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Chief of Naval Operations
Incumbent: ADM Gary Roughead since: September 29, 2007
First	ADM William S. Benson
Formation	May 11, 1915
Website	Official Website

The Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) is the highest ranking officer in the United States Navy and is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.^[1] The CNO reports directly to the Secretary of the Navy for the command, utilization of resources and operating efficiency of the operating forces of the Navy and of the Navy shore activities assigned by the Secretary.^[2] Under the authority of the Secretary of the Navy, the CNO also designates naval personnel and naval resources to the commanders of Unified Combatant Commands.^[3][4] The CNO also performs all other functions prescribed under 10 U.S.C. § 5033 and those assigned by the secretary^[3] or delegates those duties and responsibilities to other officers in his administration under his name. Like the other joint chiefs, the CNO is an administrative position and has no operational command authority over United States naval forces.^[2]

Mullen (CNO in December 2006) with some of his predecessors: Clark, Watkins, Hayward and Johnson

The CNO is the principal adviser to the President of the United States, the Secretary of Defense and to the Secretary of the Navy on the conduct of naval warfare.^[2] The Chief of Naval Operations is nominated by the President for appointment and must be confirmed via majority vote by the Senate.^[5] A requirement for being Chief of Naval Operations is having significant experience in joint duty assignments, which includes at least one full tour of duty in a joint duty assignment as a flag officer.^[5] However the president may waive those requirements if he determines the officer is necessary for national interest.^[5] By statute, the CNO is appointed as a four-star admiral.^[5]

The position of CNO replaced the position of Aide for Naval Operations, which was a position established by administrative law rather than statute.

Organization of the CNO's Office

Organization of the CNO's Office

The Office of the Chief of Naval Operations includes the Chief of Naval Operations, the Vice Chief of Naval Operations, the Deputy Chiefs of Naval Operations, the Assistant Chiefs of Naval Operations, the Surgeon General of the Navy, the Chief of Naval Personnel, the Chief of Legislative Affairs, the Chief of Chaplains of the Navy, and other members of the Navy or Marines or civilians in the Department of the Navy assigned or detailed to the Office.^[6][7]

Past Chief of Naval Operations

	Chief of Naval Operations	Photo	Term began	Term ended
1	ADM William S. Benson		May 11, 1915	September 25, 1919
2	ADM Robert E. Coontz		November 1, 1919	July 21, 1923
3	ADM Edward W. Eberle		July 21, 1923	November 14, 1927
4	ADM Charles F. Hughes		November 14, 1927	September 17, 1930
5	ADM William V. Pratt		September 17, 1930	June 30, 1933
6	ADM William H. Standley		July 1, 1933	January 1, 1937
7	ADM William D. Leahy		January 2, 1937	August 1, 1939
8	ADM Harold R. Stark		August 1, 1939	March 2, 1942
9	FADM Ernest J. King		March 2, 1942	December 15, 1945
10	FADM Chester W. Nimitz		December 15, 1945	December 15, 1947
11	ADM Louis E. Denfeld		December 15, 1947	November 2, 1949
12	ADM Forrest P. Sherman		November 2, 1949	July 22, 1951
13	ADM William M. Fechteler		August 16, 1951	August 17, 1953
14	ADM Robert B. Carney		August 17, 1953	August 17, 1955
15	ADM Arleigh A. Burke		August 17, 1955	August 1, 1961
16	ADM George W. Anderson Jr.		August 1, 1961	August 1, 1963
17	ADM David L. McDonald		August 1, 1963	August 1, 1967
18	ADM Thomas H. Moorer		August 1, 1967	July 1, 1970
19	ADM Elmo R. Zumwalt		July 1, 1970	June 29, 1974
20	ADM James L. Holloway III		June 29, 1974	July 1, 1978
21	ADM Thomas B. Hayward		July 1, 1978	June 30, 1982
22	ADM James D. Watkins		June 30, 1982	June 30, 1986
23	ADM Carlisle A.H. Trost		July 1, 1986	June 29, 1990
24	ADM Frank B. Kelso II		June 29, 1990	April 23, 1994
25	ADM Jeremy M. Boorda		April 23, 1994	May 16, 1996
26	ADM Jay L. Johnson		May 16, 1996	July 21, 2000
27	ADM Vern Clark		July 21, 2000	July 22, 2005
28	ADM Michael Mullen		July 22, 2005	September 29, 2007
29	ADM Gary Roughead		September 29, 2007	Present

See also

United States Navy portal

Notes

External links

• Chief of Naval Operations page
• Office of the Chief of Naval Operations organization
• "Chief of Naval Operations". Lists of Commanding Officers and Senior Officials of the US Navy. Naval Historical Center. http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq35-1.htm. Retrieved November 6, 2007. 

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