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 Vehicle 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 furnished 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.
From December 2015 to August 2018, Gunnery Sergeant Crawn was assigned to Companies A and B, 2d Assault Amphibian Bn at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. During this time, he was named "Platoon Sergeant of the Year" and deployed in support of Baltic Operations '16 and Battalion Landing Team 2/6, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
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 Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California where he served as the Company First Sergeant for Headquarters and Service Company.
In December 2021, Sergeant Major Crawn reported to 1st Battalion, 7th Marines to assume the duties as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader. While there, he deployed to Okinawa, Japan in support of the Unit Deployment Program-Hawaii 23.1 rotation. In March of 2024, he reported to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 to assume the duties as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader. 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, a Master of Arts degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from New England College, and he is currently pursuing a Master of Arts Degree in Leadership Studies from Marshall University and a Doctor of Strategic Leadership degree from Liberty University. 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, Meritorious Service 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).