Command Senior Enlisted Leader

Command Master Chief Karl W. Parsons

Master Chief Karl W. Parsons, a native of Portsmouth, Virginia enlisted in the United States Navy in January 1990. After completing basic training at Recruit Training Command, Orlando, Florida, he attended CTO "A" school at Naval Technical Training Center Pensacola Florida and reported to Guam to begin his career in Naval Communications.

Master Chief Parsons' sea duty assignments include Direct Support, Naval Security Group Activity, Rota Spain, Commander Naval Special Warfare Development Group, USS ENTERPRISE (CVN- 65), and the Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq, Striker Fighter Squadron EIGHT ONE (VFA-81), and most recently Carrier Air Wing EIGHT.

Ashore, Master Chief Parsons' assignments include Naval Security Group Detachment Guam, Naval Security Group Activity Norfolk and Center for Information Dominance Norfolk. He is a graduate of the Joint Special Operations Senior Enlisted Advisor course (Class 17), the National Defense University Keystone (Class 16-1) and has earned a Master's Degree in International Relations from Norwich University.

Master Chief Parsons' personal decorations include one Bronze Star, two Defense Meritorious Service Medals, three Joint Service Commendation Medals, five Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, four Joint Service Achievement Medals, three Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, two Presidential Unit Citations, the Combat Action ribbon and various unit and campaign awards.

We suggest

CJTF-HOA staff share weapons techniques

A Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa foreign liaison officer from Germany fires a Beretta M9 pistol during weapons familiarization at the Djibouti Range Complex, Arta, Djibouti, Feb. 16, 2019. The course gave the foreign liaison officers an insight on the Beretta M9 pistol and stance techniques used by U.S. military members. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Franklin R. Ramos)

February 20, 2019

Joint personnel and eight foreign liaison officers assigned to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa participated in weapons familiarization at the Djibouti Range Complex, Arta, Djibouti, Feb. 16, 2019.

CJTF-HOA hosts 2019 Capstone cohort

U.S. military senior officers participate in the Capstone Military Leadership Program classroom session at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Feb. 13, 2019. Capstone is a joint-service professional military education course for newly-promoted brigadier generals and rear admirals serving in the U.S. military. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Nick Scott)

February 15, 2019

Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa hosted a Capstone Military Leadership Program for newly-promoted, U.S military general and flag officers from around the globe at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Feb. 13-14, 2019.

Djibouti officials, U.S., coalition forces meet to coordinate emergency response effort for future crisis

M. Ahmed Mohamed Madar, Djibouti executive secretary of disaster management, speaks during an Emergency Response Information Exchange multinational discussion, Feb. 12, 2019 at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. The three-day discussion included representatives from the U.S., Japan, Germany, Italy, France, Spain and Djibouti, who identified various capabilities each nation can offer during the event of a natural disaster in Djibouti, including communication equipment, emergency vehicles and medical support. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Franklin R. Ramos)

February 15, 2019

Joint personnel assigned to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) hosted an Emergency Response Information Exchange (ERIE) multinational discussion from Feb. 12-14, 2019.

U.S. Army veterinarians visit remote Djibouti village to promote herd health

U.S. Soldiers with the 403rd Civil Affairs Battalion, Functional Specialty Cell’s Veterinary Team, assigned to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, engaged local pastoralists to promote better herd-health management and facilitate communication for further engagements during a veterinary civic action project (VETCAP) in Oulma, Djibouti, on Feb. 14, 2019. The purpose of Civil Affairs VETCAPs is to build relationships with local community animal health workers and the Djiboutian Ministry of Livestock via animal health surveillance, and to improve knowledge, skills, livestock medicine and best practices. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Shawn Nickel)

February 14, 2019

U.S. Army Soldiers from the 403rd Civil Affairs Battalion Functional Specialty Team, assigned to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, visited Oulma, Djibouti, Feb. 14, as part of a pre-deployment site visit.

Civil affairs Soldiers continue tradition in Tadjourah with Centre De Femmes empowerment center

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Brian Zimmerman, an operations NCO from the 403rd Civil Affairs Battalion, assigned to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, works with children during an English Discussion Group in Tadjourah, Djibouti, Feb. 12, 2019. More than 90 Djiboutian youth and adults attended the group where students develop practical linguistic and rhetorical skills through conversation with English-speaking U.S. service members. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Shawn Nickel)

February 12, 2019

East African children and adults in Tadjourah, Djibouti, meet weekly with U.S. Army civil affairs Soldiers led by Bravo Company, 404th CA Battalion, assigned to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, in conjunction with the Centre De Femmes, an empowerment center, in information exchanges called English Discussion Groups.