The master chief petty officer of the Navy (MCPON /ˈmɪkpɒn/) is a unique non-commissioned rank and position of office of the United States Navy, which is designated as a special paygrade above 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 chief master sergeant of the Space Force. The holder of this rank and position is typically the most senior enlisted sailor in the Navy, unless an enlisted sailor is serving as the senior enlisted advisor to the chairman. The current MCPON is John Perryman.

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 and to 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 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.

Origin

In 1966, the opportunity was given to sailors in the U.S. Navy's two largest areas of concentration, 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 Delbert Black's rank insignia.

MCPON Delbert Black altered his Chief Gunner's Mate insignia and added a third silver star to the rating badge. Black's wife had been the one who suggested the third star not only on the rating badge, but also the cap and collar insignia. The uniform board agreed.

In 1971, the MCPON's rating specialty mark was replaced by a single inverted gold star as well as the stars being changed to gold.

Thomas S. Crow was the first MCPON to wear the MCPON identification badge.

List of master chief petty officers of the Navy

No.PortraitMCPONTook officeLeft officeTime in office
1Black, DelbertMCPON Delbert Black (1922–2000)13 January 19671 April 19714years, 79days
2Whittet, JohnMCPON John "Jack" Whittet (1925–1989)1 April 197125 September 19754years, 177days
3Walker, RobertMCPON Robert Walker (1929–2016)25 September 197528 September 19794years, 3days
4Crow, ThomasMCPON Thomas S. Crow (1934–2008)28 September 19791 October 19823years, 3days
5Sanders, BillyMCPON Billy C. Sanders (born 1936)1 October 19824 October 19853years, 3days
6Plackett, WilliamMCPON William H. Plackett (1937–2016)4 October 19859 September 19882years, 341days
7Bushey, DuaneMCPON (AW) Duane R. Bushey (born 1944)9 September 198828 August 19923years, 354days
8Hagan, JohnMCPON (SW) John Hagan (born 1946)28 August 199227 March 19985years, 211days
9Herdt, JamesMCPON (SS/SW/AW) James L. Herdt (born 1947)27 March 199822 April 20024years, 26days
10Scott, TerryMCPON (SS/AW) Terry D. Scott22 April 200210 July 20064years, 79days
11Campa, JoeMCPON (FMF/SW) Joe R. Campa10 July 200612 December 20082years, 155days
12West, RickMCPON (SS/SW) Rick D. West (born 1963)12 December 200828 September 20123years, 291days
13Stevens, MichaelMCPON (AW/NAC) Michael D. Stevens28 September 20122 September 20163years, 340days
14Giordano, StevenMCPON (SG/SW/IW) Steven S. Giordano2 September 201621 June 20181year, 292days
-Smith, RussellFLTCM (IW/SW/AW) Russell L. Smith Acting21 June 201829 August 201869days
15Smith, RussellMCPON (IW/SW/AW) Russell L. Smith29 August 20188 September 20224years, 10days
16Honea, JamesMCPON (SW/AW) James Honea8 September 202212 September 20253years, 4days
17Perryman, John J. IVMCPON (SS) John J. Perryman IV13 September 2025Incumbent352days

Timeline

See also

  • 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 toMaster Chief Petty Officers of the United States Navyat Wikimedia Commons