CMDCM(SS) Christopher Bean

Command Master Chief, Submarine Group 9

Command Master Chief Christopher Bean, from Springboro, Pennsylvania, enlisted in September, 1997, and reported to boot camp at Recruit Training Center in Great Lakes, Illinois, before completing training to become a nuclear electrician’s mate in 1999.

Bean’s academic achievements include the completion of Senior Enlisted Academy, Chief of the Boat/Command Master Chief Capstone, and the Advanced Command Master Chief Course. He earned a Master of Business Administration from Grantham University.

At sea, he served aboard USS Chicago (SSN 721) as a member of the electrical division, USS Michigan (SSGN 727) as leading chief petty officer, and USS Columbia (SSN 771) as department master chief, earning the engineering red “E” for efficiency. He served as chief of the boat on USS Illinois (SSN 786) for its maiden deployment. Bean completed seven Western Pacific deployments in total.

Ashore, Bean served as a staff instructor at Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit in Charleston, South Carolina; electrical assistant at Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet; electrical assistant at Commander, Submarine Squadron (SUBRON) 3; and as the department master chief for SUBRON-1. Bean also served as command master chief for SUBRON-15, and Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet.

He reported to Commander, Submarine Group 9 in January, 2025, where he is the command master chief.

Bean’s awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (six awards), and various unit and campaign awards.