master chief or chief of the boat. The Senior Enlisted Academy offers resident and blended classes. The resident class is six weeks long. The blended class is six weeks online and two weeks in residence. There have been 136 resident and 19 blended classes as of February 24, 2007. Facilities The Senior Enlisted Academy began conducting its classes in facilities at the Center for War Gaming, Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island in 1981. In August 1989, the Academy moved to its new facilities in Tomich Hall. This building contains the classrooms, office spaces, and berthing for 61 students. Tomich Hall pays tribute to Chief Watertender Peter Tomich who earned the Medal of Honor for his actions on on 7 December 1941 at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. During the Japanese attack, Utah sustained major damage. Realizing the inevitable fate of the ship, Chief Tomich returned to his post in the boiler room to evacuate his fireroom personnel and shut down the boilers before Utah sank. His efforts resulted in the saving of many lives in his fireroom crew and throughout the ship. His gallant actions were in keeping with the precepts upon which the Senior Enlisted Academy has been built: "Leadership by Example." Footnotes External links U.S. Navy Senior Enlisted Academy official webpage United States Navy schools and training American non-commissioned personnel Education in Newport County, Rhode Island Military units and formations established in 1981