Chief of Naval Operations The Chief of Naval Operations ( CNO ) is a statutory office ( ) held by a four - star admiral in the United States Navy , and is the most senior naval officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Navy . The office is a military adviser and deputy to the Secretary of the Navy . In a separate capacity as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff ( ) the CNO is a military adviser to the National Security Council , the Homeland Security Council , the Secretary of Defense , and the President . The current Chief of Naval Operations is Admiral Jonathan W . Greenert . The Chief of Naval Operations is an administrative position based in the Pentagon , and while the CNO " does not have operational command authority " over Naval forces as the title implies ( that is nowadays within the purview of the Combatant Commanders who report to the Secretary of Defense ) , the CNO " does exercise supervision " of Navy organizations as the designee of the Secretary of the Navy . Responsibilities . Department of the Navy . The CNO reports directly to the Secretary of the Navy for the command , utilization of resources and operating efficiency of the operating forces of the Navy and of the Navy shore activities assigned by the Secretary . Under the authority of the Secretary of the Navy , the CNO also designates naval personnel and naval resources to the commanders of Unified Combatant Command s . The CNO also performs all other functions prescribed under and those assigned by the secretary or delegates those duties and responsibilities to other officers in his administration under his name . The CNO is typically the highest - ranking officer on active - duty in the Navy unless the Chairman and / or the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are naval officers . Like the other joint chiefs , the CNO is an administrative position and has no operational command authority over United States naval forces . Office of the Chief of Naval Operations . The Chief of Naval Operations presides over the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations ( OpNav ) , which is one of three headquarters staffs in Department of the Navy ( the others being the Office of the Secretary of the Navy and Headquarters Marine Corps . ) Policy documents are issued in the form of OPNAV Instruction s . Appointment . The Chief of Naval Operations is nominated by the President for appointment and must be confirmed via majority vote by the Senate . 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 . However , the president may waive those requirements if he determines the officer is necessary for national interest . By statute , the CNO is appointed as a four - star admiral . Former 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 Congress authorized its transformation to an official residence for the Vice President . List of Chiefs of Naval Operations ( 1915 – present ) . The position of CNO replaced the position of Aide for Naval Operations , which was a position established by regulation rather than statutory law . Notes . The monthly pay for the CNO is $ 20 , 587 . 80 per month