Command master chief petty officer Command master chief petty officer ( CMC ) is an enlisted rate in the United States Navy and United States Coast Guard . Background . First referenced in OPNAVINST 1306 . 2C dated 16 October 1995 ( now 1036 . 2G ) , the Navy ' s command master chief program is a valuable asset which stimulates free - flowing communications and ensures the highest standards of professionalism are upheld at all levels within the chain of command . Command master chiefs strengthen the chain of command by keeping the commanding officer aware of existing or potential situations as well as procedures and practices which affect the mission , readiness , welfare and morale of the sailors in the command . CMCs are the senior enlisted leaders who report directly to their respective commanding officers . They formulate and implement policies concerning morale , welfare , job satisfaction , discipline , utilization and training of navy personnel . By reporting directly to their commanding officer , the CMCs keep their chain of command aware and informed of sensitive and current issues . All commands with 250 or more enlisted manpower will have a CMC assigned by the Bureau of Personnel . All carrier based air wing squadrons , deployable helicopter anti - submarine warfare light , helicopter combat support , and maritime patrol squadrons will have CMC requirement regardless of size due to the complexity of their operations . Those commands that do not have enlisted manpower of 250 shall assign a CMC from within command resources on a collateral duty basis . In the absence of a master chief petty officer , a senior chief petty officer or chief petty officer may be assigned . United States Navy . A command master chief petty officer is the most senior enlisted sailor in a United States Navy unit . Being the primary liaison between commissioned officers and enlisted sailors , he or she is an important resource for the commanding officer as his or her senior enlisted advisor , and is often called upon to gauge morale and battle readiness . In smaller units , this position may be filled by a command senior chief petty officer , a command chief petty officer , or a master chief petty officer who is not yet a command master chief . The rates force master chief petty officer and fleet master chief petty officer are used for larger units such as U . S . Fleet Forces Command , Navy Expeditionary Combat Command , U . S . Pacific Fleet , and Submarine Force U . S . Atlantic Fleet . Submarines . U . S . Navy submarine s equivalent of a command master chief is known as the " chief of the boat , " or " COB " . The chief of the boat of a submarine has similar duties to that of a command master chief in a surface , aviation , or shore unit . Insignia . The rate insignia of a command master chief petty officer consists of two silver stars , one perched eagle , one silver star taking the place of rating insignia , and one rocker above three chevrons . United States Coast Guard . Like the U . S . Navy , the United States Coast Guard also utilizes the title and designation of command master chief . These individuals are also informally referred to as " gold badge " due to the insignia they wear . Command master chiefs can be so designated either by the Commandant of the Coast Guard or the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard . One commandant - designated CMC is located at each area , each district , both maintenance and logistics commands , headquarters , the Coast Guard Academy , and the Deployable Operations Group . One commandant - designated reserve command master chief is located at each area , each district , both maintenance and logistics commands . One Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard - designated CMC is located at each training center , Coast Guard recruiting command , and the Personnel Service Center . Insignia . The rate insignia of a command master chief petty officer consists of two silver stars , one perched eagle , one silver shield taking the place of rating insignia , and one rocker above three chevrons .