Marine Corps Legacy Museum - Sergeant Majors of the Marine Corps

The first Sergeant Major in the Corps was Archibald Sommers Jan 1, 1801. An act of legislation in 1833 made the billet of SgtMaj a permanent part of the Corps. By 1954, the position of SgtMaj was introduced into the Marine's rank structure. In 1957 The position of SgtMaj U.S.M.C. was implemented as the senior enlisted advisor to the Commandant on matters concerning the enlisted Marines. This was a unique billet, which while no other branch of American military then had, all soon followed suit. The distinctive Rank device of the SgtMaj U.S.M.C. was authorized in 1970 and features the Marine Corps emblem flanked by two stars as opposed to the standard SgtMaj's chevron which has a single large five point star in the center.


SgtMaj Wilbur Bestwick 1957-1959	SgtMaj Francis D. Rauber 1959-1962	SgtMaj Thomas J. McHugh 1962-1965


SgtMaj Herbert J. Sweet 1965-1969	SgtMaj Joseph W. Daily 1969-1973	SgtMaj Clinton A. Puckett 1973-1975

SgtMaj Henry H. Black
1975-1977 SgtMaj John R. Massaro
1977-1979 SgtMaj Leland D. Crawford
1979-1983

SgtMaj Robert E. Cleary
1983-1987 SgtMaj David W. Sommers
1987-1991 SgtMaj Harold G. Overstreet
1991-1995

SgtMaj Lewis G. Lee
1995-1999 SgtMaj Alford L. McMichael
1999-

Back to The Gallery