View source for Chief of Naval Operations

{{Short description|Highest-ranking officer of the United States Navy}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = Chief
| body = Naval Operations
| native_name = 
| flag = Flag of the United States Chief of Naval Operations.svg
| flagsize = 
| flagborder = yes
| flagcaption = Flag of the chief of naval operations
| insignia = Seal of the Chief of Naval Operations.svg
| insigniasize = 
| insigniacaption = Seal of the chief of naval operations
| image = ADM Daryl L. Caudle (2).jpg
| incumbent = [[Admiral (United States)|Admiral]] [[Daryl Caudle]]
| incumbentsince = 25 August 2025
| acting = 
| department = [[United States Navy]]<br />[[Office of the Chief of Naval Operations]]
| member_of = [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]]
| reports_to = [[United States Secretary of the Navy|Secretary of the Navy]]
| appointer = The [[President of the United States|president]]
| appointer_qualified = with [[United States Senate|Senate]] [[advice and consent]]
| termlength = 4 years
| termlength_qualified = Renewable one time, only during war or national emergency
| constituting_instrument = {{UnitedStatesCode|10|8033}}
| precursor = Aide for Naval Operations
| formation = 11 May 1915
| first = ADM [[William S. Benson]]
| abbreviation = CNO
| residence = [[Tingey House]]
| deputy = [[Vice Chief of Naval Operations]]
| website = {{URL|https://www.navy.mil/Leadership/Chief-of-Naval-Operations/|www.navy.mil}}
}}

The '''chief of naval operations''' ('''CNO''') is the highest-ranking officer of the [[United States Navy]]. The position is a statutory office ({{UnitedStatesCode|10|8033}}) held by an [[Admiral (United States)|admiral]] who is a military adviser and deputy to the [[United States Secretary of the Navy|secretary of the Navy]]. The CNO is also a member of the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]] ({{UnitedStatesCode|10|151}}) and in this capacity, a military adviser to the [[United States National Security Council|National Security Council]], the [[United States Homeland Security Council|Homeland Security Council]], the [[United States Secretary of Defense|secretary of defense]], and the [[President of the United States|president]].

Despite the title, the CNO does not have operational command authority over naval forces. The CNO is an administrative position based in [[the Pentagon]], and exercises supervision of Navy organizations as the designee of the secretary of the Navy. Operational command of naval forces falls within the purview of the [[Unified combatant command|combatant commanders]] who report to the secretary of defense.

As of 25 August 2025, the 34th chief of naval operations is Admiral [[Daryl Caudle]].<ref name="caudle">{{Cite web |title=Admiral Daryl Caudle |url=https://www.navy.mil/Leadership/Flag-Officer-Biographies/BioDisplay/Article/2236204/admiral-daryl-caudle/ |access-date=2025-08-25 |website=U.S. Navy}}</ref>

==Appointment, rank, and responsibilities==
[[File:US Navy 061205-N-0696M-018 Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Mike Mullen meets with former Navy Chiefs at a CNO Conference at the Pentagon.jpg|thumb|[[Michael Mullen]],  CNO in December 2006, with some of his predecessors: [[Vern Clark]], [[James D. Watkins]], [[Thomas B. Hayward]], and [[Jay L. Johnson]]]]
The chief of naval operations (CNO) is typically the highest-ranking officer on [[active duty]] in the U.S. Navy unless the [[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff|chairman]] and/or the [[Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff|vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]] are naval officers.<ref name="a"/> The CNO is nominated for appointment by the president, for a four-year term of office,<ref name="CNO" /> and must be confirmed by the [[United States Senate|Senate]].<ref name="CNO">{{cite web|title=10 USC 5033. Chief of Naval Operations|url= https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/5033-|access-date=24 September 2007}}</ref> 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.<ref name="CNO"/> However, the president may waive those requirements if he determines that appointing the officer is necessary for the national interest.<ref name="CNO"/> The chief can be reappointed to serve one additional term, but only during times of war or national emergency declared by Congress.<ref name="CNO" /> By statute, the CNO is appointed as a four-star [[Admiral (United States)|admiral]].<ref name="CNO"/>

As per {{UnitedStatesCode|10|8035}}, whenever there is a vacancy for the chief of naval operations or during the absence or disability of the chief of naval operations, and unless the president directs otherwise, the [[Vice Chief of Naval Operations|vice chief of naval operations]] performs the duties of the chief of naval operations until a successor is appointed or the absence or disability ceases.<ref>{{cite web |title=10 USC 5035. Vice Chief of Naval Operations |url= https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/5035 |access-date= 25 August 2018 |website=[[Legal Information Institute]] |publisher=Cornell University Law School}}</ref>

===Department of the Navy===
The CNO also performs all other functions prescribed under {{UnitedStatesCode|10|8033}}, such as presiding over the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV), exercising supervision of [[Structure of the United States Navy|Navy organizations]], and other duties assigned by the secretary or higher lawful authority, or the CNO delegates those duties and responsibilities to other officers in OPNAV or in organizations below.<ref name="a">{{cite web |publisher= United States Navy |title= Chief of Naval Operations |url= http://www.navy.mil/navydata/leadership/cno_resp.asp |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060402220158/https://www.navy.mil/navydata/leadership/cno_resp.asp |url-status= dead |archive-date= 2 April 2006 |access-date= 31 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="authority"/>

Acting for the secretary of the Navy, the CNO also designates naval personnel and naval forces available to the commanders of [[unified combatant command]]s, subject to the approval of the secretary of defense.<ref name="authority">{{cite web| url = https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/5013-#f| title = 10 USC 5013(f). Secretary of the Navy}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/165-| title = 10 USC 165. Combatant commands: administration and support}}</ref>

===Joint Chiefs of Staff===
The CNO is a member of the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]] as prescribed by {{UnitedStatesCode|10|151}} and {{UnitedStatesCode|10|8033}}. Like the other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the CNO is an administrative position, with no operational command authority over the United States Navy forces.

Members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, individually or collectively, in their capacity as military advisers, shall provide advice to the president, the [[National Security Council (United States)|National Security Council]] (NSC), or the secretary of defense (SECDEF) on a particular matter when the president, the NSC, or SECDEF requests such advice. Members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (other than the [[chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]]) may submit to the chairman advice or an opinion in disagreement with, or advice or an opinion in addition to, the advice presented by the chairman to the president, NSC, or SECDEF.

When performing their JCS duties, the CNO is responsible directly to the SECDEF, but keeps SECNAV fully informed of significant military operations affecting the duties and responsibilities of the SECNAV, unless SECDEF orders otherwise.<ref>{{cite web |title=10 USC 5033. Chief of Naval Operations |url= https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/5033 |access-date= 25 August 2018 |website=[[Legal Information Institute]] |publisher=Cornell University Law School}}</ref>

==History==

===Early attempts and the Aide for Naval Operations (1900–1915)===
[[File:William sowden sims.jpg|thumb|upright|[[William Sims]]]]
[[File:BADGER, CHARLES JOHNSTON. REAR ADMIRAL, U.S.N. LEFT, WITH ADMIRAL FISKE LCCN2016865376.jpg|thumb|upright|Rear Admiral [[Charles Johnston Badger]] with Rear Admiral Bradley A. Fiske, {{circa|1914}}]]
In 1900, administrative and operational authority over the Navy was concentrated in the [[United States Secretary of the Navy|secretary of the Navy]] and [[United States Navy bureau system|bureau chiefs]], with the [[General Board of the United States Navy|General Board]] holding only advisory powers.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=3}}<ref>[[J. A. S. Grenville]]. [https://www.jstor.org/pss/3678748 Diplomacy and War Plans in the United States, 1890–1917]. Transactions of the Royal Historical Society, Fifth Series, Vol. 11, (1961), pp. 1–21. Published by: Royal Historical Society</ref> Critics of the lack of military command authority included [[Charles J. Bonaparte]], Navy secretary from 1905 to 1906,{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=6-7}} then-Captain [[Reginald R. Belknap]]{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=5}} and future admiral [[William Sims]].{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=8}}

Rear Admiral [[George A. Converse]], commander of the Bureau of Navigation (BuNav) from 1905 to 1906, reported:

{{Blockquote
|text=[W]ith each year that passes the need is painfully apparent for a military administrative authority under the secretary, whose purpose would be to initiate and direct the steps necessary to carry out the Department's policy, and to coordinate the work of the bureaus and direct their energies toward the effective preparation of the fleet for war.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=7-8}} 
}}

However, reorganization attempts were opposed by [[United States Congress|Congress]] due to fears of a [[Great General Staff|Prussian-style general staff]] and inadvertently increasing the powers of the Navy secretary, which risked infringing on legislative authority.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=10}} Senator [[Eugene Hale]], chairman of the [[United States Senate Committee on Armed Services|Senate Committee on Naval Affairs]], disliked reformers like Sims{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=9}} and persistently blocked attempts to bring such ideas to debate.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=3}}

To circumvent the opposition, [[George von Lengerke Meyer]], [[United States Secretary of the Navy|Secretary of the Navy]] under [[William Howard Taft]] implemented a system of "aides" on 18 November 1909.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=10}}<ref>{{cite journal|title=Navy - Chief of Naval Operations|journal=International Military Digest|date=June 1915|volume=1|issue=1|page=68|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IAU8AQAAIAAJ}}</ref> These aides lacked command authority and instead served as principal advisors to the Navy secretary.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=10}} The aide for operations was deemed by Meyer to be the most important one, responsible for devoting "his entire attention and study to the operations of the fleet,"{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=11}} and drafting orders for the movement of ships on the advice of the General Board and approval of the secretary in times of war or emergency.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=11}}

The successes of Meyer's first operations aide, Rear Admiral [[Richard Wainwright (Spanish–American War naval officer)|Richard Wainwright]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TzXWAAAAMAAJ&dq=adm+richard+wainwright+aide+for+operations+1910&pg=PA11|title=The Chiefs of Naval Operations and Admiral's House, Volume 2|year=1969|page=11}}</ref> factored into Meyer's decision to make his third operations aide, Rear Admiral [[Bradley A. Fiske]] his ''de facto'' principal advisor on 10 February 1913.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|loc=p. 12: On 10 February 1913, with just three weeks remaining to the [[Presidency of William Taft|Taft presidency]], Meyer appointed Rear Admiral Bradley A. Fiske his Aide for Operations, and he "made the Aide for Operations his liaison man with all the offices and bureaus of the department"}} Fiske retained his post under Meyer's successor, [[Josephus Daniels]], becoming the most prominent advocate for what would become the office of CNO.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=13}}

===Creating the position of Chief of Naval Operations (1915)===
[[File:Josephus Daniels 1.jpg|thumb|upright|Secretary of the Navy [[Josephus Daniels]]]]

In 1914, Fiske, frustrated at Daniels' ambivalence towards his opinion that the Navy was unprepared for the possibility of entry into [[World War I]], bypassed the secretary to collaborate with Representative [[Richmond P. Hobson]], a retired Navy admiral, to draft legislation providing for the office of "a chief of naval operations".{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=14}} The preliminary proposal (passed off as Hobson's own to mask Fiske's involvement), in spite of Daniels' opposition, passed Hobson's subcommittee unanimously on 4 January 1915,{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=14}} and passed the full [[House Committee on Naval Affairs]] on 6 January.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=14-15}}

Fiske's younger supporters expected him to be named the first chief of naval operations,{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=15}} and his versions of the bill provided for the minimum rank of the officeholder to be a two-star rear admiral.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=15}}

{{blockquote|There shall be a Chief of Naval Operations, who shall be an officer on the active list of the Navy not below the grade of Rear Admiral, appointed for a term of four years by the President, by and with the advice of the Senate, who, under the Secretary of the Navy, shall be responsible for the readiness of the Navy for war and be charged with its general direction.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=15}}|title=Fiske's version of the bill}}

In contrast, Daniels' version, included in the final bill, emphasized the office's subordination to the Navy secretary, allowed for the selection of the CNO from officers of the rank of captain, and denied it authority over the Navy's general direction:{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=15}}

{{blockquote|There shall be a Chief of Naval Operations, who shall be an officer on the active list of the Navy appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, from the officers of the line of the Navy not below the grade of Captain for a period of four years, who shall, under the direction of the Secretary, be charged with the operations of the fleet, and with the preparation and readiness of plans for its use in war.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=15}}|title=Daniels' version of the bill}}

Fiske's "[[End run|end-running]]" of Daniels eliminated any possibility of him being named the first CNO.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=15}} Nevertheless, satisfied with the change he had helped enact, Fiske made a final contribution: elevating the statutory rank of the CNO to [[Admiral (United States)|admiral]] with commensurate pay.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=15}}{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=32}} The Senate passed the appropriations bill creating the CNO position and its accompanying office on 3 March 1915, simultaneously abolishing the aides system promulgated under Meyer.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=25}}

===Benson, the first CNO (1915–1919)===
[[File:NH 56833 Admiral William S. Benson, USN.jpg|thumb|upright|Admiral [[William S. Benson]], chief of naval operations (seated), relaxes at Pruyn's Home, [[Lower Saranac Lake]], [[New York (state)|New York]], {{circa|Sept. 1918}}. With him are Commander [[Charles Belknap Jr.]] (''left''), and his aide, Commander Worral R. Carter (''right'').]]

Captain [[William S. Benson]] was promoted to the temporary rank of rear admiral and became the first CNO on 11 May 1915.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=25}} He further assumed the rank of admiral after the passage of the 1916 Naval Appropriations Bill with Fiske's amendments,{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=32}} second only to [[Admiral of the Navy]] [[George Dewey]] and explicitly senior to the commanders-in-chief of the Atlantic, Pacific and Asiatic Fleets.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=34}}

Unlike Fiske, who had campaigned for a powerful, aggressive CNO sharing authority with the Navy secretary,{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=25}} Benson demonstrated personal loyalty to Secretary Daniels and subordinated himself to civilian control, yet maintained the CNO's autonomy where necessary.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=25-26}}{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=29}} While alienating reformers like Sims and Fiske (who retired in 1916), Benson's conduct gave Daniels immense trust in his new CNO, and Benson was delegated greater resources and authority.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=29}}{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=47-48}}

====Achievements====

Among the organizational efforts initiated or recommended by Benson included an advisory council to coordinate high-level staff activities,{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=31}} composed of himself, the SECNAV and the bureau chiefs which "worked out to the great satisfaction" of Daniels and Benson;{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=31}} the reestablishment of the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff#Joint Board|Joint Army and Navy Board]] in 1918 with Benson as its Navy member;<ref>the final form of which was agreed by Daniels and the [[United States Secretary of War|secretary of war]], [[Newton D. Baker]]</ref>{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=31}} and the consolidation of all matters of [[naval aviation]] under the authority of the CNO.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=31}}

Benson also revamped the structure of the [[United States naval districts|naval districts]],{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=31}} transferring authority for them from SECNAV to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations under the Operations, Plans, Naval Districts division.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=33}} This enabled closer cooperation between naval district commanders and the uniformed leadership, who could more easily handle communications between the former and the Navy's fleet commanders.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=33}}

In the waning years of his tenure, Benson set regulations for officers on shore duty to have temporary assignments with the [[Structure of the United States Navy|Office of the Chief of Naval Operations]] to maintain cohesion between the higher-level staff and the fleet.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=47}}

====Establishing OPNAV====
[[File:OPNAV organizational chart (Jan. 1916).png|thumb|upright|Organization of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations as of January 1916]]
Until 1916, the CNO's office was chronically understaffed.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|loc=p. 25 "Benson had three subordinates (one captain and two lieutenants), no clerical staff, and primitive office space"}} The formal establishment of the CNO's "general staff", the [[Structure of the United States Navy|Office of the Chief of Naval Operations]] (OPNAV), originally called the Office for Operations,{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=33}} was exacerbated by [[Eugene Hale|Eugene Hale's]] retirement from politics in 1911,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SDI19100420.2.11&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------1|title=Hale Soon to Retire|date=20 April 1910|publisher=Stockton Independent|website=California Digital Newspaper Collection}}</ref> and skepticism of whether the CNO's small staff could implement President Wilson's policy of "preparedness" without violating American neutrality in World War I.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=33}}

By June 1916, OPNAV was organized into eight divisions: Operations, Plans, Naval Districts;{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=33}} Regulations;{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=33}} Ship Movements;{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=33}} Communications;{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=33}} Publicity;{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=33}} and Materiel.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=33}} Operations provided a link between fleet commanders and the General Board, Ship Movements coordinated the movement of Navy vessels and oversaw navy yard overhauls, Communications accounted for the Navy's developing radio network, Publicity conducted the Navy's public affairs, and the Materiel section coordinated the work of the naval bureaus.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=33}}

Numbering only 75 staffers in January 1917,{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=36}} OPNAV increased in size following the [[American entry into World War I]], as it was deemed of great importance to manage the rapid mobilization of forces to fight in the war.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=44}} By war's end, OPNAV employed over 1462 people.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=45}} The CNO and OPNAV thus gained influence over Navy administration but at the expense of the Navy secretary and bureau chiefs.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=44}}

====Advisor to the president====
[[File:E. M. House LCCN2014700618 (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|[[Edward M. House]], also known as Colonel House, was a close advisor to President [[Woodrow Wilson]], who helped him elevate the CNO's stature.]]
In 1918, Benson became a military advisor to [[Edward M. House]], an advisor and confidant of President Wilson,{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=45}} joining him on a trip to Europe as the [[Armistice of 11 November 1918|1918 armistice with Germany]] was signed.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=45}} His stance that the United States remain equal to Great Britain in naval power was very useful to House and Wilson, enough for Wilson to insist Benson remain in Europe until after the [[Treaty of Versailles]] was signed in July 1919.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=45}}

====End of tenure====
Benson's tenure as CNO was slated to end on 10 May 1919, but this was delayed by the president at Secretary Daniels' insistence;{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=46}} Benson instead retired on 25 September 1919.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/people/chiefs-of-naval-operations/admiral-william-s--benson.html|title=Admiral William S. Benson, First Chief of Naval Operations (May 11, 1915–September 25, 1919)|website=Naval History and Heritage Command}}</ref> Admiral [[Robert Coontz]] replaced Benson as CNO on 1 November 1919.

===Interwar period (1919–1939)===
The CNO's office faced no significant changes in authority during the interwar period, largely due to the Navy secretaries opting to keep executive authority within their own office. Innovations during this period included encouraging coordination in war planning process, and compliance with the [[Washington Naval Treaty]]{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=73}}{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=83}} while still keeping to the shipbuilding plan authorized by the [[Naval Act of 1916]].{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=57}} and implementing the concept of [[naval aviation]] into naval doctrine.

====CNO Pratt, relationship with the General Board and Army-Navy relations====
[[File:William Veazie Pratt NH 77482.jpg|thumb|upright|CNO Pratt (right) with Admiral [[Frank Herman Schofield|Frank H. Schofield]] (left) aboard the ''Tennessee-class'' battleship {{USS|California|BB-44}} in February 1931]]
[[William V. Pratt]] became the fifth Chief of Naval Operations on 17 September 1930, after the resignation of [[Charles F. Hughes]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/people/chiefs-of-naval-operations/admiral-william-v--pratt.html|title=Admiral William V. Pratt, Fifth Chief of Naval Operations (September 17, 1930–June 30, 1933)|website=Naval History and Heritage Command}}</ref> He had previously served as assistant chief of naval operations under CNO Benson.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=28}} A premier naval policymaker and supporter of arms control under the Washington Naval Treaty, Pratt, despite otherwise good relations, clashed with President [[Herbert Hoover]] over building up naval force strength to treaty levels,{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=93}} with Hoover favoring restrictions in spending due to financial difficulties caused by the [[Great Depression]].{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=94}} Under Pratt, such a "treaty system" was needed to maintain a compliant peacetime navy.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=93}}

Pratt opposed centralized management of the Navy, and encouraged diversity of opinion between the offices of the Navy secretary, CNO and the Navy's General Board.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=99}} To this effect, Pratt removed the CNO as an [[Ex officio member|''ex officio'' member]] of the General Board,{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=99}} concerned that the office's association with the Board could hamper diversities of opinion between the former and counterparts within the offices of the Navy secretary and OPNAV.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=99}} Pratt's vision of a less powerful CNO also clashed with Representative [[Carl Vinson]] of [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], chair of the [[United States House Committee on Armed Services|House Naval Affairs Committee]] from 1931 to 1947, a proponent of centralizing power within OPNAV.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=100}} Vinson deliberately delayed many of his planned reorganization proposals until Pratt's replacement by [[William H. Standley]] to avoid the unnecessary delays that would otherwise have happened with Pratt.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=100}}

Pratt also enjoyed a good working relationship with [[Chief of Staff of the United States Army|Army chief of staff]] [[Douglas MacArthur]], and negotiated several key agreements with him over coordinating their services' radio communications networks, mutual interests in coastal defense, and authority over Army and Navy aviation.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=101}}

====CNO Standley and the Vinson-Trammell act====
[[File:Faces last shot. Washington, D.C., Dec. 29. Admiral William H. Standley faced his last barrage today. A salva from the guns of a battery of cameramen. He retires as Chief of Naval Operations LCCN2016871034.tif|thumb|upright|[[William H. Standley]] (sitting) poses for his last photograph as Chief of Naval Operations on the day of his retirement, 29 December 1936.]]
[[William H. Standley]], who succeeded Pratt in 1933, had a weaker relationship with President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] than Pratt enjoyed with Hoover.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=100}} Often in direct conflict with Navy secretary [[Claude A. Swanson]] and assistant secretary [[Henry L. Roosevelt]], Standley's hostility to the latter was described as "poisonous".{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=100}}

Conversely, Standley successfully improved relations with Congress, streamlining communications between the Department of the Navy and the naval oversight committees by appointing the first naval legislative liaisons, the highest-ranked of which reported to the [[Judge Advocate General of the Navy|judge advocate general]].{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=109}} Standley also worked with Representative Vinson to pass the Vinson-Trammell Act, considered by Standley to be his most important achievement as CNO. The Act authorized the President:

{{blockquote|“to suspend” construction of the ships authorized by the law “''as may be necessary to bring the naval armament of the United States within the limitation so agreed upon, except that such suspension shall not apply to vessels actually under construction on the date of the passage of this act.''”{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=106}}}}

This effectively provided security for all Navy vessels under construction; even if new shipbuilding projects could not be initiated, shipbuilders with new classes under construction could not legally be obliged to cease operations, allowing the Navy to prepare for World War II without breaking potential limits from future arms control conferences.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=106}} The Act also granted the CNO "soft oversight power" of the naval bureaus which nominally lay with the secretary of the Navy,{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=107}} as Standley gradually inserted OPNAV into the ship design process.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=107}} Under Standley, the "treaty system" created by Pratt was abandoned.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=94}}

====CNO Leahy====
[[File:Ad. Leahy & Ad. Standley LCCN2016871031.jpg|thumb|upright|CNO Leahy and outgoing CNO Standley shake hands after Leahy is sworn in on 2 January 1937.]]
Outgoing commander, [[Battle Fleet|Battle Force]] William D. Leahy succeeded Standley as CNO on 2 January 1937.<ref>{{cite news |title=Leahy Will Direct Naval Operations |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=November 11, 1936 |page=53 |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1936/11/11/88083939.html?pageNumber=53 |access-date=May 14, 2022}}</ref> Leahy's close personal friendship with President Roosevelt since his days as [[Assistant Secretary of the Navy|Navy assistant secretary]], as well as good relationships with Representative Vinson and Secretary Swanson{{sfn|Borneman|2012|p=239-240}} brought him to the forefront of potential candidates for the post.{{sfn|Borneman|2012|p=258}} Unlike Standley, who tried to dominate the bureaus, Leahy preferred to let the bureau chiefs function autonomously as per convention, with the CNO acting as a ''[[primus inter pares]]''.{{sfn|O'Brien|2019|p=109}}{{sfn|Adams|1985|p=90}} Leahy's views of the CNO's authority led to clashes with his predecessor; Standley even attempted to block Leahy from being assigned a fleet command in retaliation.{{sfn|Borneman|2012|p=239-240}} Leahy, on his part, continued Standley's efforts to insert the CNO into the ship design process.{{sfn|Borneman|2012|p=258}}

Swanson's ill health and assistant secretary Henry Roosevelt's death on 22 February 1936 gave Leahy unprecedented influence.<ref>{{cite news |title=Henry Roosevelt is Dead in Capital |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=February 23, 1936 |page=1 |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1936/02/23/87914167.html?pageNumber=1 |access-date=May 14, 2022}}</ref> Leahy had private lunches with the President frequently; during his tenure as CNO, Roosevelt had 52 meetings with him, compared with 12 with his Army counterpart, [[General (United States)|General]] [[Malin Craig]], none of which were private lunches.

Leahy retired from the Navy on 1 August 1939 to become [[Governor of Puerto Rico]], a month before the [[invasion of Poland]].{{sfn|Borneman|2012|p=280}}

==Official residence==
[[Number One Observatory Circle]], located on the northeast grounds of the [[United States Naval Observatory]] in Washington, DC, was built in 1893 for its superintendent. The chief of naval operations liked the house so much that in 1923 he took over the house as his own [[official residence]]. It remained the residence of the CNO until 1974, when [[United States Congress|Congress]] authorized its transformation to an official residence for the [[Vice President of the United States|vice president]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/about/vp_residence/ |title=The Vice President's Residence | publisher=The White House | url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091021225638/http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/vp_residence/ |archive-date=21 October 2009| access-date=31 January 2018 }}</ref> The chief of naval operations currently resides in [[Tingey House|Quarters A]] in the [[Washington Naval Yard]].

==Office of the Chief of Naval Operations==
{{See also|Structure of the United States Navy#Office of the Chief of Naval Operations}}
[[File:US_Navy_Office_of_Chief_Naval_Operations_Org_Chart.png|thumb|[[Organizational chart]] of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV)]]
The chief of naval operations presides over the '''Navy Staff''', formally known as the '''Office of the Chief of Naval Operations''' ('''OPNAV''').<ref>[https://navcms.news.navy.mil/navydata/leadership/cno_resp.asp navy.mil] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722215630/https://navcms.news.navy.mil/navydata/leadership/cno_resp.asp |date=22 July 2011 }} Chief of Naval Operations − Responsibilities. Retrieved 3 July 2010.</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=10 U.S. Code § 5033 - Chief of Naval Operations: general duties |url= https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/5033 |access-date= 25 August 2018 |website=[[Legal Information Institute]] |publisher=Cornell University Law School}}</ref> 
The Office of the Chief of Naval Operations is a statutory organization within the executive part of the Department of the Navy, and its purpose is to furnish professional assistance to the secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) and the CNO in carrying out their responsibilities.<ref>{{cite web |title=10 U.S. Code § 5031 - Office of the Chief of Naval Operations: function; composition |url= https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/5031 |access-date= 25 August 2018 |website=[[Legal Information Institute]] |publisher=Cornell University Law School}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=10 U.S. Code § 5032 - Office of the Chief of Naval Operations: general duties |url= https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/5032 |access-date= 25 August 2018 |website=[[Legal Information Institute]] |publisher=Cornell University Law School}}</ref>

Under the authority of the CNO, the '''director of the Navy Staff''' ('''DNS''') is responsible for day-to-day administration of the Navy Staff and coordination of the activities of the deputy chiefs of naval operations, who report directly to the CNO.<ref name="dcno">{{cite web|title=10 U.S. Code § 8036 - Deputy Chiefs of Naval Operations|url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/8036|access-date=15 September 2021|website=[[Legal Information Institute]]|publisher=Cornell University Law School}}</ref> The office was previously known as the assistant vice chief of naval operations (AVCNO) until 1996,{{sfn|Swartz|p=51}} when CNO [[Jeremy Boorda]] ordered its redesignation to its current name.{{sfn|Swartz|p=51}} Previously held by a three-star vice admiral, the position became a civilian's billet in 2018. The present DNS is a Vice Admiral Michael Boyle, a former 3rd Fleet commander.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.secnav.navy.mil/donhr/About/Senior-Executives/Biographies/Haeuptle,%20A.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016230709/https://www.secnav.navy.mil/donhr/About/Senior-Executives/Biographies/Haeuptle,%20A.pdf |archive-date=2020-10-16 |url-status=live|title=Biography - Andrew S. Haeuptle|access-date=15 September 2021|website=U.S. Navy}}</ref>

==List of chiefs of naval operations==
(† - ''died in office'')

===Aide for Naval Operations (historical predecessor office)===

{{Officeholder table start
| showorder          = y
| showimage          = y
| image_title        = Portrait
| officeholder_title = Aide for Naval Operations
| showtermlenght     = y 
| showparty          = n
| showdefencebranch  = n
| showaltofficeholder    = y
| alt_officeholder_title = [[United States Secretary of the Navy|Secretaries of the Navy]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 1
| image             = WAINWRIGHT, ADM. ADMIRAL LCCN2016857480 (loose crop).jpg
| military_rank     = Rear Admiral
| officeholder      = {{nowrap|[[Richard Wainwright (Spanish–American War naval officer)|Richard Wainwright]]}}
| officeholder_sort = Wainwright, Richard
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1849
| died_year         = 1926
| term_start        = {{nowrap|3 December 1909}}
| term_end          = {{nowrap|12 December 1911}}
| timeinoffice      = {{nowrap|{{ayd|1909|12|03|1911|12|12}}}}
| alt_officeholder  = {{nowrap|[[George von Lengerke Meyer]]}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 2
| image             = Cvreeland.jpg
| military_rank     = Rear Admiral
| officeholder      = [[Charles E. Vreeland]]
| officeholder_sort = Vreeland, Charles
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1852
| died_year         = 1916
| term_start        = {{nowrap|12 December 1911}}
| term_end          = {{nowrap|11 February 1913<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nTrUFj0EcosC&dq=adm+richard+wainwright+aide+for+operations&pg=PA564|title=Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships|page=563|website=Google Books|year=1959}}</ref>}}
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1911|12|12|1913|02|11}}
| alt_officeholder  = [[George von Lengerke Meyer]]
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 3
| image             = Bradley A. Fiske cropped.jpg
| military_rank     = Rear Admiral
| officeholder      = [[Bradley A. Fiske]]
| officeholder_sort = Fiske, Bradley
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1854
| died_year         = 1942
| term_start        = {{nowrap|11 February 1913}}
| term_end          = {{nowrap|1 April 1915}}
| timeinoffice      = {{nowrap|{{ayd|1913|02|11|1915|04|01}}}}
| alt_officeholder  = [[George von Lengerke Meyer]]<br>{{nowrap|[[Josephus Daniels]]}}
}}
{{Officeholder table end}}

===Chiefs of naval operations===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! scope="col" rowspan=2 | {{abbr|No.|Number}}
! scope="col" rowspan=2 class="unsortable" | Portrait
! scope="col" rowspan=2 | Name
! scope="col" colspan=3 | Term
! scope="col" rowspan=2 | Background
! scope="col" colspan=2 | Secretaries served under:
! scope="col" rowspan=2 class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}}
|-
! scope="col" | Took office
! scope="col" | Left office
! scope="col" | Duration
! scope="col" | [[United States Secretary of the Navy|Navy]]
! scope="col" | [[United States Secretary of Defense|Defense]]
|-
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 1
| image             = NH 366 Admiral William S. Benson, USN (cropped).jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = [[William S. Benson]]
| officeholder_sort = Benson, William
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1855
| died_year         = 1932
| term_start        = 11 May 1915
| term_end          = 25 September 1919
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1915|05|11|1919|09|25}}
| defence_branch    = [[Battleship]]s
| alt_officeholder  = [[Josephus Daniels]]
| cabinet           = —
| ref               = <ref name="CNOList">{{Cite web |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq35-1.htm |title=Chief of Naval Operations |work=Lists of Commanding Officers and Senior Officials of the US Navy |publisher=Naval Historical Center |access-date=6 November 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071218005946/http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq35-1.htm |archive-date=18 December 2007}}</ref>
}}
|-
|colspan=10 style="text-align:center"| ''Vacant''<br />(25 September 1919 – 1 November 1919)
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 2
| image             = Robert E. Coontz (cropped).jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = [[Robert Coontz|Robert E. Coontz]] 
| officeholder_sort = Coontz, Robert
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1864
| died_year         = 1935
| term_start        = 1 November 1919
| term_end          = 21 July 1923
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1919|11|01|1923|07|21}}
| defence_branch    = Battleships
| alt_officeholder  = [[Josephus Daniels]]
| alt_officeholder2 = [[Edwin Denby (politician)|Edwin C. Denby]]
| cabinet           = —
| ref               = <ref name="CNOList"/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 3
| image             = Edward Walter Eberle.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = [[Edward Walter Eberle|Edward W. Eberle]] 
| officeholder_sort = Eberle, Edward Walter
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1864
| died_year         = 1929
| term_start        = 21 July 1923
| term_end          = 14 November 1927
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1923|07|21|1927|11|14}}
| defence_branch    = Battleships
| alt_officeholder  = [[Edwin Denby (politician)|Edwin C. Denby]]
| alt_officeholder2 = [[Curtis D. Wilbur]]
| cabinet           = —
| ref               = <ref name="CNOList"/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 4
| image             = ADM Charles F. Hughes portrait.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = [[Charles Frederick Hughes|Charles F. Hughes]] 
| officeholder_sort = Hughes, Charles Frederick
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1866
| died_year         = 1934
| term_start        = 14 November 1927
| term_end          = 17 September 1930<br />{{small|''(resigned)''}}
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1927|11|14|1930|11|17}}
| defence_branch    = Battleships
| alt_officeholder  = [[Curtis D. Wilbur]]
| alt_officeholder2 = [[Charles Francis Adams III|Charles F. Adams III]]
| cabinet           = —
| ref               = <ref name="CNOList"/><ref>{{cite web|last=Hoover|first=Herbert|url=https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/letter-accepting-the-resignation-admiral-charles-f-hughes-chief-naval-operations|title=Letter Accepting the Resignation of Admiral Charles F. Hughes as Chief of Naval Operations.|date=16 September 1930|access-date=4 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613055035/https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/letter-accepting-the-resignation-admiral-charles-f-hughes-chief-naval-operations|archive-date=13 June 2021|website=The American Presidency Project}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 5
| image             = William Veazie Pratt.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = [[William V. Pratt]]
| officeholder_sort = Pratt, William Veazie
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1869
| died_year         = 1957
| term_start        = {{nowrap|17 September 1930}}
| term_end          = 30 June 1933
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1930|09|17|1933|06|30}}
| defence_branch    = Battleships
| alt_officeholder  = [[Charles Francis Adams III|Charles F. Adams III]]
| alt_officeholder2 = [[Claude A. Swanson]]
| cabinet           = —
| ref               = <ref name="CNOList"/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 6
| image             = William Standley 80-G-K-2786 (26144162862).jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = [[William Harrison Standley|William H. Standley]] 
| officeholder_sort = Standley, William Harrison
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1872
| died_year         = 1963
| term_start        = 1 July 1933
| term_end          = 1 January 1937
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1933|07|01|1937|01|01}}
| defence_branch    = Battleships
| alt_officeholder  = [[Claude A. Swanson]]
| cabinet           = —
| ref               = <ref name="CNOList"/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 7
| image             = NH 48260 Admiral William D. Leahy, USN (cropped).jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = [[William D. Leahy]] 
| officeholder_sort = Leahy, William
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1875
| died_year         = 1959
| term_start        = 2 January 1937
| term_end          = 1 August 1939
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1937|01|02|1939|08|01}}
| defence_branch    = Battleships
| alt_officeholder  = [[Claude A. Swanson]]
| alt_officeholder2 = [[Charles Edison]]
| cabinet           = —
| ref               = <ref name="CNOList"/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 8
| image             = Harold Rainsford Stark.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = [[Harold Rainsford Stark|Harold R. Stark]] 
| officeholder_sort = Stark, Harold Rainsford
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1880
| died_year         = 1972
| term_start        = 1 August 1939 
| term_end          = 2 March 1942<br />{{small|''(relieved)''}}
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1939|08|01|1942|03|02}}
| defence_branch    = Battleships/[[Surface warfare|Cruisers-Destroyers]]
| alt_officeholder  = [[Charles Edison]]
| alt_officeholder2 = [[Frank Knox]]
| cabinet           = —
| ref               = <ref name="CNOList"/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 9
| image             = FADM Ernest J. King.jpg
| military_rank     = Fleet Admiral
| officeholder      = [[Ernest King|Ernest J. King]] 
| officeholder_sort = King, Ernest Joseph
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1878
| died_year         = 1956
| term_start        = 2 March 1942 
| term_end          = 15 December 1945
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1942|03|02|1945|12|15}}
| defence_branch    = [[Naval aviation|Aviation]]
| alt_officeholder  = [[Frank Knox]]
| alt_officeholder2 = [[James Forrestal]]
| cabinet           = —
| ref               = <ref name="CNOList"/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 10
| image             = Chester Nimitz as CNO (cropped).jpg
| military_rank     = Fleet Admiral
| officeholder      = [[Chester W. Nimitz]] 
| officeholder_sort = Nimitz, Chester 
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1885
| died_year         = 1966
| term_start        = 15 December 1945
| term_end          = 15 December 1947
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1945|12|15|1947|12|15}}
| defence_branch    = [[Submarines in the United States Navy|Submarines]]
| alt_officeholder  = [[James Forrestal]]
| alt_officeholder2 = [[John L. Sullivan (United States Navy)|John L. Sullivan]]
| cabinet           = [[James Forrestal]]<br />{{small|(from Sep. 1947)}}
| ref               = <ref name="CNOList"/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 11
| image             = 80-G-704657 (26290116655).jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = [[Louis E. Denfeld]] 
| officeholder_sort = Denfeld, Louis Emil
| officeholder_note =
| born_year         = 1891
| died_year         = 1972
| term_start        = 15 December 1947 
| term_end          = 2 November 1949<br />{{small|''(relieved)''}}
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1947|12|15|1949|11|02}}
| defence_branch    = Submarines
| alt_officeholder  = [[John L. Sullivan (United States Navy)|John L. Sullivan]]
| alt_officeholder2 = [[Francis P. Matthews]]
| cabinet           = [[James Forrestal]]
| cabinet2          = [[Louis A. Johnson]]
| ref               = <ref name="CNOList"/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 12
| image             = Forrest P SHerman.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = [[Forrest Sherman|Forrest P. Sherman]] 
| officeholder_sort = Sherman, Forrest Percival
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1896
| died_year         = 1951
| died              = y
| term_start        = 2 November 1949 
| term_end          = 22 July 1951
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1949|11|02|1951|07|22}}
| defence_branch    = Battleships/Cruisers-Destroyers
| alt_officeholder  = [[Francis P. Matthews]]
| cabinet           = [[Louis A. Johnson]]
| cabinet2          = [[George C. Marshall]]
| ref               = <ref name="CNOList"/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = –	
| image             = ADM McCormick, Lynde D.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = [[Lynde D. McCormick]] 
| officeholder_sort = McCormick, Lynde
| officeholder_note = {{efn|name=acting|In capacity as Vice Chief of Naval Operations.}}
| born_year         = 1895
| died_year         = 1956
| term_start        = 22 July 1951
| term_end          = 16 August 1951
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1951|07|22|1951|08|16}}
| defence_branch    = Battleships/Cruisers-Destroyers
| alt_officeholder  = [[Francis P. Matthews]]
| alt_officeholder2 = [[Dan A. Kimball]]
| cabinet           = [[George C. Marshall]]
| acting            = y
| ref               = <ref name="CNOList"/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 13
| image             = Portrait of ADM William M. Fechteler (58-64).jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = [[William Fechteler|William M. Fechteler]] 
| officeholder_sort = Fechteler, William
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1896
| died_year         = 1967
| term_start        = 16 August 1951
| term_end          = 17 August 1953
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1951|08|16|1953|08|17}}
| defence_branch    = Battleships/Cruisers-Destroyers
| alt_officeholder  = [[Dan A. Kimball]]
| alt_officeholder2 = [[Robert B. Anderson (Texas politician)|Robert B. Anderson]]
| cabinet           = [[George C. Marshall]]
| cabinet2          = [[Robert A. Lovett]]
| ref               = <ref name="CNOList"/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 14
| image             = Robert Bostwick Carney.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = [[Robert Carney|Robert B. Carney]] 
| officeholder_sort = Carney, Robert
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1895
| died_year         = 1990
| term_start        = 17 August 1953
| term_end          = 17 August 1955
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1953|08|17|1955|08|17}}
| defence_branch    = Battleships/Cruisers-Destroyers
| alt_officeholder  = [[Robert B. Anderson (Texas politician)|Robert B. Anderson]]
| alt_officeholder2 = [[Charles Thomas (Secretary of the Navy)|Charles S. Thomas]]
| cabinet           = [[Charles Erwin Wilson]]
| ref               = <ref name="CNOList"/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 15
| image             = ADM Burke, Arleigh (CNO).jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = [[Arleigh Burke|Arleigh A. Burke]] 
| officeholder_sort = Burke, Arleigh Albert
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1901
| died_year         = 1996
| term_start        = 17 August 1955 
| term_end          = 1 August 1961
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1955|08|17|1961|08|01}}
| defence_branch    = Cruisers-Destroyers
| alt_officeholder  = [[Charles Thomas (Secretary of the Navy)|Charles S. Thomas]]
| alt_officeholder2 = [[Thomas S. Gates Jr.]]
| alt_officeholder3 = [[William B. Franke]]
| alt_officeholder4 = [[John Connally]]
| cabinet           = [[Charles Erwin Wilson]]
| cabinet2          = [[Neil H. McElroy]]
| cabinet3          = [[Thomas S. Gates Jr.]]
| cabinet4          = [[Robert McNamara]]
| ref               = <ref name="CNOList"/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 16
| image             = PAA-N-4996 ADM George W. Anderson, Jr. (26501746045).jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = [[George Whelan Anderson Jr.|George W. Anderson Jr.]]  
| officeholder_sort = Anderson, George Whelan Jr.
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1906
| died_year         = 1992
| term_start        = 1 August 1961
| term_end          = 1 August 1963<br />{{small|''(relieved)''}}
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1961|08|01|1963|08|01}}
| defence_branch    = Aviation
| alt_officeholder  = [[John Connally]]
| alt_officeholder2 = [[Fred Korth]]
| cabinet           = [[Robert McNamara]]
| ref               = <ref name="CNOList"/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 17
| image             = ADM McDonald, David Lamar.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = [[David L. McDonald]] 
| officeholder_sort = McDonald, David
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1906
| died_year         = 1997
| term_start        = 1 August 1963 
| term_end          = 1 August 1967
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1963|08|01|1967|08|01}}
| defence_branch    = Aviation
| alt_officeholder  = [[Fred Korth]]
| alt_officeholder2 = [[Paul Nitze]]
| cabinet           = [[Robert McNamara]]
| ref               = <ref name="CNOList"/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 18
| image             = KN-15045 Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, USN (cropped).jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = [[Thomas Hinman Moorer|Thomas H. Moorer]]
| officeholder_sort = Moorer, Thomas Hinman
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1912
| died_year         = 2004
| term_start        = 1 August 1967
| term_end          = 1 July 1970{{efn|name=cjcs|Appointed as [[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]].}}
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1967|08|01|1970|07|01}}
| defence_branch    = Aviation
| alt_officeholder  = [[Paul R. Ignatius]]
| alt_officeholder2 = [[John Chafee]]
| cabinet           = [[Robert McNamara]]
| cabinet2          = [[Clark Clifford]]
| cabinet3          = [[Melvin Laird]]
| ref               = <ref name="CNOList"/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 19
| image             = Elmo Zumwalt.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = [[Elmo Zumwalt|Elmo R. Zumwalt]] 
| officeholder_sort = Zumwalt, Elmo
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1920
| died_year         = 2000
| term_start        = 1 July 1970
| term_end          = 29 June 1974
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1970|07|01|1974|06|29}}
| defence_branch    = Cruisers-Destroyers
| alt_officeholder  = [[John Chafee]]
| alt_officeholder2 = [[John Warner]]
| alt_officeholder3 = [[J. William Middendorf]]
| cabinet           = [[Melvin Laird]]
| cabinet2          = [[Elliot Richardson]]
| cabinet3          = [[James R. Schlesinger]]
| ref               = <ref name="CNOList"/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 20
| image             = James Holloway III.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = [[James L. Holloway III]] 
| officeholder_sort = Holloway, James
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1922
| died_year         = 2019
| term_start        = 29 June 1974{{efn|name=vcno|Served prior as [[Vice Chief of Naval Operations]].}}
| term_end          = 1 July 1978
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1974|06|29|1978|07|01}}
| defence_branch    = Aviation
| alt_officeholder  = [[J. William Middendorf]]
| alt_officeholder2 = [[W. Graham Claytor Jr.]]
| cabinet           = [[James R. Schlesinger]]
| cabinet2          = [[Donald Rumsfeld]]
| cabinet3          = [[Harold Brown (Secretary of Defense)|Harold Brown]]
| ref               = <ref name="CNOList"/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 21
| image             = ADM Hayward, Thomas B CNO Official Portrait.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = [[Thomas B. Hayward]]
| officeholder_sort = Hayward, Thomas Bibb
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1924
| died_year         = 2022
| term_start        = 1 July 1978
| term_end          = 30 June 1982
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1978|07|01|1982|06|30}}
| defence_branch    = Aviation
| alt_officeholder  = [[W. Graham Claytor Jr.]]
| alt_officeholder2 = [[Edward Hidalgo]]
| alt_officeholder3 = [[John Lehman]]
| cabinet           = [[Harold Brown (Secretary of Defense)|Harold Brown]]
| cabinet2          = [[Caspar Weinberger]]
| ref               = <ref name="CNOList"/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 22
| image             = Admiral James Watkins, official military photo.JPEG
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = [[James D. Watkins]]   
| officeholder_sort = Watkins, James
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1927
| died_year         = 2012
| term_start        = 30 June 1982
| term_end          = 30 June 1986
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1982|06|30|1986|06|30}}
| defence_branch    = Submarines
| alt_officeholder  = [[John Lehman]]
| cabinet           = [[Caspar Weinberger]]
| ref               = <ref name="CNOList"/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 23
| image             = Admiral Carlisle Trost, official military photo.JPEG
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = [[Carlisle Trost|Carlisle A.H. Trost]] 
| officeholder_sort = Trost, Carlisle
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1930
| died_year         = 2020
| term_start        = 1 July 1986
| term_end          = 29 June 1990
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1986|07|01|1990|06|29}}
| defence_branch    = Submarines
| alt_officeholder  = [[John Lehman]]
| alt_officeholder2 = [[Jim Webb]]
| alt_officeholder3 = [[William L. Ball]]
| alt_officeholder4 = [[Henry L. Garrett III]]
| cabinet           = [[Caspar Weinberger]]
| cabinet2          = [[Frank Carlucci]]
| cabinet3          = [[Dick Cheney]]
| ref               = <ref name="CNOList"/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 24
| image             = ADM Frank B. Kelso II, 1994.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = [[Frank Kelso|Frank B. Kelso II]] 
| officeholder_sort = Kelso, Frank
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1933
| died_year         = 2013
| term_start        = 29 June 1990
| term_end          = 23 April 1994
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1990|06|29|1994|04|23}}
| defence_branch    = Submarines
| alt_officeholder  = [[Henry L. Garrett III]]
| alt_officeholder2 = [[Sean O'Keefe]]
| alt_officeholder3 = [[John Howard Dalton|John H. Dalton]]
| cabinet           = [[Dick Cheney]]
| cabinet2          = [[Les Aspin]]
| cabinet3          = [[William J. Perry]]
| ref               = <ref name="CNOList"/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 25
| image             = Adm. Jeremy M. Boorda (2).jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = [[Michael Boorda|Jeremy M. Boorda]] 
| officeholder_sort = Boorda, Jeremy Michael
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1939
| died_year         = 1996
| died              = y
| term_start        = 23 April 1994
| term_end          = 16 May 1996
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1994|04|23|1996|05|16}}
| defence_branch    = Cruisers-Destroyers
| alt_officeholder  = [[John Howard Dalton|John H. Dalton]]
| cabinet           = [[William J. Perry]]
| ref               = <ref name="CNOList"/>
}}
|-
| style=background:#e6e6aa; | –{{efn|name=acting}}
| rowspan="2" | [[File:Admiral Jay Johnson, official military photo.JPEG|100px]]
| data-sort-value="Johnson, Jay" rowspan="2" | Admiral<br />'''[[Jay L. Johnson]] '''<br />{{small|(born 1946)}}
| style=background:#e6e6aa; | 16 May 1996
| style=background:#e6e6aa; | 2 August 1996
| style=background:#e6e6aa; | {{ayd|1996|05|16|1996|08|02}}
| rowspan="2" | Aviation
| rowspan="2" | [[John Howard Dalton|John H. Dalton]]<br />[[Richard Danzig]]
| rowspan="2" | [[William J. Perry]]<br />[[William Cohen]]
| style=background:#e6e6aa; | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1996/vp960605/06050360.htm|title=JOHNSON IS LIKELY PICK FOR CNO; CLINTON IS EXPECTED TO NOMINATE HIM FOR THE POST TODAY|date=1996-06-05|access-date=2023-09-22|website=[[The Virginian-Pilot]]}}</ref>
|-
| 26
| 2 August 1996
| 21 July 2000
| {{ayd|1996|08|02|2000|07|21}}
| <ref name="CNOList"/>
|-
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 27
| image             = VernClark.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = [[Vern Clark|Vernon E. Clark]]
| officeholder_sort = Clark, Vernon
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1944
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 21 July 2000
| term_end          = 22 July 2005
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|2000|07|21|2005|07|22}}
| defence_branch    = Cruisers-Destroyers
| alt_officeholder  = [[Richard Danzig]]
| alt_officeholder2 = [[Gordon R. England]]
| cabinet           = [[William Cohen]]
| cabinet2          = [[Donald Rumsfeld]]
| ref               = <ref name="CNOList"/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 28
| image             = US Navy 050711-N-0000X-001 U.S. Navy File photo, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael G. Mullen.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = [[Michael Mullen|Michael G. Mullen]] 
| officeholder_sort = Mullen, Michael
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1946
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 22 July 2005
| term_end          = 29 September 2007{{efn|name=cjcs}}
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|2005|07|22|2007|11|29}}
| defence_branch    = Cruisers-Destroyers
| alt_officeholder  = [[Gordon R. England]]
| alt_officeholder2 = [[Donald C. Winter]]
| cabinet           = [[Donald Rumsfeld]]
| cabinet2          = [[Robert Gates]]
| ref               = <ref name="CNOList"/>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 29
| image             = US Navy 071108-N-0000X-001 Navy file photo of Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Gary Roughead.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = [[Gary Roughead]] 
| officeholder_sort = Roughead, Gary
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1951
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 29 September 2007
| term_end          = 23 September 2011
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|2007|09|29|2011|09|23}}
| defence_branch    = Cruisers-Destroyers
| alt_officeholder  = [[Donald C. Winter]]
| alt_officeholder2 = [[Ray Mabus]]
| cabinet           = [[Robert Gates]]
| cabinet2          = [[Leon Panetta]]
| ref               = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/us-navy-time-change-featuring-chief-naval-operations-admiral-gary-roughead/|title=Event - US Navy in a Time of Change featuring Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Gary Roughead|date=13 September 2011|access-date=4 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004103451/https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/us-navy-time-change-featuring-chief-naval-operations-admiral-gary-roughead/|archive-date=4 October 2022|website=Aspen Institute}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 30
| image             = Admiral Jonathan W. Greenert (CNO).jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = [[Jonathan Greenert|Jonathan W. Greenert]]
| officeholder_sort = Greenert, Jonathan 
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1953
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 23 September 2011{{efn|name=vcno}}
| term_end          = 18 September 2015
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|2011|09|23|2015|09|18}}
| defence_branch    = Submarines
| alt_officeholder  = [[Ray Mabus]]
| cabinet           = [[Leon Panetta]]
| cabinet2          = [[Chuck Hagel]]
| cabinet3          = [[Ash Carter]]
| ref               = <ref>{{cite web|last=Malloy|first=Kyle|url=https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/military/2011/09/28/greenert-becomes-cno/15888589007/|title=Greenert becomes CNO|date=28 September 2011|access-date=4 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004103211/https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/military/2011/09/28/greenert-becomes-cno/15888589007/|archive-date=4 October 2022|publisher=Chief of Naval Operations Public Affairs|website=The Florida Times-Union}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 31
| image             = Admiral John M. Richardson (CNO) 150917-N-AT895-703 (26207156950).jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = [[John M. Richardson (admiral)|John M. Richardson]] 
| officeholder_sort = Richardson, John
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1960
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 18 September 2015
| term_end          = 22 August 2019
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|2015|09|18|2019|08|22}}
| defence_branch    = Submarines
| alt_officeholder  = [[Ray Mabus]]
| alt_officeholder2 = [[Richard V. Spencer]]
| cabinet           = [[Ash Carter]]
| cabinet2          = [[Jim Mattis]]
| ref               = <ref>{{cite web|last=Eckstein|first=Megan|url=https://news.usni.org/2015/09/18/richardson-becomes-new-chief-of-naval-operations-greenert-retires-after-40-years|title=Richardson Becomes New Chief of Naval Operations; Greenert Retires After 40 Years|date=18 September 2015|access-date=4 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024192723/https://news.usni.org/2015/09/18/richardson-becomes-new-chief-of-naval-operations-greenert-retires-after-40-years|archive-date=24 October 2021|website=[[USNI News]]}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 32
| image             = Gilday_CNO.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = [[Michael M. Gilday]] 
| officeholder_sort = Gilday, Michael
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1962
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 22 August 2019
| term_end          = 14 August 2023
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|2019|08|22|2023|08|14}}
| defence_branch    = Cruisers-Destroyers/Cyberspace
| alt_officeholder  = [[Richard V. Spencer]]
| alt_officeholder2 = [[Kenneth Braithwaite]]
| alt_officeholder3 = [[Carlos Del Toro]]
| cabinet           = [[Mark Esper]]
| cabinet2          = [[Lloyd Austin]]
| ref               = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/Press-Releases/display-pressreleases/Article/2238737/gilday-relieves-richardson-as-cno/|title=Gilday Relieves Richardson as CNO|date=22 August 2019|access-date=4 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004102515/https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/Press-Releases/display-pressreleases/Article/2238737/gilday-relieves-richardson-as-cno/|archive-date=4 October 2022|website=U.S. Navy}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>
}}
|-
| style=background:#e6e6aa; | –{{efn|name=acting}}
| rowspan="2" | [[File:ADM Lisa M. Franchetti (3).jpg|100px]]
| data-sort-value="Franchetti, Lisa" rowspan="2" | Admiral<br />'''[[Lisa Franchetti|Lisa M. Franchetti]] '''<br />{{small|(born 1964)}}
| style=background:#e6e6aa; | 14 August 2023
| style=background:#e6e6aa; | 2 November 2023
| style=background:#e6e6aa; | {{ayd|2023|08|14|2023|11|02}}
| rowspan="2" | Cruisers-Destroyers
| rowspan="2" | [[Carlos Del Toro]]
| rowspan="2" | [[Lloyd Austin]]<br />[[Pete Hegseth]]
| style=background:#e6e6aa; | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dvidshub.net/webcast/32585|title=Webcast: Austin Hosts Chief of Naval Operations Relinquishment of Office|date=2023-08-14|access-date=2023-08-14|website=DVIDS}}</ref> 
|-
| 33
| 2 November 2023
| 21 February 2025
| {{ayd|2023|11|02|2025|2|21}}
| <ref name="franchetti">{{cite web |date=2023-11-02 |title=SECNAV Del Toro Statement on the Swearing-In of Adm. Lisa Franchetti as 33rd Chief of Naval Operations |url=https://www.dvidshub.net/news/457088/secnav-del-toro-statement-swearing-adm-lisa-franchetti-33rd-chief-naval-operations |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=DVIDS |publisher=Office of the Secretary of the Navy |location=[[Washington, D. C.]]}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>
{{Officeholder table
| order             = –
| image             = ADM James W. Kilby.jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = [[James Kilby|James W. Kilby]] 
| officeholder_sort = Kilby, James
| officeholder_note = {{efn|name=acting}}
| born_year         = 1963
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 21 February 2025
| term_end          = 25 August 2025
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|2025|2|21|2025|8|25}}
| defence_branch    = Cruisers-Destroyers
| alt_officeholder  = [[John Phelan (businessman)|John Phelan]]
| cabinet           = [[Pete Hegseth]]
| acting            = y
| ref               = <ref name="kilby">{{cite web|last1=Mongilio|first1=Heather|last2=LaGrone|first2=Sam|url=https://news.usni.org/2025/02/21/joint-chiefs-chair-cq-brown-cno-franchetti-relieved|title=UPDATED: Joint Chiefs Chair CQ Brown, CNO Franchetti Relieved, VCNO Kilby to Lead in Interim|date=2025-02-21|access-date=2025-02-23|website=[[USNI News]]}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 34
| image             = ADM Daryl L. Caudle (2).jpg
| military_rank     = Admiral
| officeholder      = [[Daryl Caudle|Daryl L. Caudle]] 
| officeholder_sort = Caudle, Daryl
| officeholder_note = 
| born_year         = 1963
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 25 August 2025
| term_end          = ''Incumbent''
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|2025|8|25|}}
| defence_branch    = Submarines
| alt_officeholder  = [[John Phelan (businessman)|John Phelan]]
| cabinet           = [[Pete Hegseth]]
| acting            = 
| ref               = <ref name="caudle"/>
}}
|}

===Timeline===
{{#tag:timeline|
ImageSize = width:1000 height:auto barincrement:10
PlotArea  = top:10 bottom:50 right:130 left:20
AlignBars = late

DateFormat = x.y
Period     = from:1914 till:2030
TimeAxis   = orientation:horizontal
ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:10 start:1915

Define $now = {{CURRENTYEAR}}

Colors     =
  id:cno value:darkblue legend: CNO
  id:vcno value:rgb(0.7,0.7,0.7) legend: VCNO
  id:time value:rgb(0.9,0.9,0.9)

Legend     = orientation:vertical position:right

LineData =
  layer:back
  width:0.1
  color:time
  at:1920
  at:1930
  at:1940
  at:1950
  at:1960
  at:1970
  at:1980
  at:1990
  at:2000
  at:2010
  at:2020
  at:2030

BarData =
  barset:PM
  bar:benson
  bar:coontz
  bar:eberle
  bar:hughes
  bar:pratt
  bar:standley
  bar:leahy
  bar:stark
  bar:king
  bar:nimitz
  bar:denfeld
  bar:sherman
  bar:fechteler
  bar:carney
  bar:burke
  bar:anderson
  bar:mcdonald
  bar:moorer
  bar:zumwalt
  bar:holloway
  bar:hayward
  bar:watkins
  bar:trost
  bar:kelso
  bar:boorda
  bar:johnson
  bar:clark
  bar:mullen
  bar:roughead
  bar:greenert
  bar:richardson
  bar:gilday
  bar:franchetti
  bar:caudle

PlotData=
  width:6 align:left fontsize:S shift:(5,-4) anchor:till
  barset:PM
  bar:benson  from:1915  till:1919  color:cno  text:"[[William S. Benson|Benson]]"
  bar:coontz  from:1919  till:1923  color:cno  text:"[[Robert E. Coontz|Coontz]]"
  bar:eberle  from:1923  till:1927  color:cno  text:"[[Edward W. Eberle|Eberle]]"
  bar:hughes  from:1927  till:1930  color:cno  text:"[[Charles Frederick Hughes|Hughes]]"
  bar:pratt  from:1930  till:1933  color:cno  text:"[[William V. Pratt|Pratt]]"
  bar:standley  from:1933  till:1937  color:cno  text:"[[William Harrison Standley|Standley]]"
  bar:leahy  from:1937  till:1939  color:cno  text:"[[William D. Leahy|Leahy]]"
  bar:stark  from:1939  till:1942  color:cno  text:"[[Harold R. Stark|Stark]]"
  bar:king  from:1942  till:1945  color:cno  text:"[[Ernest J. King|King]]"
  bar:nimitz  from:1945  till:1947  color:cno  text:"[[Chester W. Nimitz|Nimitz]]"
  bar:denfeld  from:1947  till:1949  color:cno  text:"[[Louis E. Denfeld|Denfeld]]"
  bar:sherman  from:1949  till:1951  color:cno  text:"[[Forrest Sherman|Sherman]]"
  bar:fechteler  from:1951  till:1953  color:cno  text:"[[William M. Fechteler|Fechteler]]"
  bar:carney  from:1953  till:1955  color:cno  text:"[[Robert B. Carney|Carney]]"
  bar:burke  from:1955  till:1961  color:cno  text:"[[Arleigh Burke|Burke]]"
  bar:anderson  from:1961  till:1963  color:cno  text:"[[George W. Anderson Jr.|Anderson]]"
  bar:mcdonald  from:1963  till:1967  color:cno  text:"[[David L. McDonald|McDonald]]"
  bar:moorer  from:1967  till:1970  color:cno  text:"[[Thomas Hinman Moorer|Moorer]]"
  bar:zumwalt  from:1970  till:1974  color:cno  text:"[[Elmo Zumwalt|Zumwalt]]"
  bar:holloway  from:1973  till:1974  color:vcno
  bar:holloway  from:1974  till:1978  color:cno  text:"[[James L. Holloway III|Holloway]]"
  bar:hayward  from:1978  till:1982  color:cno  text:"[[Thomas B. Hayward|Hayward]]"
  bar:watkins  from:1979  till:1981  color:vcno
  bar:watkins  from:1982  till:1986  color:cno  text:"[[James D. Watkins|Watkins]]"
  bar:trost  from:1986  till:1990  color:cno  text:"[[Carlisle Trost|Trost]]"
  bar:kelso  from:1990  till:1994  color:cno  text:"[[Frank Kelso|Kelso]]"
  bar:boorda  from:1994  till:1996  color:cno  text:"[[Michael Boorda|Boorda]]"
  bar:johnson  from:1996.33  till:1996.42  color:vcno
  bar:johnson  from:1996.42  till:2000  color:cno  text:"[[Jay L. Johnson|Johnson]]"
  bar:clark  from:2000  till:2005  color:cno  text:"[[Vern Clark|Clark]]"
  bar:mullen  from:2005  till:2007  color:cno  text:"[[Michael Mullen|Mullen]]"
  bar:roughead  from:2007  till:2011  color:cno  text:"[[Gary Roughead|Roughead]]"
  bar:greenert  from:2009  till:2011  color:vcno
  bar:greenert  from:2011  till:2015  color:cno  text:"[[Jonathan W. Greenert|Greenert]]"
  bar:richardson  from:2015  till:2019  color:cno  text:"[[John M. Richardson (admiral)|Richardson]]"
  bar:gilday  from:2019  till:2023  color:cno  text:"[[Michael M. Gilday|Gilday]]"
  bar:franchetti  from:2022  till:2023  color:vcno
  bar:franchetti  from:2023  till:2025  color:cno  text:"[[Lisa Franchetti|Franchetti]]"
  bar:caudle  from:2025  till:$now  color:cno  text:"[[Daryl Caudle|Caudle]]"
  
}}

==See also==
* [[Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy]]
* [[Organization of the United States Marine Corps#Relationship with other uniformed services|Organization of the US Marine Corps – Relationship with other uniformed services]]
* [[Structure of the United States Navy]]
* [[United States Fleet]]
* [[Vice Chief of Naval Operations]]

==References==
===Footnotes===
{{Notelist}}

===Citations===
{{Reflist}}

===Sources===
{{Refbegin}}
* {{Cite book |last=Adams |first=Henry H. |title=Witness to Power: The Life of Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy |location=Annapolis, Maryland |publisher=Naval Institute Press |year=1985 |isbn=978-0-87021-338-0 |oclc=464550175 }}
* {{Cite book |last=Borneman |first=Walter R. |year=2012 |title=The Admirals: Nimitz, Halsey, Leahy and King—The Five-Star Admirals Who Won the War at Sea |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZyjYRvy-sE0C |location=New York |publisher=Little, Brown and Company |isbn=978-0-316-09784-0}}
* {{Cite web |last1=Hone |first1=Thomas C. |last2=Utz |first2=Curtis A. |title=History of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, 1915-2015 |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/publications/publication-508-pdf/OPNAV%20100%20508.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403094403/https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/publications/publication-508-pdf/OPNAV%20100%20508.pdf |archive-date=3 April 2019 |publisher=Naval History and Heritage Command |access-date=15 September 2021}}
* {{Cite web |title=Chief of Naval Operations |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq35-1.htm |work=Lists of Commanding Officers and Senior Officials of the US Navy |publisher=Naval Historical Center |access-date=6 November 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071218005946/http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq35-1.htm |archive-date=18 December 2007}}
* {{Cite book |last=O'Brien |first=Phillips |author-link=Phillips O'Brien |year=2019 |title=The Second Most Powerful Man in the World: The Life of Admiral William D. Leahy, Roosevelt's Chief of Staff |location=New York |publisher=Dutton Caliber, an imprint of Penguin Random House |isbn=978-0-399-58482-4 |oclc=1260671230 }}
* {{Cite web |last=Swartz |first=Peter |title=Organizing OPNAV (1970–2009) |url=https://www.cna.org/cna_files/pdf/D0020997.A5.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151022110330/https://www.cna.org/cna_files/pdf/D0020997.A5.pdf |archive-date=2015-10-22 |url-status=live |department=Naval History and Heritage Command |publisher=U.S. Navy |access-date=15 September 2021}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Chiefs of Naval Operations}}
* {{Official website|https://www.navy.mil/Leadership/Chief-of-Naval-Operations/|Official website of the Chief Naval Operations}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061121212815/http://www.navy.mil/navydata/organization/org-cno.asp Office of the Chief of Naval Operations organization]

{{US Navy navbox}}
{{US military navbox}}
{{Current JCS members}}
{{Current US Department of Defense Secretaries}}
{{Chief of the navy by country}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chief Of Naval Operations}}
[[Category:Office of the Chief of Naval Operations| ]]
[[Category:Flag appointments of the United States Navy]]
[[Category:Joint Chiefs of Staff]]
[[Category:Navy chiefs of staff|United States]]