Chief of Naval Personnel


The Chief of Naval Personnel is responsible for overall manpower readiness for the United States Navy. As such the CNP is the highest ranking human resources officer in the Navy. The CNP also serves as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations and is one of five Deputy Chiefs of Naval Operations, with the identification of N1/NT. The CNP oversees the operations of the Bureau of Naval Personnel, Navy Personnel Command and the Navy Manpower Analysis Center. The CNP and the other four DCNOs are nominated by the President of the United States and must be confirmed via majority vote by the Senate. The CNP and the DCNOs are appointed as a three-star vice admiral while holding office.
The role of Chief of Naval Personnel and Deputy Chief of Naval Operations go hand in hand. The DCNO performs all strategy and resource policies and serves as a single resource sponsor for all manpower and training program matters. The DCNO also performs all Capitol Hill related duties, including all Congressional testimony for matters pertaining to the Manpower, Personnel, Training, & Education command. The DNCO's office also acts as the lead organization to interface with Department of Defense and Department of the Navy officials, other U.S. military and foreign departments, other Navy commands, other Federal agencies, and private organizations.

List of Chiefs

The Bureau of Navigation held the responsibilities for personnel management of the United States Navy until 1942, when the Bureau of Naval Personnel was established. Below is the list of Chiefs of the Bureau of Navigation and the Bureau of Naval Personnel:
#PictureNameRankStartEndNotabilityRef
1DavisCharles H. DavisO-04 Rear admiralVeteran of Filibuster War and American Civil War; Member of Davis political family.
2DraytonPercival DraytonO-04 CaptainVeteran of Paraguay expedition and American Civil War for Union; Brother of Confederate General Thomas Drayton. Percival Drayton died in office.
3DixonDavid Dixon Porter O-04 Rear admiralVeteran of Mexican–American War and American Civil War; Later served as Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy.
4JenkinsThornton A. JenkinsO-04 Rear admiralVeteran of Mexican–American War and American Civil War; Later commanded the Asiatic Squadron.
5AldenJames Alden Jr.O-04 Rear admiralVeteran of Mexican–American War and American Civil War; Later commanded the European Squadron.
6AmmenDaniel AmmenO-04 Rear admiralVeteran of American Civil War; Also commanded the Bureau of Yards and Docks.
7WhitingWilliam D. WhitingO-04 CommodoreVeteran of American Civil War;
8WalkerJohn G. WalkerO-04 Rear admiralVeteran of American Civil War; Also commanded the White Squadron.
9RamsayFrancis M. RamsayO-04 Rear admiralVeteran of American Civil War; Also commanded the New York Navy Yard and served as naval attaché in London.
10CrowninshieldArent S. CrowninshieldO-04 Rear admiralVeteran of American Civil War and Spanish–American War; Member of Crowninshield family.
11TaylorHenry C. TaylorO-04 Rear admiralVeteran of American Civil War and Spanish–American War; Previously served as the President of the Naval War College. Taylor died in office.
12ConverseGeorge A. ConverseO-04 Rear admiralVeteran of Spanish–American War; Also commanded the Bureau of Ordnance.
13BrownsonWillard H. BrownsonO-04 Rear admiralVeteran of Revolta da Armada and Spanish–American War; Also served as the Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy.
14PillsburyJohn E. PillsburyO-04 Rear admiralVeteran of Spanish–American War; Later served as the President of National Geographic Society.
15PotterWilliam P. PotterO-04 Rear admiralVeteran of Spanish–American War; Later served as aid for Personnel to the Secretary of the Navy George von Lengerke Meyer.
16NicholsonReginald F. NicholsonO-04 Rear admiralVeteran of American Civil War, Spanish–American War and World War I; Later served as the first American naval attaché to Ecuador and Peru. Brother of Army general William J. Nicholson.
17AndrewsPhilip AndrewsO-04 Rear admiralVeteran of Philippine–American War and World War I; Later commanded the US Naval Forces in Europe. Recipient of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal.
18BlueVictor BlueO-04 Rear admiralVeteran of Spanish–American War, Philippine–American War and World War I; Served two times as Chief of the Bureau of Navigation. Recipient of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal and Specially Meritorious Service Medal.
19PalmerLeigh C. PalmerO-04 Rear admiralVeteran of Spanish–American War and World War I; Recipient of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal.
20BlueVictor BlueO-04 Rear admiralVeteran of Spanish–American War, Philippine–American War and World War I; Served two times as Chief of the Bureau of Navigation. Recipient of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal and Specially Meritorious Service Medal.
21WashingtonThomas WashingtonO-04 Rear admiralVeteran of Spanish–American War, Philippine–American War and World War I; Later served as Commandant of the Naval Operating Base, San Francisco, California and reached the rank of four-star admiral. Recipient of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal.
22LongAndrew T. LongO-04 Rear admiralVeteran of Spanish–American War, Philippine–American War and World War I; Recipient of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal and Legion of Honour.
23ShoemakerWilliam R. ShoemakerO-04 Rear admiralVeteran of Spanish–American War, and World War I; Recipient of the Navy Cross.
24LeighRichard H. LeighO-04 Rear admiralVeteran of Spanish–American War, and World War I; Later served as four-star admiral as Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet. Recipient of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Order of the British Empire and Order of Leopold.
25UphamFrank B. UphamO-04 Rear admiralVeteran of Spanish–American War, and World War I; Later served as four-star admiral as Commander-in-Chief, Asiatic Fleet. Recipient of the Navy Cross.
26LeahyWilliam D. LeahyO-04 Rear admiralVeteran of Spanish–American War, Philippine–American War, World War I and World War II; One of four men, who achieved the rank of fleet admiral. Later served as Chief of Naval Operations or first Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Recipient of the Navy Cross and three awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal.
27AndrewsAdolphus AndrewsO-04 Rear admiralVeteran of Spanish–American War, Veracruz Expedition, World War I and World War II; Reached the rank of vice admiral. Later served as Commander, Eastern Sea Frontier. Recipient of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal.
28RichardsonJames O. RichardsonO-04 Rear admiralVeteran of Spanish–American War, Philippine–American War, World War I and World War II; Reached the rank of admiral. Later served as Commander-in-Chief, United States Pacific Fleet.
29NimitzChester W. NimitzO-04 Rear admiralVeteran of World War I and World War II; One of four men, who achieved the rank of fleet admiral. Later served as Chief of Naval Operations or Commander-in-Chief, United States Pacific Fleet. Recipient of four awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal and one Army Distinguished Service Medal.
30JacobsRandall JacobsO-04 Rear admiralVeteran of World War I and World War II; Reached the rank of vice admiral. Held the command of the bureau for the duration of World War II. Recipient of Navy Distinguished Service Medal.
31DenfeldLouis E. DenfeldO-04 Rear admiralVeteran of Veracruz Expedition, Haitian Campaign, World War I and World War II; Reached the rank of four-star admiral. Later served as Chief of Naval Operations or Commander-in-Chief, United States Pacific Fleet. Recipient of Navy Distinguished Service Medal and three awards of Legion of Merit.
32FechtelerWilliam M. FechtelerO-04 Vice admiralVeteran of World War I and World War II; Reached the rank of four-star admiral. Later served as Chief of Naval Operations or Commander-in-Chief, United States Atlantic Fleet. Recipient of two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal, one Army Distinguished Service Medal and one award of Legion of Merit.
33RoperJohn W. RoperO-04 Vice admiralVeteran of World War I and World War II; Reached the rank of vice admiral. Recipient of Legion of Merit and one Navy Commendation Medal.
34DuBoseLaurance T. DuBoseO-04 Vice admiralVeteran of Haitian Campaign, World War I, Yangtze Patrol and World War II; Reached the rank of four-star admiral. Later served as Commander-in-Chief, United States First Fleet or Commander, Eastern Sea Frontier. Recipient of three awards of the Navy Cross and three awards of Legion of Merit.
35Holloway Jr.James L. Holloway Jr.O-04 Vice admiralVeteran of World War I and World War II; Reached the rank of four-star admiral. Later commanded United States Naval Forces Europe during 1958 Lebanon crisis. Recipient of Navy Distinguished Service Medal and one award of Legion of Merit.
36SmithHarold P. SmithO-04 Vice admiralVeteran of World War II; Reached the rank of four-star admiral. Later commanded United States Atlantic Command. Recipient of the Navy Cross, Navy Distinguished Service Medal and two awards of Legion of Merit.
37SmedbergWilliam R. Smedberg IIIO-04 Vice admiralVeteran of World War II and Korea; Previously served as the Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy. Recipient of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star and five awards of Legion of Merit.
38Semmes Jr.Benedict J. Semmes Jr.O-04 Vice admiralVeteran of World War II and Korea; Later served as the President of the Naval War College or Commander-in-Chief, United States Second Fleet. Recipient of the Navy Cross, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, and one award of Legion of Merit.
39DuncanCharles K. DuncanO-04 Vice admiralVeteran of World War II; Later served as the Commander-in-Chief, United States Atlantic Fleet. Recipient of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, and one award of Legion of Merit.
40GuinnDick H. GuinnO-04 Vice admiralVeteran of World War II and Korean War; Later served as the Commander-in-Chief, United States Atlantic Fleet. Recipient of the Navy Cross, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, and one award of Legion of Merit.
41BagleyDavid H. BagleyO-04 Vice admiralVeteran of World War II, Korea and Vietnam; Son of four-star Admiral David W. Bagley and brother of four-star admiral Worth H. Bagley. Recipient of two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal, and four awards of Legion of Merit.
42WatkinsJames D. WatkinsO-04 Vice admiralVeteran of Korea and Vietnam; Reached the rank of four-star admiral. Later served as United States Secretary of Energy or Chair of the President's Commission on the HIV Epidemic. Recipient of two awards of Defense Distinguished Service Medal, three awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal, and three awards of Legion of Merit.
43BaldwinRobert B. BaldwinO-04 Vice admiralVeteran of World War II and Vietnam; Previously served as Commander-in-Chief, United States Seventh Fleet. Recipient of two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal, and two awards of Legion of Merit.
44ZechLando W. Zech Jr.O-04 Vice admiralVeteran of World War II and Korea; Previously served as Commander Naval Forces Japan. Recipient of two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal, and two awards of Legion of Merit.
45LawrenceWilliam P. LawrenceO-04 Vice admiralVeteran of Korea and Vietnam; Later served as Commander-in-Chief, United States Pacific Fleet and as Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy. Recipient of four awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal, and three awards of Silver Star.
46CarlsonDudley L. CarlsonO-04 Vice admiralVeteran of Vietnam; Two awards of Legion of Merit.
47EdneyLeon A. EdneyO-04 Vice admiralVeteran of Vietnam; Retired as four-star admiral. Served as Vice Chief of Naval Operations or Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic. Two awards of Defense Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal, and five awards of Distinguished Flying Cross.
48BoordaJeremy M. BoordaO-04 Vice admiralVeteran of Vietnam and Bosnian War; Reached the rank of four-star admiral. Served as Chief of Naval Operations or United States Naval Forces Europe. Two awards of Defense Distinguished Service Medal, four awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal, and one award of Army Distinguished Service Medal.
49ZlatoperRonald J. ZlatoperO-04 Vice admiralVeteran of Vietnam and Gulf War; Retired as four-star admiral. Later served as Commander-in-Chief, United States Pacific Fleet. One award of Defense Distinguished Service Medal, one award of Navy Distinguished Service Medal, and three awards of Legion of Merit.
50BowmanFrank BowmanO-04 Vice admiralVeteran of Vietnam and Gulf War; Retired as four-star admiral. Also served as Director of Naval Nuclear Propulsion. One award of Defense Distinguished Service Medal, one award of Navy Distinguished Service Medal, and four awards of Legion of Merit.
51OliverDaniel T. OliverO-04 Vice admiralVeteran of Gulf War; Later served as President of the Naval Postgraduate School. One award of Defense Superior Service Medal, and four awards of Legion of Merit.
52RyanNorbert R. Ryan Jr.O-04 Vice admiralVeteran of Gulf War; Twin brother of Vice Admiral John R. Ryan. Two awards of Legion of Merit.
53HoewingGerald L. HoewingO-04 Vice admiralVeteran of Gulf War; Previously served as Commander, Carrier Group Seven. Navy Distinguished Service Medal and four awards of Legion of Merit.
54HarveyJohn C. Harvey Jr.O-04 Vice admiralVeteran of Gulf War; Reached the rank of four-star admiral. Later served as Commander, United States Fleet Forces Command. Recipient of Defense Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal and five awards of Legion of Merit.
55FergusonMark E. Ferguson IIIO-04 Vice admiralVeteran of Gulf War; Reached the rank of four-star admiral. Later served as Commander-in-Chief, United States Naval Forces Europe. Recipient of Defense Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal and three awards of Legion of Merit.
56Van BuskirkScott R. Van BuskirkO-04 Vice admiralVeteran of Iraq War; Later served as Commander-in-Chief, United States Seventh Fleet. Recipient of two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal, and seven awards of Legion of Merit.
57MoranWilliam F. MoranO-04 Vice admiralVeteran of Gulf War; Reached the rank of four-star admiral. Later served as Vice Chief of Naval Operations. Recipient of two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal, and five awards of Legion of Merit.
58BurkeRobert P. BurkeO-04 Vice admiralVeteran of Gulf War; Reached the rank of four-star admiral. Later served as Vice Chief of Naval Operations. Recipient of two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal, and five awards of Legion of Merit.
59NowellJohn B. NowellO-04 Vice admiralIncumbentVeteran of Gulf War; Previously served as Director, Military Personnel Plans and Policy. Recipient of Navy Distinguished Service Medal, six awards of Legion of Merit and Bronze Star Medal.