Sergeant Major Justin M. Crawn is a native of Hampton Township, New Jersey. He entered the Marine Corps in July 2000 and completed recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina in October of the same year. After he completed recruit training and Marine Combat Training, PFC Crawn reported to Assault Amphibian School Battalion at Camp Pendleton, CA in November of 2000.
Upon completion of his formal schooling, he earned the MOS of 1833 (Assault Amphibian Crew Marine) and reported to 2d Assault Amphibian Battalion (AABn) at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. While there, he deployed on five separate occasions, where he participated in peacekeeping operations in Kosovo, multiple combat tours to Iraq and Afghanistan, humanitarian assistance operations in support of Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, non-combatant evacuation operations, and bilateral training exercises with multiple foreign militaries. During his eleven-year tour, he advanced to the rank of Staff Sergeant.
In July 2012, Staff Sergeant Crawn executed orders to Drill Instructor School Class 4-12 at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, where he finished as a distinguished graduate. During his tour, he served in the billets of Drill Instructor, Senior Drill Instructor, Chief Drill Instructor, and Company Operations Chief. Additionally, in November 2014, he was named the “Fiscal Year 2014 Drill Instructor of the Year” for the Commandant's Combined Awards Program and as a result, was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant.
In December 2015, Gunnery Sergeant Crawn reported to Company B, 2d Assault Amphibian Bn at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. During this time, he deployed in support of Baltic Operations '16 and was named “Platoon Sergeant of the Year." Afterwards, he was moved to Company A, and in February 2018, he deployed as the platoon sergeant for the AAV platoon assigned to Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 2/6, 26th MEU. Midway through the deployment, he was frocked to the rank of First Sergeant and assumed the duties as the Company First Sergeant for the Light Armored Reconnaissance company attached to the BLT and returned in August of the same year.
In October 2018, First Sergeant Crawn reported to 2d Recruit Training Battalion, MCRD Parris Island, South Carolina where he was assigned to Companies F and G. In March 2021, First Sergeant Crawn reported to Combat Logistics Battalion 7 at Marine Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California where he served as the Company First Sergeant for Headquarters and Services Company. In December 2021, he reported to 1st Battalion, 7th Marines to assume the duties as the Battalion Sergeant Major.
Sergeant Major Crawn holds an Associate of Arts degree in General Studies and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Military History from American Military University, and he is currently pursuing a Master of Arts degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from New England College. Additionally, he is a graduate of the distance education programs for the Expeditionary Warfare School and Command and Staff College.
His personal awards include the Purple Heart Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3rd Award), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (4th Award, Combat “V”), and the Combat Action Ribbon (2nd Award).