The selection of the 17th force master chief of the Seabees was announced by Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) at the Washington Navy Yard, Dec. 1.

Naval Base Ventura County Command Master Chief Percy Trent, Jr., will assume the duties of the highest ranking enlisted Seabee in March 2016 from Seabee Force Master Chief Christopher Levesque, who will retire in June 2016.

NAVFAC Commander and Chief of Naval Civil Engineers Rear Adm. Bret Muilenburg praised the two men as innovative leaders in the Naval Construction Force (NCF).

"I can't say enough about Force Levesque and his leadership abilities. "The Naval Construction Force has been fortunate to have him during this very dynamic time in our history," said Muilenburg. "Command Master Chief Percy Trent is another remarkable and energetic leader who will lead our Seabees into the future."

Prior to taking the reigns as force master chief in January 2014, Levesque served as command master chief of the Naval Construction Training Center in Gulfport, Miss. Levesque is a native of Rantoul, Ill., and enlisted in the Navy in October 1985.

"It has been my distinct honor and privilege to have served as the force master chief of the Seabees" said Levesque. "The community has stabilized from the rough times that we have had within our construction force from downsizing. The need for Seabees grows every day, and the need throughout the Navy and Marine Corps for our Seabee skills remains high. Through it all, our Seabees have stayed the course, and I'm extremely proud to be one of them."

Levesque went on to say that the Seabee community will be in good hands.

"I have all the confidence in the world that Master Chief Trent will take our construction force to a new level, and I wish him the best of luck,"

A native of Bluefield, W.Va., Trent joined the Navy in 1989.

"I am humbled by my selection, and it's my great pleasure to have the opportunity to lead such an elite group of young men and women," said Trent. "I want to personally thank Force Levesque for his leadership and his service to our country, and I wish him the very best in his future endeavors."

Trent is a qualified Seabee combat warfare specialist and expeditionary warfare specialist. His personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation, Joint Service Achievement Award, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various unit and campaign awards.

For more news from Naval Facilities Engineering Command, visit http://www.navy.mil/.