Command Master Chief, Naval Air Systems Command

CMDCM(AW/SW/IW) JAMES W. STEDDING, USN

Command Master Chief Stedding, a native of Baltimore, Maryland, enlisted in the United States Navy in October 1993. Following completion of basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois, he reported to Ocean Systems Technician Analyst (OTA) “A” School, Norfolk, Virginia, where he completed advanced technical field training.

Upon graduation, he reported for duty at Naval Facility, Keflavik, Iceland, where he served as an OTA.  Following his first tour in 1995, Master Chief Stedding was selected for conversion to the Intelligence Specialist (IS) rating and reported to Navy and Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center, Dam Neck, Virginia, to complete IS “A” and “C” schools.  After training, he reported for duty at Fleet Information Warfare Center, Little Creek, Virginia.

His fleet assignments include USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), Navy and Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center, USS Wasp (LHD 1), U.S. Second Fleet, and Carrier Strike Group FOUR where he served as the Senior Enlisted Leader.

Master Chief Stedding’s first CMC assignment was aboard USS Monterey (CG 61) where he had a successful eight month deployment in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE.  He reported for duty as CMC aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in April 2017 where he completed and successfully took the ship out of RCOH, the full training cycle, and a 10 month around the world deployment culminating in a homeport shift from Norfolk, VA to San Diego, CA.  In April 2020 Master Chief Stedding departed the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) and reported as Command Master Chief of the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center (NAWDC) in Fallon, Nevada.  Following his tour at NAWDC, he reported on-board to Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers (COMFRC) at NAS Patuxent River, MD in August 2022. As of June 2022, Master Chief Stedding is serving as the Command Master Chief for COMFRC and NAVAIR, bringing his extensive operational experience and leadership to support readiness and aviation capabilities across the fleet.

Master Chief Stedding is a graduate of the U.S. Navy Senior Enlisted Academy (Class 182) and Command Master Chief/Chief of the Boat (Class 135).  Additionally, he has earned Enlisted Surface, Enlisted Aviation, Information Warfare, and Master Training Specialist designations.

His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (5 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (4 awards) as well as various unit and campaign awards.