mentor and inspirational leader to many over her three-decade U.S. Navy career, Nunley served as an Intelligence Specialist, was selected as a Command Master Chief in 2011, and served as Deputy Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy. At the time of her retirement, Nunley was the senior-most enlisted woman in the Navy, by rank.
Master Chief Laura Nunley, command master chief at the Office of Naval Intelligence became Defense Intelligence Agency's command senior enlisted leader in early August 2020.
When asked about how she felt about this great opportunity, she said, “I am humbled and extremely excited about my selection to serve as the 22nd Command Senior Enlisted Leader to the Director, Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). It will be a tremendous opportunity to advocate for all service components, DoD Civilians, and their families. I am grateful for the extraordinary leadership of RADM Kelly Aeschbach and the opportunities I’ve had working alongside the true professionals on the Office of Naval Intelligence team. I look forward to the next adventure working alongside the professionals at DIA and across the Intelligence Community as we continue to focus our attention on ensuring our military forces are always combat-ready in today’s challenge of Great Power Competition.”
Master Chief Nunley enlisted in the U.S. Navy in May 1994 and reported to Intelligence Specialist “A” school upon completion of her initial recruit training. Her assignments throughout her career span the globe and include significant time with both aviation and surface units: Mobile Integrated Command Facility Europe/Tactical Support Center in Sigonella, Italy; Naval Strike and Air Warfare Command in Fallon, Nevada; USS Belleau Wood (LHA 3) and USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) in San Diego, California; Commander Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 2 (COMPATRECONWING-2) in Kaneohe, Hawaii; and USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71).
Notably, during her tour with COMPATRECONWING-2, she completed an eight-month Individual Augmentation to Camp Abu Naji in Al Amarah, Iraq. During that deployment, she received the Joint Service Commendation Medal for her extraordinary leadership as an Iraqi Military Training Advisor.
In 2011, Master Chief Nunley was selected for Command Master Chief (CMC). She attended the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy class 62 and graduated in the top percentile of her class. She subsequently served as CMC of USS Bainbridge (DDG 96) from 2012 to 2014, followed by tours as the CMC of Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 15 (HM-15) and USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78). She took over as ONI’s Command Master Chief in March 2019.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in professional studies in Business and Management. Her military awards include the Vice Admiral Rufus L. Taylor Award for Leadership, among many other decorations.