# Chief of Naval Personnel

The Chief of Naval Personnel (CHNAVPERS/CNP) is responsible for overall personnel readiness and manpower allocation for the United States Navy. The CNP serves in an additional duty capacity as the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Personnel, Manpower, and Training, with the identification of DCNO N1, and is one of five Deputy Chiefs of Naval Operations. The CNP oversees the Bureau of Naval Personnel (BUPERS), the Navy Manpower Analysis Center (NAVMAC), and the Naval Education and Training Command (NETC). While most BUPERS offices are located in Millington, Tennessee and are overseen on a day-to-day basis by the Deputy Chief of Naval Personnel (DEP CHNAVPERS/DCNP), a small BUPERS staff is located in Arlington, Virginia to directly support the CNP. 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 each appointed as a three-star vice admiral while holding office.
The role of CNP and DCNO N1 go hand-in-hand. The DCNO N1 exercises delegated authority from the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) in establishing human resource strategy and policy and serves as a single resource sponsor for all manpower and training program matters. The DCNO performs Capitol Hill related duties, including Congressional testimony, for matters pertaining to naval personnel, manpower, training, and education. The DCNO's office also acts as the lead organization to interface with Department of Defense (DOD) and Department of the Navy (DON) officials, other U.S. military and foreign departments, other Navy commands, other Federal agencies, and private organizations. DCNO N1 leads the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, N1 (OPNAV N1) in providing strategic direction and policy for the MyNavy HR enterprise.

## 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:
| # | Name | Rank | Start | End | Notability |
| 1 | DavisCharles H. Davis | O-04 Rear admiral | July 17, 1862 | April 27, 1865 | Veteran of Filibuster War and American Civil War; Member of Davis political family. |
| 2 | DraytonPercival Drayton | O-04 Captain | April 28, 1865 | August 4, 1865 | Veteran of Paraguay expedition and American Civil War for Union; Brother of Confederate General Thomas Drayton. Percival Drayton died in office. |
| 3 | DixonDavid Dixon Porter (acting) | O-04 Rear admiral | August 8, 1865 | August 24, 1865 | Veteran of Mexican–American War and American Civil War; Later served as Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy. |
| 4 | JenkinsThornton A. Jenkins | O-04 Rear admiral | August 24, 1865 | April 11, 1869 | Veteran of Mexican–American War and American Civil War; Later commanded the Asiatic Squadron. |
| 5 | AldenJames Alden Jr. | O-04 Rear admiral | April 12, 1869 | September 30, 1871 | Veteran of Mexican–American War and American Civil War; Later commanded the European Squadron. |
| 6 | AmmenDaniel Ammen | O-04 Rear admiral | October 1, 1871 | June 4, 1878 | Veteran of American Civil War; Also commanded the Bureau of Yards and Docks. |
| 7 | WhitingWilliam D. Whiting | O-04 Commodore | June 11, 1878 | October 12, 1881 | Veteran of American Civil War; |
| 8 | WalkerJohn G. Walker | O-04 Rear admiral | October 22, 1881 | October 31, 1889 | Veteran of American Civil War; Also commanded the White Squadron. |
| 9 | RamsayFrancis M. Ramsay | O-04 Rear admiral | November 1, 1889 | April 5, 1897 | Veteran of American Civil War; Also commanded the New York Navy Yard and served as naval attaché in London. |
| 10 | CrowninshieldArent S. Crowninshield | O-04 Rear admiral | April 8, 1897 | April 28, 1902 | Veteran of American Civil War and Spanish–American War; Member of Crowninshield family. |
| 11 | TaylorHenry C. Taylor | O-04 Rear admiral | April 29, 1902 | July 26, 1904 | Veteran of American Civil War and Spanish–American War; Previously served as the President of the Naval War College. Taylor died in office. |
| 12 | ConverseGeorge A. Converse | O-04 Rear admiral | August 1, 1904 | May 18, 1907 | Veteran of Spanish–American War; Also commanded the Bureau of Ordnance. |
| 13 | BrownsonWillard H. Brownson | O-04 Rear admiral | May 19, 1907 | December 24, 1908 | Veteran of Revolta da Armada and Spanish–American War; Also served as the Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy. |
| 14 | PillsburyJohn E. Pillsbury | O-04 Rear admiral | January 14, 1908 | June 23, 1909 | Veteran of Spanish–American War; Later served as the President of National Geographic Society. |
| 15 | PotterWilliam P. Potter | O-04 Rear admiral | July 1, 1909 | December 2, 1909 | Veteran of Spanish–American War; Later served as aid for Personnel to the Secretary of the Navy George von Lengerke Meyer. |
| 16 | NicholsonReginald F. Nicholson | O-04 Rear admiral | December 2, 1909 | January 1, 1912 | Veteran 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. |
| 17 | AndrewsPhilip Andrews | O-04 Rear admiral | January 1, 1912 | March 26, 1913 | Veteran of Philippine–American War and World War I; Later commanded the US Naval Forces in Europe. Recipient of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal. |
| 18 | BlueVictor Blue | O-04 Rear admiral | March 26, 1913 | August 10, 1916 | Veteran 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. |
| 19 | PalmerLeigh C. Palmer | O-04 Rear admiral | August 16, 1916 | November 1, 1918 | Veteran of Spanish–American War and World War I; Recipient of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal. |
| 20 | BlueVictor Blue | O-04 Rear admiral | December 19, 1918 | July 21, 1919 | Veteran 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. |
| 21 | WashingtonThomas Washington | O-04 Rear admiral | August 11, 1919 | July 27, 1923 | Veteran 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. |
| 22 | LongAndrew T. Long | O-04 Rear admiral | July 27, 1923 | June 7, 1924 | Veteran of Spanish–American War, Philippine–American War and World War I; Recipient of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal and Legion of Honour. |
| 23 | ShoemakerWilliam R. Shoemaker | O-04 Rear admiral | June 7, 1924 | February 10, 1927 | Veteran of Spanish–American War, and World War I; Recipient of the Navy Cross. |
| 24 | LeighRichard H. Leigh | O-04 Rear admiral | February 10, 1927 | May 22, 1930 | Veteran 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. |
| 25 | UphamFrank B. Upham | O-04 Rear admiral | May 22, 1930 | June 30, 1933 | Veteran 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. |
| 26 | LeahyWilliam D. Leahy | O-04 Rear admiral | July 1, 1933 | June 30, 1935 | Veteran 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. |
| 27 | AndrewsAdolphus Andrews | O-04 Rear admiral | June 30, 1935 | June 11, 1938 | Veteran 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. |
| 28 | RichardsonJames O. Richardson | O-04 Rear admiral | June 11, 1938 | June 15, 1939 | Veteran 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. |
| 29 | NimitzChester W. Nimitz | O-04 Rear admiral | June 15, 1939 | December 19, 1941 | Veteran 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. |
| 30 | JacobsRandall Jacobs | O-04 Vice admiral | December 19, 1941 | September 15, 1945 | Veteran of World War I and World War II; Reached the rank of vice admiral while in office. Held the command of the bureau for the duration of World War II. Recipient of Navy Distinguished Service Medal. |
| 31 | DenfeldLouis E. Denfeld | O-04 Vice admiral | September 15, 1945 | February 21, 1947 | Veteran 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. |
| 32 | FechtelerWilliam M. Fechteler | O-04 Vice admiral | February 22, 1947 | September 1949 | Veteran 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. |
| 33 | RoperJohn W. Roper | O-04 Vice admiral | September 7, 1949 | March 30, 1951 | Veteran of World War I and World War II; Reached the rank of vice admiral. Recipient of Legion of Merit and one Navy Commendation Medal. |
| 34 | DuBoseLaurance T. DuBose | O-04 Vice admiral | March 30, 1951 | February 2, 1953 | Veteran 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. |
| 35 | Holloway Jr.James L. Holloway Jr. | O-04 Vice admiral | February 3, 1953 | January 31, 1956 | Veteran 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. |
| 36 | SmithHarold P. Smith | O-04 Vice admiral | January 31, 1956 | February 12, 1960 | Veteran 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. |
| 37 | SmedbergWilliam R. Smedberg III | O-04 Vice admiral | February 12, 1960 | February 11, 1964 | Veteran 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. |
| 38 | Semmes Jr.Benedict J. Semmes Jr. | O-04 Vice admiral | April 1, 1964 | March 31, 1968 | Veteran 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. |
| 39 | DuncanCharles K. Duncan | O-04 Vice admiral | April 5, 1968 | August 21, 1970 | Veteran 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. |
| 40 | GuinnDick H. Guinn | O-04 Vice admiral | August 21, 1970 | February 1, 1972 | Veteran 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. |
| 41 | BagleyDavid H. Bagley | O-04 Vice admiral | February 1, 1972 | April 10, 1975 | Veteran 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. |
| 42 | WatkinsJames D. Watkins | O-04 Vice admiral | April 10, 1975 | July 21, 1978 | Veteran 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. |
| 43 | BaldwinRobert B. Baldwin | O-04 Vice admiral | July 21, 1978 | August 1, 1980 | Veteran 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. |
| 44 | ZechLando W. Zech Jr. | O-04 Vice admiral | August 1, 1980 | September 28, 1983 | Veteran 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. |
| 45 | LawrenceWilliam P. Lawrence | O-04 Vice admiral | September 28, 1983 | December 31, 1985 | Veteran 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. |
| 46 | CarlsonDudley L. Carlson | O-04 Vice admiral | January 1, 1986 | October 8, 1987 | Veteran of Vietnam; Two awards of Legion of Merit. |
| 47 | EdneyLeon A. Edney | O-04 Vice admiral | October 9, 1987 | August 8, 1988 | Veteran 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. |
| 48 | BoordaJeremy M. Boorda | O-04 Vice admiral | August 9, 1988 | November 6, 1991 | Veteran 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. |
| 49 | ZlatoperRonald J. Zlatoper | O-04 Vice admiral | November 7, 1991 | July 22, 1994 | Veteran 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. |
| 50 | BowmanFrank Bowman | O-04 Vice admiral | July 22, 1994 | September 19, 1996 | Veteran 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. |
| 51 | OliverDaniel T. Oliver | O-04 Vice admiral | September 20, 1996 | November 18, 1999 | Veteran 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. |
| 52 | RyanNorbert R. Ryan Jr. | O-04 Vice admiral | November 19, 1999 | October 7, 2002 | Veteran of Gulf War; Twin brother of Vice Admiral John R. Ryan. Two awards of Legion of Merit. |
| 53 | HoewingGerald L. Hoewing | O-04 Vice admiral | October 8, 2002 | November 22, 2005 | Veteran of Gulf War; Previously served as Commander, Carrier Group Seven. Navy Distinguished Service Medal and four awards of Legion of Merit. |
| 54 | HarveyJohn C. Harvey Jr. | O-04 Vice admiral | November 22, 2005 | April 16, 2008 | Veteran 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. |
| 55 | FergusonMark E. Ferguson III | O-04 Vice admiral | April 16, 2008 | October 5, 2011 | Veteran 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. |
| 56 | Van BuskirkScott R. Van Buskirk | O-04 Vice admiral | October 11, 2011 | August 2, 2013 | Veteran 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. |
| 57 | MoranWilliam F. Moran | O-04 Vice admiral | August 2, 2013 | May 27, 2016 | Veteran 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. |
| 58 | BurkeRobert P. Burke | O-04 Vice admiral | May 27, 2016 | May 23, 2019 | Veteran 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. |
| 59 | NowellJohn B. Nowell | O-04 Vice admiral | May 24, 2019 | June 3, 2022 | Veteran 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. |
| 60 | CheesemanRichard J. Cheeseman Jr. | O-04 Vice admiral | June 3, 2022 | Incumbent | Previously served as Commander, Carrier Strike Group 10. Recipient of four awards of Legion of Merit and Bronze Star Medal. |