Master Chief Hensley
Command Master Chief, USS James E Williams (DDG 95)
29 January 2024
Master Chief Hensley was raised in Frederick, Maryland and graduated from Linganore High School in 1998. He attended University of Maryland, Baltimore County until enlisting in the U.S. Navy in December 1999.
Upon completing Nuclear Power Training, he reported to the USS George Washington (CVN 73) in September of 2001. During his tour, he served as Reactor Propulsion Leading Petty Officer and qualified as Chief Machinery Operator and Propulsion Plant Watch Supervisor. He completed two deployments to the Arabian Gulf, as well as two major shipyard availabilities.
Following his tour on USS George Washing (CVN 76), he was assigned to USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) from March 2008 to July 2010. During this tour he served as Reactor Training Leading Petty Officer during Reactor Complex Overhaul and the ship’s return to San Diego, CA.
From July 2010 to July 2013, he served as Staff instructor and Mechanical Operations Department Leading Chief Petty Officer at MTS 635 prototype in Charleston, SC. During this he qualified Engineering Officer of the Watch and Engineering Watch Supervisor. In August of 2010 he was advanced to Chief Petty Officer.
Master Chief Hensley next served aboard USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) from August 2013 to October 2017. First serving as Machinery Division, 2 plant, Leading Chief Petty Officer and later as Reactor Training Division Officer also performing as the Drill Team Coordinator for the ship’s commissioning and initial sea trials. In 2015 he was advanced to Senior Chief Petty Officer.
After completing his tour onboard Gerald R. Ford he served as the Repair Department Leading Chief Petty Officer at Nuclear Power Training Unit (NPTU), Charleston SC, advancing to Master Chief Petty Officer in 2018. He served at NPTU from November 2017 to February 2021 when he was selected to serve as Reactor Department Master Chief.
Reported to USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) forward deployed in Yokosuka, Japan in February 2021. Completing five 7
th Fleet patrols and three Selective Restricted Availabilities, Master Chief Hensley was selected for the Command Master Chief Program in April 2023. Reporting to USS James E Williams (DDG 95) in July 2023 to serve as Command Master Chief.