View source for Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps

{{short description|Senior enlisted member of the U.S. Marine Corps}}
{{For|the Royal Marines equivalent|Corps Regimental Sergeant Major}}
{{Infobox official post
| post                     = Sergeant Major
| body                     = the Marine Corps
| native_name              =
| insignia                 = USMC-E9-SGMMC.svg
| insigniasize             = 100
| insigniacaption          = Dress uniform insignia of the SMMC
| flag                     =
| flagsize                 =
| flagborder               =
| flagcaption              =
| image                    = SMMC Carlos A. Ruiz.jpg
| imagesize                =
| alt                      =
| incumbent                = SMMC [[Carlos A. Ruiz]]
| acting                   =
| incumbentsince           = August 10, 2023
| department               = {{marines|United States}}
| style                    =
| type                     =
| status                   =
| abbreviation             = SMMC
| member_of                =
| reports_to               = [[Commandant of the United States Marine Corps|Commandant of the Marine Corps]]
| residence                =
| seat                     = [[Headquarters Marine Corps]]
| nominator                =
| appointer                = Commandant of the Marine Corps
| termlength               = 4 years
| termlength_qualified     =
| constituting_instrument  =
| precursor                =
| formation                = May 23, 1957
| first                    = [[Wilbur Bestwick]]
| last                     =
| abolished                =
| succession               =
| unofficial_names         = Sergeant Major
| deputy                   =
| salary                   = $10,758.00 per month, regardless of the incumbent's service longevity <ref name=pay>{{Cite web |title=Defense Finance and Accounting Service > MilitaryMembers > payentitlements > Pay Tables > Basic Pay > EM |url=https://www.dfas.mil/militarymembers/payentitlements/Pay-Tables/Basic-Pay/EM/ |access-date=2025-07-23 |website=www.dfas.mil}}</ref>
| website                  = {{url|www.hqmc.marines.mil/smmc}}
}}

The '''sergeant major of the Marine Corps''' (officially abbreviated to '''SMMC''')<ref name="ALMAR 016/09">{{cite web|url=https://www.marines.mil/News/Messages/MessagesDisplay/tabid/13286/Article/109552/2009-sergeants-major-symposium.aspx |title=ALMAR 016/09: 2009 Sergeants Major Symposium |date=2009-05-13 |publisher=[[United States Marine Corps]] |access-date=22 December 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130224031416/https://www.marines.mil/News/Messages/MessagesDisplay/tabid/13286/Article/109552/2009-sergeants-major-symposium.aspx |archive-date=24 February 2013 }}me</ref><ref>[https://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/SMMC SMMC] on [[TheFreeDictionary.com]]</ref> is a [[billet]], as well as a unique enlisted grade of rank, and is designated a special [[U.S. uniformed services pay grades|paygrade]] above [[Uniformed services pay grades of the United States#Enlisted|E-9]]. The position also has a unique [[Non-commissioned officer|non-commissioned]] grade of rank insignia, in the [[United States Marine Corps]]. The holder of this rank and position is the most senior enlisted marine in the Marine Corps, unless an enlisted marine is serving as the [[Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman|senior enlisted advisor to the chairman]] (SEAC) of the [[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff|Joint Chiefs of Staff]].{{efn|[[Troy E. Black]], the 19th SMMC, was the most recent marine to serve as SEAC, serving in the role from 3 November 2023 to 20 June 2025.<ref name=SEAC-Black>{{cite web|accessdate=29 July 2025|url=https://www.jcs.mil/Leadership/Article-View/Article/2039792/seac-troy-e-black/|date=November 2023|title=SEAC Troy E. Black|publisher=Joint Chiefs of Staff}}</ref><ref name=SEAC-Isom>{{cite web|accessdate=29 July 2025|url=https://www.jcs.mil/leadership/article-view/article/4223489/seac-david-l-isom/|title=SEAC David L. Isom|publisher=Joint Chiefs of Staff|date=20 June 2025}}</ref>}}
[[File: USMC-E9-SGMMC (Service).svg|thumb|upright|Current service uniform rank insignia of the SMMC.]]
[[File:USMC-E9-SGM.svg|thumb|upright|Rank insignia of the SMMC from 1957 to 1970; became the rank insignia for a sergeant major afterwards.]]
In the U.S. Marine Corps, [[Sergeant Major#United States|sergeant major]] is the ninth and highest [[enlisted rank]], just above [[first sergeant]], and equal in grade to [[Master Gunnery Sergeant|master gunnery sergeant]], although the two have different responsibilities. A sergeant major typically serves as the unit commander's [[senior enlisted adviser]] and handles matters of discipline and morale among the enlisted Marines. The Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps is chosen by the [[Commandant of the United States Marine Corps|commandant of the Marine Corps]] to serve as his adviser and is the preeminent and highest-ranking enlisted Marine unless an enlisted marine is serving as the [[Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman|senior enlisted advisor to the Chairman]]. The SMMC holds an [[order of precedence]] of a [[Lieutenant general (United States)|lieutenant general]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 16, 2022 |title=Social Usage and Protocol Handbook: A Guide for Personnel of the U.S. Navy |url=https://www.secnav.navy.mil/doni/Directives/01000%20Military%20Personnel%20Support/01-700%20Morale,%20Community%20and%20Religious%20Services/1710.12.pdf |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=May 27, 2025 |website=Secretary of the Navy |publisher=[[United States Department of the Navy]]}}</ref>

Although not officially considered a Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, when [[Archibald Sommers]] was appointed to Sergeant Major on January 1, 1801, it was a solitary post, similar to the modern billet of Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps. In 1833, an act of legislation made the rank of sergeant major permanent for the Marine Corps, and by 1899 five Marines held the rank of sergeant major. This continued until 1946, when the rank was abolished, only to be re-introduced in 1954 as part of the Marine Corps rank structure.<ref name=HQMC>{{cite web|url=https://www.hqmc.marines.mil/smmc/History.aspx|title=Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps|publisher=hqmc.marines.mil|access-date=2013-07-06}}</ref>

The post of Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps was established in 1957 from the order of Assistant Chief of Staff for Personnel at [[Headquarters Marine Corps]], Brigadier General [[James P. Berkeley]], as the [[senior enlisted advisor]] to the [[Commandant of the United States Marine Corps|commandant of the Marine Corps]],<ref name=HQMC/> the first such post in any of the five branches of the [[United States Armed Forces]].<ref name="15smmc">{{cite web|url=https://www.15smmc.com/history.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608065429/https://www.15smmc.com/history.php|url-status=dead|archive-date=2019-06-08|title=Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps|last=Estrada|first=John L.|author-link=John L. Estrada|publisher=15smmc.com|access-date=2009-06-22}}</ref> In 1970, the [[Chevron (insignia)#Rank insignia|rank insignia]] of the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps was authorized (which features three stripes, the [[Eagle, Globe, and Anchor]] flanked by two five-point stars in the center, and four rockers) as opposed to the standard Sergeant Major rank insignia (which features three stripes, one five-point star in the center, and four rockers), which was used for the rank from the post's creation in 1957 to 1970. While "Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps" is the full wording of the rank, the verbal address for this is common ''Sergeant Major''.

The commandant of the Marine Corps selects the sergeant major of the Marine Corps and typically serves a four-year term, though his service is at the discretion of the Commandant.<ref name="15smmc"/> Since Sergeant Major Wilbur Bestwick was appointed the first Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps in 1957, 20 different Marines have filled this post.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hqmc.marines.mil/smmc/PreviousSMMC.aspx |title= Previous SMMC |publisher=hqmc.marines.mil |access-date= 2013-07-06}}</ref>

==List of sergeants major of the Marine Corps==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan=2| {{abbr|No.|Number}}
! class="unsortable" rowspan=2| Portrait
! rowspan=2| Name
! colspan=3| Term of office
! class="unsortable" rowspan=2| {{abbr|Ref.|References}}
|-
! Took office
! Left office
! Duration
|-
| 1
|[[File:Bestwick hi-res USMC.jpeg|100px|alt=black & white photograph of Wilbur Bestwick]]
| <span style="display:none">Bestwick</span> [[Wilbur Bestwick]]
<small>(1911–1972)</small>
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1957|May|23}}}}
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1959|September|01}}}}
| {{ayd|1957|05|23|1959|09|01}}
| <ref name="Bestwick">{{cite web|url=https://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Bestwick_W.htm|title=Sergeant Major Wilbur Bestwick, USMC (Deceased)|work=Who's Who in Marine Corps History|publisher=Marine Corps Historical Division|access-date=2009-06-22|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615092718/https://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Bestwick_W.htm|archive-date=2011-06-15}}</ref>
|-
| 2
|[[File:Rauber FD.jpg|100px|alt=black & white photograph of Francis D. Rauber]]
| <span style="display:none">Rauber</span> [[Francis D. Rauber]]
<small>(1901–1991)</small>
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1959|September|01}}}}
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1962|June|29}}}}
| {{ayd|1959|09|01|1962|06|29}}
| <ref name="Rauber">{{cite web|url=https://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Rauber_FD.htm|title=Sergeant Major Francis Drury Rauber, USMC (Deceased)|work=Who's Who in Marine Corps History|publisher=Marine Corps Historical Division|access-date=2009-06-22|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615092952/https://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Rauber_FD.htm|archive-date=2011-06-15}}</ref>
|-
| 3
|[[File:McHugh TJ.jpg|100px|alt=black & white photograph of Thomas J. McHugh]]
| <span style="display:none">McHugh</span> [[Thomas J. McHugh]]
<small>(1919–2000)</small>
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1962|June|29}}}}
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1965|July|17}}}}
| {{ayd|1962|06|29|1965|07|17}}
| <ref name="McHugh">{{cite web|url=https://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/McHugh_TJ.htm|title=Sergeant Major Thomas J. McHugh, USMC (Deceased)|work=Who's Who in Marine Corps History|publisher=Marine Corps Historical Division|access-date=2009-06-22|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516222440/https://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/McHugh_TJ.htm|archive-date=2011-05-16}}</ref>
|-
| 4
|[[File:Sweet HJ.jpg|100px|alt=black & white photograph of Herbert J. Sweet]]
| <span style="display:none">Sweet</span> [[Herbert J. Sweet]]
<small>(1919–1998)</small>
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1965|July|17}}}}
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1969|August|01}}}}
| {{ayd|1965|07|17|1969|08|01}}
| <ref name="Sweet">{{cite web|url=https://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Sweet_HJ.htm|title=Sergeant Major Herbert J. Sweet, USMC (Deceased)|work=Who's Who in Marine Corps History|publisher=Marine Corps Historical Division|access-date=2009-06-22|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615093004/https://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Sweet_HJ.htm|archive-date=2011-06-15}}</ref>
|-
| 5
|[[File:Dailey JW.jpg|100px|alt=black & white photograph of Joseph W. Dailey]]
| <span style="display:none">Dailey</span> [[Joseph W. Dailey]]
<small>(1917–2007)</small>
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1969|August|01}}}}
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1973|February|01}}}}
| {{ayd|1969|08|01|1973|02|01}}
| <ref name="Dailey">{{cite web|url=https://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Dailey_JW.htm|title=Sergeant Major Joseph W. Dailey, USMC (Deceased)|work=Who's Who in Marine Corps History|publisher=Marine Corps Historical Division|access-date=2009-06-22|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516225001/https://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Dailey_JW.htm|archive-date=2011-05-16}}</ref>
|-
| 6
|[[File:Puckett CA.jpg|100px|alt=black & white photograph of Clinton A. Puckett]]
| <span style="display:none">Puckett</span> [[Clinton A. Puckett]]
<small>(1926–2002)</small>
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1973|February|01}}}}
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1975|June|01}}}}
| {{ayd|1973|02|01|1975|06|01}}
| <ref name="Puckett">{{cite web|url=https://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Puckett_CA.htm|title=Sergeant Major Clinton A. Puckett, USMC (Deceased)|work=Who's Who in Marine Corps History|publisher=Marine Corps Historical Division|access-date=2009-06-22|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615093040/https://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Puckett_CA.htm|archive-date=2011-06-15}}</ref>
|-
| 7
|[[File:Black HH.jpg|100px|alt=black & white photograph of Henry H. Black]]
| <span style="display:none">Black</span> [[Henry H. Black]]
<small>(1929–2012)</small>
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1975|June|01}}}}
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1977|April|01}}}}
| {{ayd|1975|06|01|1977|04|01}}
| <ref name="Black">{{cite web|url=https://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Black_HH.htm|title=Sergeant Major Henry H. Black, USMC (Retired)|work=Who's Who in Marine Corps History|publisher=Marine Corps Historical Division|access-date=2009-06-22|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615093158/https://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Black_HH.htm|archive-date=2011-06-15}}</ref>
|-
| 8
|[[File:Massaro JE.jpg|100px|alt=black & white photograph of John R. Massaro]]
| <span style="display:none">Massaro</span> [[John R. Massaro]]
<small>(1930–)</small>
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1977|April|01}}}}
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1979|August|16}}}}
| {{ayd|1977|04|01|1979|08|16}}
| <ref name="Massaro">{{cite web|url=https://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Massaro_JR.htm|title=Sergeant Major John R. Massaro, USMC (Retired)|work=Who's Who in Marine Corps History|publisher=Marine Corps Historical Division|access-date=2009-06-22|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516223959/https://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Massaro_JR.htm|archive-date=2011-05-16}}</ref>
|-
| 9
|[[File:Crawford LD.jpg|100px|alt=black & white photograph of Leland D. Crawford]]
| <span style="display:none">Crawford</span> [[Leland D. Crawford]]
<small>(1930–1993)</small>
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1979|August|16}}}}
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1983|June|28}}}}
| {{ayd|1979|08|16|1983|06|28}}
| <ref name="Crawford">{{cite web|url=https://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Crawford_LD.htm|title=Sergeant Major Leland D. Crawford, USMC (Deceased)|work=Who's Who in Marine Corps History|publisher=Marine Corps Historical Division|access-date=2009-06-22|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615093210/https://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Crawford_LD.htm|archive-date=2011-06-15}}</ref>
|-
| 10
|[[File:Cleary RE.jpg|100px]]
| <span style="display:none">Cleary</span> [[Robert E. Cleary]]
<small>(1931–2018)</small>
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1983|June|28}}}}
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1987|June|27}}}}
| {{ayd|1983|06|28|1987|06|27}}
| <ref name="Cleary">{{cite web|url=https://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Cleary_RE.htm|title=Sergeant Major Robert E. Cleary, USMC (Retired)|work=Who's Who in Marine Corps History|publisher=Marine Corps Historical Division|access-date=2009-06-22|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101215112459/https://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Cleary_RE.htm|archive-date=2010-12-15}}</ref>
|-
| 11
|[[File:Sommers DW.jpg|100px|alt=black & white photograph of David W. Sommers]]
| <span style="display:none">Sommers</span> [[David W. Sommers]]
<small>(1943–)</small>
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1987|June|27}}}}
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1991|June|28}}}}
| {{ayd|1987|06|27|1991|06|28}}
| <ref name="Sommers">{{cite web|url=https://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Sommers_DW.htm|title=Sergeant Major David W. Sommers, USMC (Retired)|work=Who's Who in Marine Corps History|publisher=Marine Corps Historical Division|access-date=2009-06-22|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615093351/https://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Sommers_DW.htm|archive-date=2011-06-15}}</ref>
|-
| 12
|[[File:Overstreet HG.jpg|100px|alt=black & white photograph of Harold G. Overstreet]]
| <span style="display:none">Overstreet</span> [[Harold G. Overstreet]]
<small>(1944–)</small>
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1991|June|28}}}}
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1995|June|30}}}}
| {{ayd|1991|06|28|1995|06|30}}
| <ref name="Overstreet">{{cite web|url=https://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Overstreet_HG.htm|title=Sergeant Major Harold G. Overstreet, USMC (Retired)|work=Who's Who in Marine Corps History|publisher=Marine Corps Historical Division|access-date=2009-06-22|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615093428/https://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Overstreet_HG.htm|archive-date=2011-06-15}}</ref>
|-
| 13
|[[File:Lee hi-res USMC.jpeg|100px|alt=black & white photograph of Lewis G. Lee]]
| <span style="display:none">Lee</span> [[Lewis G. Lee]]
<small>(1950–)</small>
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1995|June|30}}}}
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1999|June|29}}}}
| {{ayd|1995|06|30|1999|06|29}}
| <ref name="Lee">{{cite web|url=https://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Lee_LG.htm|title=Sergeant Major Lewis G. Lee, USMC (Retired)|work=Who's Who in Marine Corps History|publisher=Marine Corps Historical Division|access-date=2009-06-22|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516222432/https://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Lee_LG.htm|archive-date=2011-05-16}}</ref>
|-
| 14
|[[File:McMichael AL.jpg|100px|alt=color photograph of Alford L. McMichael]]
| <span style="display:none">McMichael</span> [[Alford L. McMichael]]
<small>(1952–)</small>
|{{nowrap|{{dts|1999|June|29}}}}
|{{nowrap|{{dts|2003|June|26}}}}
| {{ayd|1999|06|29|2003|06|26}}
| <ref name="McMichael">{{cite web|url=https://tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/McMichael_AL.htm |title=Sergeant Major Alford L. McMichael, USMC (Retired) |work=Who's Who in Marine Corps History |publisher=Marine Corps Historical Division |access-date=2009-06-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110722213759/https://tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/McMichael_AL.htm |archive-date=2011-07-22 }}</ref>
|-
| 15
|[[File:SgtMajMC photo.jpg|100px|alt=color photograph of John L. Estrada]]
| <span style="display:none">Estrada</span> [[John L. Estrada]]
<small>(1955–)</small>
|{{nowrap|{{dts|2003|June|26}}}}
|{{nowrap|{{dts|2007|April|25}}}}
| {{ayd|2003|06|26|2007|04|25}}
| <ref name="Estrada">{{cite web|url=https://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Estrada%20JL.htm|title=Sergeant Major John L. Estrada, USMC (Retired)|work=Who's Who in Marine Corps History|publisher=Marine Corps Historical Division|access-date=2009-06-22|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101214083115/https://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Estrada%20JL.htm|archive-date=2010-12-14}}</ref>
|-
| 16
|[[File:KentCarlton USMC.jpg|100px|alt=color photograph of Carlton W. Kent]]
| <span style="display:none">Kent</span> [[Carlton W. Kent]]
<small>(1957–)</small>
|{{nowrap|{{dts|2007|April|25}}}}
|{{nowrap|{{dts|2011|June|09}}}}
| {{ayd|2007|04|25|2011|06|09}}
| <ref name="Kent">{{cite web|url=https://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Kent_CW.htm|title=Sergeant Major Carlton W. Kent, USMC|work=Who's Who in Marine Corps History|publisher=Marine Corps Historical Division|access-date=2009-06-22|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615093515/https://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Kent_CW.htm|archive-date=2011-06-15}}</ref>
|-
| 17
|[[File:17th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Micheal P. Barrett.jpg|100px|alt=color photograph of Micheal P. Barrett]]
| <span style="display:none">Barrett</span> [[Micheal Barrett|Micheal P. Barrett]]
<small>(1963–)</small>
|{{nowrap|{{dts|2011|June|09}}}}
|{{nowrap|{{dts|2015|February|20}}}}
| {{ayd|2011|06|09|2015|02|20}}
| <ref name="Barrett">{{cite web|url=https://www.hqmc.marines.mil/smmc/PreviousSMMC/tabid/10760/Article/566660/micheal-p-barrett.aspx|title=Sergeant Major Michael P. Barrett, USMC|work=Who's Who in Marine Corps History|publisher=Marine Corps Historical Division|access-date=2015-02-21}}</ref>
|-
| 18
||[[File:Ronald L. Green (2015).jpg|100px|alt=color photograph of Ronald L. Green]]
| <span style="display:none">Green</span> [[Ronald L. Green]]
<small>(1964–)</small>
|{{nowrap|{{dts|2015|February|20}}}}
|{{nowrap|{{dts|2019|July|26}}}}
| {{ayd|2015|02|20|2019|07|26}}
| <ref name="Green">{{cite web|url=https://dod.defense.gov/About/Biographies/Biography-View/Article/602707/sergeant-major-ronald-l-green/|title=Sergeant Major Ronald L. Green, USMC|work=Who's Who in Marine Corps History|publisher=Marine Corps Historical Division|access-date=2015-02-21|archive-date=2019-07-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190728173053/https://dod.defense.gov/About/Biographies/Biography-View/Article/602707/sergeant-major-ronald-l-green/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| 19
||[[File:Troy_Black_October_2019.jpg|100px|alt=color photograph of Troy E. Black]]
| <span style="display:none">Black</span> [[Troy E. Black]]
<small>(1969-)</small>
|{{nowrap|{{dts|2019|July|26}}}}
|{{nowrap|{{dts|2023|August|10}}}}
| {{ayd|2019|07|26|2023|08|10}}
| <ref name="Troy.Black">{{cite web|url=https://www.hqmc.marines.mil/smmc/Biography.aspx|title=Sergeant Major Troy E. Black, USMC|work=Marines.Mil|publisher=United States Marine Corps|access-date=2019-07-28}}</ref>
|-
| 20
||[[File:SMMC Carlos A. Ruiz.jpg|100px|alt=color photograph of Carlos A. Ruiz]]
| <span style="display:none">Ruiz</span> [[Carlos A. Ruiz]]
<small>(1975–)</small>
|{{nowrap|{{dts|2023|August|10}}}}
|''Incumbent''
| {{ayd|2023|08|10}}
| <ref name="Carlos.Ruiz">{{cite web|url=https://www.dvidshub.net/webcast/32522|title=Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Relief and Appointment Ceremony|access-date=2023-08-05|website=DVIDS}}</ref>
|}

===Timeline===
{{#tag:timeline|
ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:10
PlotArea  = top:10 bottom:60 right:130 left:20
AlignBars = late

DateFormat = yyyy
Period     = from:1955 till:{{#expr:{{#time:Y}}+4}}
TimeAxis   = orientation:horizontal
ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:10 start:1960

Define $now = {{CURRENTYEAR}}

Colors     =
  id:smmc value:rgb(1,0,0) legend: SMMC
  id:time value:rgb(0.9,0.9,0.9)

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  layer:back
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  at:1960
  at:1970
  at:1980
  at:1990
  at:2000
  at:2010
  at:2020

BarData =
 barset:PM
 bar:bestwick
 bar:rauber
 bar:mchugh
 bar:sweet
 bar:dailey
 bar:puckett
 bar:black
 bar:massaro
 bar:crawford
 bar:cleary
 bar:sommers
 bar:overstreet
 bar:lee
 bar:mcmichael
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 bar:kent
 bar:barrett
 bar:green
 bar:troyblack
 bar:ruiz

PlotData=
  width:6 align:left fontsize:S shift:(5,-4) anchor:till
  barset:PM

 bar:bestwick    from: 1957 till: 1959 color:smmc text:[[Wilbur Bestwick|Bestwick]]
 bar:rauber      from: 1959 till: 1962 color:smmc text:[[Francis D. Rauber|Rauber]]
 bar:mchugh      from: 1962 till: 1965 color:smmc text:[[Thomas J. McHugh|McHugh]]
 bar:sweet       from: 1965 till: 1969 color:smmc text:[[Herbert J. Sweet|Sweet]]
 bar:dailey      from: 1969 till: 1973 color:smmc text:[[Joseph W. Dailey|Dailey]]
 bar:puckett     from: 1973 till: 1975 color:smmc text:[[Clinton A. Puckett|Puckett]]
 bar:black       from: 1975 till: 1977 color:smmc text:[[Henry H. Black|Black]]
 bar:massaro     from: 1977 till: 1979 color:smmc text:[[John R. Massaro|Massaro]]
 bar:crawford    from: 1979 till: 1983 color:smmc text:[[Leland D. Crawford|Crawford]]
 bar:cleary      from: 1983 till: 1987 color:smmc text:[[Robert E. Cleary|Cleary]]
 bar:sommers     from: 1987 till: 1991 color:smmc text:[[David W. Sommers|Sommers]]
 bar:overstreet  from: 1991 till: 1995 color:smmc text:[[Harold G. Overstreet|Overstreet]]
 bar:lee         from: 1995 till: 1999 color:smmc text:[[Lewis G. Lee|Lee]]
 bar:mcmichael   from: 1999 till: 2003 color:smmc text:[[Alford L. McMichael|McMichael]]
 bar:estrada     from: 2003 till: 2007 color:smmc text:[[John L. Estrada|Estrada]]
 bar:kent        from: 2007 till: 2011 color:smmc text:[[Carlton W. Kent|Kent]]
 bar:barrett     from: 2011 till: 2015 color:smmc text:[[Micheal Barrett|Barrett]]
 bar:green       from: 2015 till: 2019 color:smmc text:[[Ronald L. Green|Green]]
 bar:troyblack   from: 2019 till: 2023 color:smmc text:[[Troy E. Black|Black]]
 bar:ruiz        from: 2023 till: $now color:smmc text:[[Carlos A. Ruiz|Ruiz]]
}}

==See also==
* [[Sergeant Major of the Army]]
* [[Command Sergeant Major of the US Army Reserve]]
* [[Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy]]
* [[Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force]]
* [[Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force]]
* [[Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard]]
* [[Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Reserve Force]]
* [[Senior Enlisted Advisor for the National Guard Bureau]]
* [[Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman|Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]]

==End notes==
{{notelist}}
==References==
;General
* {{cite web
|url=https://www.hqmc.marines.mil/smmc/SMMCHome.aspx
|title=The Official Web Site of the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
|publisher=[[United States Marine Corps]]
|access-date=2014-07-19
|archive-date=2016-05-29
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529015653/https://www.hqmc.marines.mil/smmc/SMMCHome.aspx
|url-status=dead
}}

;Specific
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* {{Commons category-inline|Sergeants Major of the United States Marine Corps}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sergeant Major Of The Marine Corps}}
[[Category:Sergeants Major of the Marine Corps|*]]
[[Category:Senior Enlisted Advisor]]
[[Category:United States Marine Corps leadership]]
[[Category:United States Marine Corps lists]]
[[Category:Military ranks of the United States Marine Corps]]
[[Category:1957 establishments in the United States]]