Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy


The Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy is a unique non-commissioned rank and position of office of the United States Navy, which has with it the paygrade of E-9. The holder of this position is the most senior enlisted member of the U.S. Navy, equivalent to the Sergeant Major of the Army, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard, and Senior Enlisted Advisor of the Space Force.
The Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy is appointed by the Chief of Naval Operations to serve as a spokesperson to address the issues of enlisted personnel to the highest positions in the Navy. As such, they are the senior enlisted advisor to the Chief of Naval Operations as well as the Chief of Naval Personnel. Their exact duties vary, depending on the CNO, though they generally devote much of their time to traveling throughout the Navy observing training and talking to sailors and their families. Their personnel code is N00D as the senior enlisted advisor to Chief of Naval Operations and PERS-00D in their special advisory capacity to Chief of Naval Personnel/Deputy Chief of Naval Operations. In 1988, the MCPON's spouse was made the Ombudsman-at-Large, authorizing them to travel around the fleet with their spouse, representing the interests of the spouses of enlisted members. The MCPON serves an appointed two-year term of office but can be reappointed by the CNO for an additional two-year term. Typically; the MCPON serves two terms. While the MCPON is a non-commissioned officer, this rank is protocoled higher than all rear admirals and equivalent to a vice admiral in billet, seating, transportation, and parking. The current MCPON is Russell Smith.

Origin

In 1966, the opportunity was given to sailors in the U.S. Navy's two largest concentration areas, Hampton Roads, Virginia, and San Diego County, California, to voice their concerns, complaints, and recommendations to the top levels of the U.S. Navy. The response was overwhelming; naval leaders realized that they were out of touch with the desires of enlisted sailors. To provide a permanent channel for input from the enlisted force to their senior leadership, the Navy acted on a suggestion to create a "Leading Chief Petty Officer of the Navy" who would have a direct dialogue channel with all enlisted sailors and represent their interests. Initially, the post was known as the Senior Enlisted Advisor of the Navy, and on 13 January 1967 GMCM Delbert Black was selected to serve a four-year term in that capacity. On 28 April of the same year, Black's title was changed to Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy to bring the Navy in line with the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army, which had created equivalent positions in 1957 and July 1966 respectively. MCPON Black's duties were to the Chief of Naval Personnel. All subsequent MCPONs have reported to both the CNO and CNP.

MCPON rate insignia

During the MCPON's tenure, a third silver star above the gold anchor is added onto the MCPON's collar and cap devices, as well as a rating badge consisting of a perched eagle atop three inverted gold chevrons, one rocker, and three inverted gold stars above the eagle. The MCPON's rating specialty mark is replaced by a single inverted gold star. The MCPON will also wear the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Badge on naval uniforms.

Master Chief Petty Officers of the Navy

Timeline


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bar:black from: 1967 till: 1971 color:ccg text:Delbert Black
bar:whittet from: 1971 till: 1975 color:ccg text:John "Jack" Whittet
bar:walker from: 1975 till: 1979 color:ccg text:Robert Walker
bar:crow from: 1979 till: 1982 color:ccg text:Thomas S. Crow
bar:sanders from: 1982 till: 1985 color:ccg text:Billy C. Sanders
bar:plackett from: 1985 till: 1988 color:ccg text:William H. Plackett
bar:bushey from: 1988 till: 1992 color:ccg text:Duane R. Bushey
bar:hagan from: 1992 till: 1998 color:ccg text:John Hagan
bar:herdt from: 1998 till: 2002 color:ccg text:James L. Herdt
bar:scott from: 2002 till: 2006 color:ccg text:Terry D. Scott
bar:campa from: 2006 till: 2008 color:ccg text:Joe R. Campa
bar:west from: 2008 till: 2012 color:ccg text:Rick D. West
bar:stevens from: 2012 till: 2016 color:ccg text:Michael D. Stevens
bar:giordano from: 2016 till: 2018 color:ccg text:Steven S. Giordano
bar:smith from: 2018 till: $now color:ccg text:Russell L. Smith