The Coast Guard announced Thursday the selection of the new master chief petty officer of the service who is currently based in Portsmouth.
Master Chief Petty Officer Steven W. Cantrell is the current Atlantic Area command master chief and will relieve the current master chief of the Coast Guard, Michael P. Leavitt, during a change of watch ceremony scheduled for May 22 in Cape May, N.J.
Cantrell hails from Memphis, Tenn., and joined the Coast Guard in 1983. During his career, he has served in various afloat and ashore assignments.
His ashore assignments included Command Master Chief to the Commander of the 8th District in New Orleans, Command Master Chief to the Commander of the 1st District in Boston, Officer in Charge of Station Panama City in Panama City Beach, Fla., Station Wrightsville Beach in Wrightsville, N.C., Station Alexandria Bay in Alexandria Bay, N.Y., and Station Harbor Beach, in Harbor Beach, Mich.
Cantrell's afloat assignments included Officer in Charge of the Coast Guard Cutters Ridley and Point Wells in Montauk, N.Y.
Cantrell has earned a permanent cutterman's insignia, coxswain insignia, boat forces insignia and command afloat and ashore insignia, as well as the Command Master Chief insignia.
Cantrell holds a Master of Science Degree in Business Administration.
The Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard (MCPO-CG) is the top senior enlisted leader in the Coast Guard and serves as an advisor to the Commandant of the Coast Guard in matters affecting the enlisted members of the Coast Guard, both active and reserve, and their families.
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