Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy

Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
Badge of the MCPON
Incumbent Russell L. Smith since 29 August 2018
Formation	28 April 1967 (1967-04-28)
First holder	Delbert Black
Website	Official website

The Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON /ˈmɪkpɒn/) is a unique non-commissioned rate 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, and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard.

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 (Manpower, Personnel, and Training). 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 team of office^[1] but can be reappointed by the CNO for an additional two-year term.^[2] Typically; the MCPON serves two terms. While the MCPON is a non-commissioned officer, this billet is unofficially protocoled equivalent to a vice admiral.^[3] The current MCPON is Russell Smith.^[4][5][6]

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

MCPON rate insignia
Sleeve	Collar	Shoulder

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

No.	MCPON	Photo	Tenure
1	MCPON Delbert Black		1967-01-13 – 1971-04-01
2	MCPON(NAC/CAC) John "Jack" Whittet		1971-04-01 – 1975-09-25
3	MCPON Robert Walker		1975-09-25 – 1979-09-28
4	MCPON(NAC) Thomas S. Crow		1979-09-28 – 1982-10-01
5	MCPON(NAC) Billy C. Sanders		1982-10-01 – 1985-10-04
6	MCPON(SW) William H. Plackett		1985-10-04 – 1988-09-09
7	MCPON(AW/NAC) Duane R. Bushey		1988-09-09 – 1992-08-28
8	MCPON(SW/PJ) John Hagan		1992-08-28 – 1998-03-27
9	MCPON(SS/SW/AW) James L. Herdt		1998-03-27 – 2002-04-22
10	MCPON(SS/AW) Terry D. Scott		2002-04-22 – 2006-07-10
11	MCPON(SW/FMF) Joe R. Campa		2006-07-10 – 2008-12-12
12	MCPON(SS/SW) Rick D. West		2008-12-12 – 2012-09-28
13	MCPON(AW/NAC) Michael D. Stevens		2012-09-28 – 2016-09-02
14	MCPON(SG/SW/IW) Steven S. Giordano		2016-09-02 – 2018-06-21
Acting	FLTCM(SW/IW/AW) Russell L. Smith		2018-06-22 – 2018-08-29
15	MCPON(SW/IW/AW) Russell L. Smith		2018-08-29 – present

Timeline

See also

• Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
• Sergeant Major of the Army—U.S. Army equivalent
• Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps—U.S. Marine Corps equivalent
• Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force—U.S. Air Force equivalent
• Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard—U.S. Coast Guard equivalent
• Senior Enlisted Advisor for the National Guard Bureau

References

• Crist, Charlotte D. Winds of Change: The History of the Office of the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy 1967–1992. Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, 1992. A joint publication of the Office of the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy and the Naval Historical Center which is available through the Government Printing Office and depository libraries.

External links

• Media related to Master Chief Petty Officers of the United States Navy at Wikimedia Commons

United States enlisted ranks
Pay grade → Branch of service ↓	E-1	E-2	E-3	E-4	E-5	E-6	E-7	E-8	E-9
Army	PVT	PV2	PFC	SPC – CPL	SGT	SSG	SFC	MSG – 1SG	SGM – CSM – SMA
Marine Corps	Pvt	PFC	LCpl	Cpl	Sgt	SSgt	GySgt	MSgt – 1stSgt	MGySgt – SgtMaj – SgtMajMarCor
Navy	SR	SA	SN	PO3	PO2	PO1	CPO	SCPO – CMDCS	MCPO – CMDCM – FORCM, FLTCM – MCPON
Air Force	AB	Amn	A1C	SrA	SSgt	TSgt	MSgt – 1st Sgt	SMSgt – 1st Sgt	CMSgt – 1st Sgt – CCM – CMSAF
Coast Guard	SR	SA	SN	PO3	PO2	PO1	CPO	SCPO	MCPO – CMC – Area CMC, CGRF-CMC – MCPOCG