The Chief Master-at-Arms works directly for what person?

• A. Executive Officer
• B. Commanding Officer
• C. Master Chief Petty Officer
• D. Admiral

Answer: (A)

The key idea is how a ship’s chain of command is structured for daily operations. The Executive Officer is the person who handles day-to-day administration, department supervision, and implementation of the commanding officer’s policies. The Chief Master-at-Arms leads the security and discipline team, so it makes sense for that role to report directly to the Executive Officer, who coordinates across departments and ensures security practices align with overall ship readiness. The Commanding Officer is the ultimate authority, but routine oversight and cross-department coordination happen through the XO. The Master Chief Petty Officer is the senior enlisted adviser, not the direct supervisor of the CMAA, and an Admiral operates at a higher, fleet-level command. Hence, the Chief Master-at-Arms works directly for the Executive Officer.