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Chief of Naval Personnel
Seal of BUPERS
Flag of a Navy vice admiral
Incumbent Vice AdmiralJeffrey J. Czerewko since August 1, 2025
Bureau of Naval Personnel Office of the Chief of Naval Operations
Type	U.S. Navy Flag Officer
Abbreviation	CNP
Reports to	Secretary of the Navy Chief of Naval Operations
Seat	Naval Support Facility Arlington,Arlington, Virginia
Appointer	Thepresident withSenate advice and consent
Term length	4 years
Constituting instrument	10 U.S.C. § 8081
Final holder	VADM Richard J. Cheeseman, Jr.
Deputy	Deputy Chief of Naval Personnel
Website	Official Website

TheChief of Naval Personnel (CNP) is responsible for overall personnel readiness and manpower allocation for theUnited States Navy. CNP serves in an additional duty capacity asDeputy Chief of Naval Operations (DCNO) for Personnel, Manpower, and Training (N1), within the Office of theChief of Naval Operations (OPNAV). DCNO N1 is one of five deputy chiefs of naval operations.^[1] The CNP oversees theBureau of Naval Personnel (BUPERS) and Naval Education and Training Command (NETC). While most BUPERS personnel are located inMillington,Tennessee and are overseen on a day-to-day basis by the Deputy Chief of Naval Personnel—dual-hatted as Commander, Navy Personnel Command—the BUPERS headquarters and OPNAV N1 staff directly supporting CNP/DCNO N1 are located inArlington,Virginia. CNP and the other four DCNOs are nominated by thePresident of the United States and must be confirmed via majority vote by theUnited States Senate. Each DCNO is appointed as a three-starvice admiral while holding office.

While providing strategic direction and policy for the entire MyNavy HR enterprise as DCNO N1, CNP is responsible for overseeing all aspects of Navy personnel management, including policies and programs related to recruitment, training, career development, assignments, promotions, and retention for both enlisted and officer communities. This role ensures the Navy has a ready, well-trained, and properly distributed workforce to meet operational demands. CNP also advises senior Navy leadership on human resource strategies, manages personnel policies in compliance with federal law andDepartment of Defense guidance, and directs the execution of programs that impact the well-being, advancement, and professional development of Sailors throughout their careers.

Until 1942, theBureau of Navigation managed officer assignments, personnel records, and training for the U.S. Navy. In 1942, it was reorganized and renamed the Bureau of Naval Personnel. Below is the list of chiefs of the Bureau of Navigation and the Bureau of Naval Personnel:

#	Picture	Name	Rank	Start	End	Notability	Ref
1		DavisCharles H. Davis	O-04Rear admiral	July 17, 1862	April 27, 1865	Veteran ofFilibuster War andAmerican Civil War; Member ofDavis political family.	[2][3]
2		DraytonPercival Drayton	O-04Captain	April 28, 1865	August 4, 1865	Veteran ofParaguay expedition andAmerican Civil War for Union; Brother of Confederate GeneralThomas Drayton. Percival Drayton died in office.	[2][3]
3		DixonDavid Dixon Porter (acting)	O-04Rear admiral	August 8, 1865	August 24, 1865	Veteran ofMexican–American War andAmerican Civil War; Later served asSuperintendent of the United States Naval Academy.	[2][3]
4		JenkinsThornton A. Jenkins	O-04Rear admiral	August 24, 1865	April 11, 1869	Veteran ofMexican–American War andAmerican Civil War; Later commanded theAsiatic Squadron.	[2][3]
5		AldenJames Alden Jr.	O-04Rear admiral	April 12, 1869	September 30, 1871	Veteran ofMexican–American War andAmerican Civil War; Later commanded theEuropean Squadron.	[2][3]
6		AmmenDaniel Ammen	O-04Rear admiral	October 1, 1871	June 4, 1878	Veteran ofAmerican Civil War; Also commanded theBureau of Yards and Docks.	[2][3]
7		WhitingWilliam D. Whiting	O-04Commodore	June 11, 1878	October 12, 1881	Veteran ofAmerican Civil War;	[2][3]
8		WalkerJohn G. Walker	O-04Rear admiral	October 22, 1881	October 31, 1889	Veteran ofAmerican Civil War; Also commanded theWhite Squadron.	[2][3]
9		RamsayFrancis M. Ramsay	O-04Rear admiral	November 1, 1889	April 5, 1897	Veteran ofAmerican Civil War; Also commanded theNew York Navy Yard and served asnaval attaché inLondon.	[2][3]
10		CrowninshieldArent S. Crowninshield	O-04Rear admiral	April 8, 1897	April 28, 1902	Veteran ofAmerican Civil War andSpanish–American War; Member ofCrowninshield family.	[2][3]
11		TaylorHenry C. Taylor	O-04Rear admiral	April 29, 1902	July 26, 1904	Veteran ofAmerican Civil War andSpanish–American War; Previously served as thePresident of the Naval War College. Taylor died in office.	[2][3]
12		ConverseGeorge A. Converse	O-04Rear admiral	August 1, 1904	May 18, 1907	Veteran ofSpanish–American War; Also commanded theBureau of Ordnance.	[2][3]
13		BrownsonWillard H. Brownson	O-04Rear admiral	May 19, 1907	December 24, 1908	Veteran ofRevolta da Armada andSpanish–American War; Also served as theSuperintendent of the United States Naval Academy.	[2][3]
14		PillsburyJohn E. Pillsbury	O-04Rear admiral	January 14, 1908	June 23, 1909	Veteran ofSpanish–American War; Later served as the President ofNational Geographic Society.	[2][3]
15		PotterWilliam P. Potter	O-04Rear admiral	July 1, 1909	December 2, 1909	Veteran ofSpanish–American War; Later served as aid for Personnel to the Secretary of the NavyGeorge von Lengerke Meyer.	[2][4][3]
16		NicholsonReginald F. Nicholson	O-04Rear admiral	December 2, 1909	January 1, 1912	Veteran ofAmerican Civil War,Spanish–American War andWorld War I; Later served as the first Americannaval attaché toEcuador andPeru. Brother of Army generalWilliam J. Nicholson.	[2][3]
17		AndrewsPhilip Andrews	O-04Rear admiral	January 1, 1912	March 26, 1913	Veteran ofPhilippine–American War andWorld War I; Later commanded theUS Naval Forces in Europe. Recipient of theNavy Distinguished Service Medal.	[2][3]
18		BlueVictor Blue	O-04Rear admiral	March 26, 1913	August 10, 1916	Veteran ofSpanish–American War,Philippine–American War andWorld War I; Served two times as Chief of the Bureau of Navigation. Recipient of theNavy Distinguished Service Medal andSpecially Meritorious Service Medal.	[2][3]
19		PalmerLeigh C. Palmer	O-04Rear admiral	August 16, 1916	November 1, 1918	Veteran ofSpanish–American War andWorld War I; Recipient of theNavy Distinguished Service Medal.	[2][3]
20		BlueVictor Blue	O-04Rear admiral	December 19, 1918	July 21, 1919	Veteran ofSpanish–American War,Philippine–American War andWorld War I; Served two times as Chief of the Bureau of Navigation. Recipient of theNavy Distinguished Service Medal andSpecially Meritorious Service Medal.	[2][3]
21		WashingtonThomas Washington	O-04Rear admiral	August 11, 1919	July 27, 1923	Veteran ofSpanish–American War,Philippine–American War andWorld War I; Later served as Commandant of the Naval Operating Base, San Francisco, California and reached the rank of four-staradmiral. Recipient of theNavy Distinguished Service Medal.	[2][3]
22		LongAndrew T. Long	O-04Rear admiral	July 27, 1923	June 7, 1924	Veteran ofSpanish–American War,Philippine–American War andWorld War I; Recipient of theNavy Distinguished Service Medal andLegion of Honour.	[2][3]
23		ShoemakerWilliam R. Shoemaker	O-04Rear admiral	June 7, 1924	February 10, 1927	Veteran ofSpanish–American War, andWorld War I; Recipient of theNavy Cross.	[2][3]
24		LeighRichard H. Leigh	O-04Rear admiral	February 10, 1927	May 22, 1930	Veteran ofSpanish–American War, andWorld War I; Later served as four-staradmiral as Commander-in-Chief,United States Fleet. Recipient of theNavy Distinguished Service Medal,Order of the British Empire andOrder of Leopold.	[2][5][3]
25		UphamFrank B. Upham	O-04Rear admiral	May 22, 1930	June 30, 1933	Veteran ofSpanish–American War, andWorld War I; Later served as four-staradmiral as Commander-in-Chief,Asiatic Fleet. Recipient of theNavy Cross.	[2][3]
26		LeahyWilliam D. Leahy	O-04Rear admiral	July 1, 1933	June 30, 1935	Veteran ofSpanish–American War,Philippine–American War,World War I andWorld War II; One of four men, who achieved the rank offleet admiral. Later served asChief of Naval Operations or firstChairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Recipient of theNavy Cross and three awards ofNavy Distinguished Service Medal.	[2][3]
27		AndrewsAdolphus Andrews	O-04Rear admiral	June 30, 1935	June 11, 1938	Veteran ofSpanish–American War,Veracruz Expedition,World War I andWorld War II; Reached the rank ofvice admiral. Later served as Commander,Eastern Sea Frontier. Recipient of theNavy Distinguished Service Medal.	[2][3]
28		RichardsonJames O. Richardson	O-04Rear admiral	June 11, 1938	June 15, 1939	Veteran ofSpanish–American War,Philippine–American War,World War I andWorld War II; Reached the rank ofadmiral. Later served as Commander-in-Chief,United States Pacific Fleet.	[2][3]
29		NimitzChester W. Nimitz	O-04Rear admiral	June 15, 1939	December 19, 1941	Veteran ofWorld War I andWorld War II; One of four men, who achieved the rank offleet admiral. Later served asChief of Naval Operations or Commander-in-Chief,United States Pacific Fleet. Recipient of four awards ofNavy Distinguished Service Medal and oneArmy Distinguished Service Medal.	[2][3]
30		JacobsRandall Jacobs	O-04Vice admiral	December 19, 1941	September 15, 1945	Veteran ofWorld War I andWorld War II; Reached the rank ofvice admiral while in office. Held the command of the bureau for the duration of World War II. Recipient ofNavy Distinguished Service Medal.	[2][3]
31		DenfeldLouis E. Denfeld	O-04Vice admiral	September 15, 1945	February 21, 1947	Veteran ofVeracruz Expedition,Haitian Campaign,World War I andWorld War II; Reached the rank of four-staradmiral. Later served asChief of Naval Operations or Commander-in-Chief,United States Pacific Fleet. Recipient ofNavy Distinguished Service Medal and three awards ofLegion of Merit.	[2][3]
32		FechtelerWilliam M. Fechteler	O-04Vice admiral	February 22, 1947	September 1949	Veteran ofWorld War I andWorld War II; Reached the rank of four-staradmiral. Later served asChief of Naval Operations or Commander-in-Chief,United States Atlantic Fleet. Recipient of two awards ofNavy Distinguished Service Medal, oneArmy Distinguished Service Medal and one award ofLegion of Merit.	[2][3]
33		RoperJohn W. Roper	O-04Vice admiral	September 7, 1949	March 30, 1951	Veteran ofWorld War I andWorld War II; Reached the rank ofvice admiral. Recipient ofLegion of Merit and oneNavy Commendation Medal.	[2][3]
34		DuBoseLaurance T. DuBose	O-04Vice admiral	March 30, 1951	February 2, 1953	Veteran ofHaitian Campaign,World War I,Yangtze Patrol andWorld War II; Reached the rank of four-staradmiral. Later served as Commander-in-Chief,United States First Fleet or Commander,Eastern Sea Frontier. Recipient of three awards of theNavy Cross and three awards ofLegion of Merit.	[2][3]
35		Holloway Jr.James L. Holloway Jr.	O-04Vice admiral	February 3, 1953	January 31, 1956	Veteran ofWorld War I andWorld War II; Reached the rank of four-staradmiral. Later commandedUnited States Naval Forces Europe during1958 Lebanon crisis. Recipient ofNavy Distinguished Service Medal and one award ofLegion of Merit.	[2][3]
36		SmithHarold P. Smith	O-04Vice admiral	January 31, 1956	February 12, 1960	Veteran ofWorld War II; Reached the rank of four-staradmiral. Later commandedUnited States Atlantic Command. Recipient of theNavy Cross,Navy Distinguished Service Medal and two awards ofLegion of Merit.	[2][3]
37		SmedbergWilliam R. Smedberg III	O-04Vice admiral	February 12, 1960	February 11, 1964	Veteran ofWorld War II andKorea; Previously served as theSuperintendent of the United States Naval Academy. Recipient of theNavy Distinguished Service Medal,Silver Star and five awards ofLegion of Merit.	[2][3]
38		Semmes Jr.Benedict J. Semmes Jr.	O-04Vice admiral	April 1, 1964	March 31, 1968	Veteran ofWorld War II andKorea; Later served as thePresident of the Naval War College or Commander-in-Chief,United States Second Fleet. Recipient of theNavy Cross,Navy Distinguished Service Medal, and one award ofLegion of Merit.	[2][3]
39		DuncanCharles K. Duncan	O-04Vice admiral	April 5, 1968	August 21, 1970	Veteran ofWorld War II; Later served as the Commander-in-Chief,United States Atlantic Fleet. Recipient of theNavy Distinguished Service Medal, and one award ofLegion of Merit.	[2][3]
40		GuinnDick H. Guinn	O-04Vice admiral	August 21, 1970	February 1, 1972	Veteran ofWorld War II andKorean War; Later served as the Commander-in-Chief,United States Atlantic Fleet. Recipient of theNavy Cross,Navy Distinguished Service Medal, and one award ofLegion of Merit.	[2][6][3]
41		BagleyDavid H. Bagley	O-04Vice admiral	February 1, 1972	April 10, 1975	Veteran ofWorld War II,Korea andVietnam; Son of four-star AdmiralDavid W. Bagley and brother of four-star admiralWorth H. Bagley. Recipient of two awards ofNavy Distinguished Service Medal, and four awards ofLegion of Merit.	[2][3]
42		WatkinsJames D. Watkins	O-04Vice admiral	April 10, 1975	July 21, 1978	Veteran ofKorea andVietnam; Reached the rank of four-staradmiral. Later served asUnited States Secretary of Energy orChair of the President's Commission on the HIV Epidemic. Recipient of two awards ofDefense Distinguished Service Medal, three awards ofNavy Distinguished Service Medal, and three awards ofLegion of Merit.	[2][3]
43		BaldwinRobert B. Baldwin	O-04Vice admiral	July 21, 1978	August 1, 1980	Veteran ofWorld War II andVietnam; Previously served as Commander-in-Chief,United States Seventh Fleet. Recipient of two awards ofNavy Distinguished Service Medal, and two awards ofLegion of Merit.	[2][3]
44		ZechLando W. Zech Jr.	O-04Vice admiral	August 1, 1980	September 28, 1983	Veteran ofWorld War II andKorea; Previously served asCommander Naval Forces Japan. Recipient of two awards ofNavy Distinguished Service Medal, and two awards ofLegion of Merit.	[2][3]
45		LawrenceWilliam P. Lawrence	O-04Vice admiral	September 28, 1983	December 31, 1985	Veteran ofKorea andVietnam; Later served as Commander-in-Chief,United States Pacific Fleet and asSuperintendent of the United States Naval Academy. Recipient of four awards ofNavy Distinguished Service Medal, and three awards ofSilver Star.	[2][3]
46		CarlsonDudley L. Carlson	O-04Vice admiral	January 1, 1986	October 8, 1987	Veteran ofVietnam; Two awards ofLegion of Merit.	[2][3]
47		EdneyLeon A. Edney	O-04Vice admiral	October 9, 1987	August 8, 1988	Veteran ofVietnam; Retired as four-staradmiral. Served asVice Chief of Naval Operations orSupreme Allied Commander Atlantic. Two awards ofDefense Distinguished Service Medal, two awards ofNavy Distinguished Service Medal, and five awards ofDistinguished Flying Cross.	[2][3]
48		BoordaJeremy M. Boorda	O-04Vice admiral	August 9, 1988	November 6, 1991	Veteran ofVietnam andBosnian War; Reached the rank of four-staradmiral. Served asChief of Naval Operations orUnited States Naval Forces Europe. Two awards ofDefense Distinguished Service Medal, four awards ofNavy Distinguished Service Medal, and one award ofArmy Distinguished Service Medal.	[2][3]
49		ZlatoperRonald J. Zlatoper	O-04Vice admiral	November 7, 1991	July 22, 1994	Veteran ofVietnam andGulf War; Retired as four-staradmiral. Later served as Commander-in-Chief,United States Pacific Fleet. One award ofDefense Distinguished Service Medal, one award ofNavy Distinguished Service Medal, and three awards ofLegion of Merit.	[2][3]
50		BowmanFrank Bowman	O-04Vice admiral	July 22, 1994	September 19, 1996	Veteran ofVietnam andGulf War; Retired as four-staradmiral. Also served as Director of Naval Nuclear Propulsion. One award ofDefense Distinguished Service Medal, one award ofNavy Distinguished Service Medal, and four awards ofLegion of Merit.	[2][3]
51		OliverDaniel T. Oliver	O-04Vice admiral	September 20, 1996	November 18, 1999	Veteran ofGulf War; Later served as President of theNaval Postgraduate School. One award ofDefense Superior Service Medal, and four awards ofLegion of Merit.	[2][3]
52		RyanNorbert R. Ryan Jr.	O-04Vice admiral	November 19, 1999	October 7, 2002	Veteran ofGulf War; Twin brother of Vice AdmiralJohn R. Ryan. Two awards ofLegion of Merit.	[2][3]
53		HoewingGerald L. Hoewing	O-04Vice admiral	October 8, 2002	November 22, 2005	Veteran ofGulf War; Previously served as Commander, Carrier Group Seven.Navy Distinguished Service Medal and four awards ofLegion of Merit.	[2][3]
54		HarveyJohn C. Harvey Jr.	O-04Vice admiral	November 22, 2005	April 16, 2008	Veteran ofGulf War; Reached the rank of four-staradmiral. Later served as Commander,United States Fleet Forces Command. Recipient ofDefense Distinguished Service Medal, two awards ofNavy Distinguished Service Medal and five awards ofLegion of Merit.	[2][3]
55		FergusonMark E. Ferguson III	O-04Vice admiral	April 16, 2008	October 5, 2011	Veteran ofGulf War; Reached the rank of four-staradmiral. Later served as Commander-in-Chief,United States Naval Forces Europe. Recipient ofDefense Distinguished Service Medal, two awards ofNavy Distinguished Service Medal and three awards ofLegion of Merit.	[2][3]
56		Van BuskirkScott R. Van Buskirk	O-04Vice admiral	October 11, 2011	August 2, 2013	Veteran ofIraq War; Later served as Commander-in-Chief,United States Seventh Fleet. Recipient of two awards ofNavy Distinguished Service Medal, and seven awards ofLegion of Merit.	[2][3]
57		MoranWilliam F. Moran	O-04Vice admiral	August 2, 2013	May 27, 2016	Veteran ofGulf War; Reached the rank of four-staradmiral. Later served asVice Chief of Naval Operations. Recipient of two awards ofNavy Distinguished Service Medal, and five awards ofLegion of Merit.	[2][7][3]
58		BurkeRobert P. Burke	O-04Vice admiral	May 27, 2016	May 23, 2019	Veteran ofGulf War; Reached the rank of four-staradmiral. Later served asVice Chief of Naval Operations. Recipient of two awards ofNavy Distinguished Service Medal, and five awards ofLegion of Merit.	[2][8][3]
59		NowellJohn B. Nowell	O-04Vice admiral	May 24, 2019	June 3, 2022	Veteran ofGulf War; Previously served as Director, Military Personnel Plans and Policy. Recipient ofNavy Distinguished Service Medal, six awards ofLegion of Merit andBronze Star Medal.	[2]
60		CheesemanRichard J. Cheeseman Jr.	O-04Vice admiral	June 3, 2022	June 13, 2025	Previously served as Commander,Carrier Strike Group 10. Recipient of four awards ofLegion of Merit andBronze Star Medal.	[9]
61		BazeJeffrey J. Czerewko	O-04Vice admiral	August 1, 2025	Incumbent	Previously commanded Carrier Strike Group 4 and Strike Fighter Squadron 146. Recipient of the Legion of Merit (4 awards) and the Bronze Star Medal.

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