Command Master Chief Nicholas Messina hails from St. Petersburg, Florida. He graduated from Gibbs Senior High School in July 1996 and enlisted in the U.S. Navy in August 1996. Upon completion of Recruit Training, he attended Basic Enlisted Submarine School and Fire Control Technician A-School in Groton, CT, followed by MK118 Fire Control System C-School in Kings Bay, GA graduating in August 1998.

His sea duty assignments include USS KENTUCKY (SSBN-737) (GOLD), USS CHEYENNE (SSN-773), and USS LA JOLLA (SSN-701). His shore assignments include Lead Instructor at Trident Training Facility, Bangor, WA and Tactical Assistant at Commander, Submarine Squadron SEVEN, Pearl Harbor, HI.

Master Chief Messina is a graduate of the Navy's Senior Enlisted Academy (Green Group, Class 169) and attended the Command Master Chief/Chief of the Boat course in July 2013. He was assigned to USS HAWAII (SSN 776) homeported in Pearl Harbor, HI as Chief of the Boat in August 2013 and also served as the Senior Enlisted Leader and COB/Submarine CMC Detailer at Naval Personnel Command, Millington, TN in April 2016. 

He was selected for the Command Master Chief Program and served as the Command Master Chief of Naval Station Guantanamo Bay from August 2018 through September 2020, Joint Region Marianas from October 2020 to October 2022, and U.S. Naval Forces Korea/Navy Region Korea from November 2022 to October 2025. He now serves as the Command Master Chief for Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 23, where he reported, October 2025.

Command Master Chief Messina's decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (6 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (4 awards), and various campaigns, and unit decorations. He attributes his personal awards and unit citations to the outstanding men and women he has had the privilege to serve with throughout his career.
 

Last Updated: 19 November 2025