Force Master Chief, Naval Special Warfare Command
SOCM (SEAL) Stephen D. Link
Force Master Chief
Naval Special Warfare Command
Master Chief Stephen D. Link was raised in Colorado and Southern California; he enlisted in the Navy on February 3, 1981. He attended Recruit Training at Naval Training Center, San Diego, CA., where he was the outstanding recruit and Quartermaster “A” School, Orlando, Fl., where he was the honor man. Upon completion, he received orders to Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL Training (BUD/S) and graduated with Class 116 in March 1982.
Command Master Chief Link currently serves Naval Special Warfare’s senior enlisted and is the principal enlisted advisor to the commander. He is responsible for the enlisted leader development, well-being, monitoring and mentoring the sailors of that force. His previous duty assignments were: Senior Enlisted leader of Special Operations Command, Pacific (SOCPAC), OIC of the Awaiting Training Phase at Naval Special Warfare Center; Naval Special Warfare Group One as the Command Master Chief advising on enlisted and operational issues for all NSW West Coast SEAL Teams in the PACOM and CENTCOM theater; SEAL Team one as the Command Master Chief where in March 2004 he deployed as the SEA for Naval Special Warfare Task Group Iraq in support of IRAQI FREEDOM; Naval Special Warfare Group One as the Operations Master Chief where in November 2001 he deployed to Afghanistan as the SEA for CJSOTF-South (TF K-BAR) in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
Other assignments include SEAL Team ONE where he completed eight WESTPAC deployments, 3 as a Platoon LCPO, 5 tours in the Training Cadre, one tour in Exercise Cell; Defense Language Institute where he completed the Tagalog Course of Instruction; Personnel Exchange Program (PEP) to the SASR Australia working in two War Roles Troops,
During his career he attended numerous service schools including: Army Airborne School, Naval Special Warfare Diving Supervisor School, Static line and Free Fall Jumpmaster School, Multiple demolition schools, Range Safety Officer School, DLI Language School, SASR Climbing and Rope Instructor School, the U.S. Navy Senior Enlisted Academy and The National Defense University’s Keystone Joint Senior Enlisted Course.
Master Chief Link’s awards include: Bronze Star (two awards), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (six awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (four awards), Combat Action Ribbon with gold star, Presidential Unit Citation and various unit and campaign awards.
He is married to the former Tina M.L. Tjong. He has a daughter Cheryl.