CMDCM William C. Worthen
Command Master Chief, USS James E. Williams (DDG 95)
02 February 2021
Command Master Chief William Worthen is a native of Idaho and a 1994 graduate of Clinton High School in Clinton, Arkansas. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy, June 1994 and attended basic training in Great Lakes, Illinois. After boot camp he completed Operations Specialist Apprenticeship (“A”) School.
In 1994, he reported to his first duty station, USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) where he rose to the rank of petty officer 3rd class and in 1996 did a no-cost duty Swap to the USS Ticonderoga (CG 47) until February of 1999.
In 1999 he reported to NTTC Meridian, Mississippi, where he became an “A” School Company Commander.
In January 2001 he cross rated to Master-At-Arms (MA) and attended Military Working Dog Handler “C” School at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.
Worthen then reported to NSA La Maddalena, Italy, where he served from June 2001 to 2003. He then transferred to Naval Air Station (NAS) Fallon, Nevada, where he spent time as a dog handler and Command Investigator until July 2006.
In July 2006 he reported to the USS O’Kane (DDG 77) in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. In 2007 he obtained the rank of chief petty officer. He reported to NAS Kingsville, Texas, September 2009 and served as the Leading Chief Petty Officer (LCPO) of Security.
In July of 2013 Worthen did an unaccompanied tour in Souda Bay, Crete, as the LCPO of Security and was promoted to senior chief petty officer in 2014. In August of 2014 he reported to European Command Head Quarters as an Anti-Terrorism Officer for the European Theater.
In 2017 he was selected for the Command Senior Chief program and transferred in November 2017 to NCTS Sicily and assumed duties as Command Senior Chief. In 2018 he was selected to be Command Master Chief.
In May 2019, Worthen reported to USS James E. Williams (DDG 95), homeported in Norfolk, Virginia, and assumed duties as Command Master Chief.
Worthen is a graduate of the Navy Senior Enlisted Academy (Class 205 Gold) and Command Leadership School, Newport, Rhode Island. He holds an associate’s degree from the University of Phoenix.
Worthen’s awards include the Defense Meritorious Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards), Joint Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (5 awards) and various unit and campaign awards.