Master Chief Leavitt served as the 11th Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard from 2010-2014.
MCPO Leavitt enlisted in the Coast Guard on May 10, 1982. During his Coast Guard career, he was assigned as the Officer in Charge of Coast Guard Cutter POINT DORAN, and Stations Maui, HI, Hatteras Inlet, NC, Ocracoke, NC, Humboldt Bay, CA, Tillamook Bay, OR, Cape Disappointment, Ilwaco, WA, the Executive Petty Officer of Coast Guard Cutter KANAWHA and Station Siuslaw River, OR, and a crewmember of Coast Guard Cutters BOUTWELL and NAUSHON, and Stations Coos Bay, OR, and Umpqua River, OR. At the time of his selection as the eleventh MCPOCG, he was serving as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Deputy Commandant for Operations at Coast Guard Headquarters.
MCPO LEAVITT championed for the professional development, support and welfare of Coast Guardsmen and their families. He focused Chief Petty Officers to lead the way on improving proficiency in craft, proficiency in leadership and disciplined initiative, resulting in an improvement in operational safety and mission effectiveness across the service. Through testimony and engagement with Congress, MCPO Leavitt successfully advocated for authority and funding to improve the quality and accessibility of Coast Guard housing, access to affordable childcare services and sustainment of educational benefits, all during a time of unprecedented operational and budgetary challenges. He led a comprehensive campaign designed to eliminate sexual assault from the service through an emphasis on command responsibility and deck plate leadership.
Master Chief Leavitt’s personal awards include the Coast Guard Medal, a Meritorious Service Medal wan operational distinguishing device, five Coast Guard Commendation Medals with an operational distinguishing device, three Coast Guard Achievement Medals with an operational distinguishing device and numerous other individual and unit awards. He has also earned a permanent Cutterman insignia, Surfman insignia, Boat Forces Operations insignia, and both Command Afloat and Ashore devices.
A native of Fruitland, Idaho, Master Chief Leavitt holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and a Master of Arts Degree in Training and Education. He is also a graduate of Chief Petty Officer Academy Class 34.