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62-720: COMNAVAIRFOR is a three-star headquarters, based at NAS North Island in Coronado, California . The current commander is VADM Daniel Cheever . The staff is made up of about 515 officer, enlisted, civilian and contractor personnel. The position is colloquially known throughout the Navy as "the Air Boss" , mimicking the nickname given to the officer who commands the air department on an aircraft carrier. "Man, train, and equip deployable, combat-ready naval Aviation forces that win in combat." Commander, Naval Air Forces (CNAF), also known as

124-509: A Prussian-style general staff and inadvertently increasing the powers of the Navy secretary, which risked infringing on legislative authority. Senator Eugene Hale , chairman of the Senate Committee on Naval Affairs , disliked reformers like Sims and persistently blocked attempts to bring such ideas to debate. To circumvent the opposition, George von Lengerke Meyer , Secretary of the Navy under William Howard Taft implemented

186-580: A link between fleet commanders and the General Board, Ship Movements coordinated the movement of Navy vessels and oversaw navy yard overhauls, Communications accounted for the Navy's developing radio network, Publicity conducted the Navy's public affairs, and the Materiel section coordinated the work of the naval bureaus. Numbering only 75 staffers in January 1917, OPNAV increased in size following

248-695: A military adviser to the National Security Council , the Homeland Security Council , the secretary of defense , and the president . Despite the title, the CNO does not have operational command authority over naval forces. The CNO is an administrative position based in the Pentagon , and exercises supervision of Navy organizations as the designee of the secretary of the Navy. Operational command of naval forces falls within

310-425: A powerful, aggressive CNO sharing authority with the Navy secretary, Benson demonstrated personal loyalty to Secretary Daniels and subordinated himself to civilian control, yet maintained the CNO's autonomy where necessary. While alienating reformers like Sims and Fiske (who retired in 1916), Benson's conduct gave Daniels immense trust in his new CNO, and Benson was delegated greater resources and authority. Among

372-467: A reorganization combining the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets into the U.S. Fleet, the detachment was renamed Aircraft Squadrons, Battle Fleet. In 1933, another reorganization established two principal commands: Commander Aircraft Battle Force and Commander Tender-based Aircraft. Commander, Air Pacific was established during World War II as the requirements of supporting air combat units widely deployed in

434-406: A system of "aides" on 18 November 1909. These aides lacked command authority and instead served as principal advisors to the Navy secretary. The aide for operations was deemed by Meyer to be the most important one, responsible for devoting "his entire attention and study to the operations of the fleet," and drafting orders for the movement of ships on the advice of the General Board and approval of

496-609: A term of four years by the President, by and with the advice of the Senate, who, under the Secretary of the Navy, shall be responsible for the readiness of the Navy for war and be charged with its general direction. In contrast, Daniels' version, included in the final bill, emphasized the office's subordination to the Navy secretary, allowed for the selection of the CNO from officers of the rank of captain, and denied it authority over

558-469: A three-star rank is a game of musical chairs; once an officer vacates a position bearing that rank, the officer must be appointed or reappointed to a job of equal or higher importance within 60 days or involuntarily retires. Historically, officers leaving three-star positions were allowed to revert to their permanent two-star ranks to mark time in lesser jobs until statutory retirement, but now such officers are expected to retire immediately to avoid obstructing

620-831: A trip to Europe as the 1918 armistice with Germany was signed. His stance that the United States remain equal to Great Britain in naval power was very useful to House and Wilson, enough for Wilson to insist Benson remain in Europe until after the Treaty of Versailles was signed in July 1919. Benson's tenure as CNO was slated to end on 10 May 1919, but this was delayed by the president at Secretary Daniels' insistence; Benson instead retired on 25 September 1919. Admiral Robert Coontz replaced Benson as CNO on 1 November 1919. The CNO's office faced no significant changes in authority during

682-466: A weaker relationship with President Franklin D. Roosevelt than Pratt enjoyed with Hoover. Often in direct conflict with Navy secretary Claude A. Swanson and assistant secretary Henry L. Roosevelt , Standley's hostility to the latter was described as "poisonous". Conversely, Standley successfully improved relations with Congress, streamlining communications between the Department of the Navy and

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744-465: Is a statutory organization within the executive part of the Department of the Navy, and its purpose is to furnish professional assistance to the secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) and the CNO in carrying out their responsibilities. Under the authority of the CNO, the director of the Navy Staff ( DNS ) is responsible for day-to-day administration of the Navy Staff and coordination of the activities of

806-459: Is nominated for appointment by the president, for a four-year term of office, and must be confirmed 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 that appointing

868-1127: The Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA); and the Commander, Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center (NAWDC). The NAE encompasses all of Naval Aviation and has three, three-star leaders. In addition to the Commander Naval Air Forces, these leaders are the U.S. Marine Corps Deputy Commandant for Aviation and the commander of Naval Air Systems Command (COMNAVAIRSYSCOM). Within the NAE there are about 3,800 sea-based and shore-based aircraft that perform strike/fighter, electronic attack, airborne early warning, maritime patrol and reconnaissance, anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine/sub-surface warfare, strategic communications relay, search and rescue (SAR), helicopter mine countermeasures, training, and logistical support missions. These assets include 11 aircraft carriers and approximately 100,000 active and reserve military personnel, as well as Department of

930-497: The American entry into World War I , as it was deemed of great importance to manage the rapid mobilization of forces to fight in the war. By war's end, OPNAV employed over 1462 people. The CNO and OPNAV thus gained influence over Navy administration but at the expense of the Navy secretary and bureau chiefs. In 1918, Benson became a military advisor to Edward M. House , an advisor and confidant of President Wilson, joining him on

992-533: The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff . The nominee must be confirmed via majority vote by the Senate before the appointee can take office and thus assume the rank. The standard tour length for most vice admiral positions is three years but some are set four or more years by statute. Extensions of the standard tour length can be approved, within statutory limits, by their respective service secretaries,

1054-571: The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), when filled by a naval officer, are vice admirals. The Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy is usually a vice admiral, either upon nomination or shortly thereafter. The President may also add vice admirals to the Navy if they are offset by removing an equivalent number of three-star officers from other services. Finally, all statutory limits may be waived at

1116-478: The Great Depression . Under Pratt, such a "treaty system" was needed to maintain a compliant peacetime navy. Pratt opposed centralized management of the Navy, and encouraged diversity of opinion between the offices of the Navy secretary, CNO and the Navy's General Board. To this effect, Pratt removed the CNO as an ex officio member of the General Board, concerned that the office's association with

1178-614: The Secretary of Defense , the President or Congress but these are rare, as they block other officers from being promoted. Some statutory limits under the U.S. Code can be waived in times of national emergency or war. Three-star ranks may also be given by act of Congress but this is extremely rare. Other than voluntary retirement, statute sets a number of mandates for retirement. Three-star officers must retire after 38 years of service unless appointed for promotion or reappointed to grade to serve longer. Otherwise all flag officers must retire

1240-402: The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy . Occasionally, the superintendent of the academy is appointed to the rank vice admiral due to their longevity in the position, or for prior military experience. The three-star grade goes hand-in-hand with the position or office it is linked to, so the rank is temporary. Officers may only achieve three-star grade if they are appointed to positions that require

1302-680: The United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps , the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps , and the United States Maritime Service , with the pay grade of O-9. Vice admiral ranks above rear admiral and below admiral . Vice admiral is equivalent to the rank of lieutenant general in the other uniformed services . United States Code explicitly limits

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1364-515: The "Air Boss," is the senior Navy leader of the Naval Aviation Enterprise (NAE) and is responsible for all Naval Aviation programs, personnel and assets. CNAF is a dual-hatted position where the incumbent concurrently functions as Commander Naval Air Force Pacific Fleet (COMNAVAIRPAC). CNAF is supported by Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (COMNAVAIRLANT); Commander, Naval Air Force Reserve (COMNAVAIRES);

1426-666: The Board could hamper diversities of opinion between the former and counterparts within the offices of the Navy secretary and OPNAV. Pratt's vision of a less powerful CNO also clashed with Representative Carl Vinson of Georgia , chair of the House Naval Affairs Committee from 1931 to 1947, a proponent of centralizing power within OPNAV. Vinson deliberately delayed many of his planned reorganization proposals until Pratt's replacement by William H. Standley to avoid

1488-542: The Bureau of Navigation (BuNav) from 1905 to 1906, reported: [W]ith each year that passes the need is painfully apparent for a military administrative authority under the secretary, whose purpose would be to initiate and direct the steps necessary to carry out the Department's policy, and to coordinate the work of the bureaus and direct their energies toward the effective preparation of the fleet for war. However, reorganization attempts were opposed by Congress due to fears of

1550-463: The CNO into the ship design process. Swanson's ill health and assistant secretary Henry Roosevelt's death on 22 February 1936 gave Leahy unprecedented influence. Leahy had private lunches with the President frequently; during his tenure as CNO, Roosevelt had 52 meetings with him, compared with 12 with his Army counterpart, General Malin Craig , none of which were private lunches. Leahy retired from

1612-792: The Navy civilians and contractors. In October 1919, Air Detachment, Pacific Fleet came into existence, making naval aviation formally part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet . The original organization was divided into Landplane, Shipplane and Seaplane divisions. Within a brief period, the three divisions evolved into Fighting, Spotting and Seaplane Patrol Squadrons, respectively. The purpose of air detachments was: "attack on enemy aircraft, spotting gunfire for surface craft torpedo attack by torpedo planes, demolition, toxic gas and incendiary bomb attack, smoke and gas screen laying, mine and countermining; flare dropping; scouting reconnaissance, patrol and convoy duty; photography, mapping, detection of enemy coastal defenses and mail passenger service." In June 1922 as part of

1674-554: The Navy on 1 August 1939 to become Governor of Puerto Rico , a month before the invasion of Poland . 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

1736-672: The Navy to prepare for World War II without breaking potential limits from future arms control conferences. The Act also granted the CNO "soft oversight power" of the naval bureaus which nominally lay with the secretary of the Navy, as Standley gradually inserted OPNAV into the ship design process. Under Standley, the "treaty system" created by Pratt was abandoned. Outgoing commander, Battle Force William D. Leahy succeeded Standley as CNO on 2 January 1937. Leahy's close personal friendship with President Roosevelt since his days as Navy assistant secretary , as well as good relationships with Representative Vinson and Secretary Swanson brought him to

1798-559: The Navy's fleet commanders. In the waning years of his tenure, Benson set regulations for officers on shore duty to have temporary assignments with the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations to maintain cohesion between the higher-level staff and the fleet. Until 1916, the CNO's office was chronically understaffed. The formal establishment of the CNO's "general staff", the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV), originally called

1860-413: The Navy's general direction: There shall be a Chief of Naval Operations, who shall be an officer on the active list of the Navy appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, from the officers of the line of the Navy not below the grade of Captain for a period of four years, who shall, under the direction of the Secretary, be charged with the operations of the fleet, and with

1922-560: The Office for Operations, was exacerbated by Eugene Hale's retirement from politics in 1911, and skepticism of whether the CNO's small staff could implement President Wilson's policy of "preparedness" without violating American neutrality in World War I. By June 1916, OPNAV was organized into eight divisions: Operations, Plans, Naval Districts; Regulations; Ship Movements; Communications; Publicity; and Materiel. Operations provided

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1984-509: The Pacific Ocean area increased. Finding much inefficiency in the various administrative commands within naval aviation, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz , Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet , directed a consolidation of various administrative functions for a more efficient command structure. This new command became Air Pacific Fleet, "to function as a Type Commander for fleet aircraft, to prepare general policy and doctrine for

2046-480: The President's discretion during time of war or national emergency. By statute, no more than five vice admiral positions may exist in the Coast Guard and, if there are five, one must be the chief of staff of the Coast Guard. By statute, the only U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps officer who holds the rank of vice admiral is the officer serving as Surgeon General of the United States . Although

2108-823: The SECDEF, but keeps SECNAV fully informed of significant military operations affecting the duties and responsibilities of the SECNAV, unless SECDEF orders otherwise. In 1900, administrative and operational authority over the Navy was concentrated in the secretary of the Navy and bureau chiefs , with the General Board holding only advisory powers. Critics of the lack of military command authority included Charles J. Bonaparte , Navy secretary from 1905 to 1906, then-Captain Reginald R. Belknap and future admiral William Sims . Rear Admiral George A. Converse , commander of

2170-623: The additional title of Commander, Naval Air Forces (COMNAVAIRFOR). The Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA) and the Commander, Naval Air Force Reserve (COMNAVAIRES) were also subsequently placed under the aegis of COMNAVAIRFOR. Vice admiral (United States) Vice admiral (abbreviated as VADM ) is a three-star commissioned officer rank in the United States Navy , the United States Coast Guard ,

2232-594: The aides system promulgated under Meyer. Captain William S. Benson was promoted to the temporary rank of rear admiral and became the first CNO on 11 May 1915. He further assumed the rank of admiral after the passage of the 1916 Naval Appropriations Bill with Fiske's amendments, second only to Admiral of the Navy George Dewey and explicitly senior to the commanders-in-chief of the Atlantic, Pacific and Asiatic Fleets. Unlike Fiske, who had campaigned for

2294-459: The authority of the CNO. Benson also revamped the structure of the naval districts , transferring authority for them from SECNAV to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations under the Operations, Plans, Naval Districts division. This enabled closer cooperation between naval district commanders and the uniformed leadership, who could more easily handle communications between the former and

2356-580: The fifth Chief of Naval Operations on 17 September 1930, after the resignation of Charles F. Hughes . He had previously served as assistant chief of naval operations under CNO Benson. A premier naval policymaker and supporter of arms control under the Washington Naval Treaty, Pratt, despite otherwise good relations, clashed with President Herbert Hoover over building up naval force strength to treaty levels, with Hoover favoring restrictions in spending due to financial difficulties caused by

2418-462: The forefront of potential candidates for the post. Unlike Standley, who tried to dominate the bureaus, Leahy preferred to let the bureau chiefs function autonomously as per convention, with the CNO acting as a primus inter pares . Leahy's views of the CNO's authority led to clashes with his predecessor; Standley even attempted to block Leahy from being assigned a fleet command in retaliation. Leahy, on his part, continued Standley's efforts to insert

2480-413: The full House Committee on Naval Affairs on 6 January. Fiske's younger supporters expected him to be named the first chief of naval operations, and his versions of the bill provided for the minimum rank of the officeholder to be a two-star rear admiral. There shall be a Chief of Naval Operations, who shall be an officer on the active list of the Navy not below the grade of Rear Admiral, appointed for

2542-492: The headquarters was moved from Pearl Harbor , Hawaii to Naval Air Station, North Island , California. In October 2001, the Chief of Naval Operations redesignated Commander, Naval Air Force U.S. Atlantic Fleet (AIRPAC's East Coast counterpart) from a three star command into a two star command and placed it under AIRPAC's command in a "Lead-Follow" arrangement. Under this arrangement COMNAVAIRPAC became TYCOM for Air, and assumed

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2604-572: The interwar period, largely due to the Navy secretaries opting to keep executive authority within their own office. Innovations during this period included encouraging coordination in war planning process, and compliance with the Washington Naval Treaty while still keeping to the shipbuilding plan authorized by the Naval Act of 1916 . and implementing the concept of naval aviation into naval doctrine. William V. Pratt became

2666-534: The month after their 64th birthday. The Secretary of Defense, however, can defer a three-star officer's retirement until the officer's 66th birthday and the president can defer it until the officer's 68th birthday. Flag officers typically retire well in advance of the statutory age and service limits, so as not to impede the upward career mobility of their juniors. Since there is a finite number of three-star slots available to each service, typically one officer must leave office before another can be promoted. Maintaining

2728-446: The naval armament of the United States within the limitation so agreed upon, except that such suspension shall not apply to vessels actually under construction on the date of the passage of this act. ” This effectively provided security for all Navy vessels under construction; even if new shipbuilding projects could not be initiated, shipbuilders with new classes under construction could not legally be obliged to cease operations, allowing

2790-558: The naval oversight committees by appointing the first naval legislative liaisons, the highest-ranked of which reported to the judge advocate general . Standley also worked with Representative Vinson to pass the Vinson-Trammell Act, considered by Standley to be his most important achievement as CNO. The Act authorized the President: “to suspend” construction of the ships authorized by the law “ as may be necessary to bring

2852-543: The office of CNO. In 1914, Fiske, frustrated at Daniels' ambivalence towards his opinion that the Navy was unprepared for the possibility of entry into World War I , bypassed the secretary to collaborate with Representative Richmond P. Hobson , a retired Navy admiral, to draft legislation providing for the office of "a chief of naval operations". The preliminary proposal (passed off as Hobson's own to mask Fiske's involvement), in spite of Daniels' opposition, passed Hobson's subcommittee unanimously on 4 January 1915, and passed

2914-434: The officer is necessary for the national interest. The chief can be reappointed to serve one additional term, but only during times of war or national emergency declared by Congress. By statute, the CNO is appointed as a four-star admiral . As per 10 U.S.C.   § 8035 , whenever there is a vacancy for the chief of naval operations or during the absence or disability of the chief of naval operations, and unless

2976-481: The officer to hold such a rank. Their rank expires with the expiration of their term of office, which is usually set by statute. Vice admirals are nominated for appointment by the President from any eligible officers holding the rank of rear admiral (lower half) or above, who also meet the requirements for the position, under the advice or suggestion of the Secretary of Defense , the applicable service secretary, or

3038-512: The operation of aviation units, to recommend the types, characteristics and numbers of aircraft required, and to carry out the strategic distribution of all air units in the Pacific area." On July 29, 1942, Admiral Ernest King approved the recommendation and thus established Commander U.S. Naval Air Force, Pacific Fleet (COMNAVAIRPAC), effective September 1, 1942. Vice Admiral John Henry Towers became its commander soon afterwards. In May 1949,

3100-475: The organizational efforts initiated or recommended by Benson included an advisory council to coordinate high-level staff activities, composed of himself, the SECNAV and the bureau chiefs which "worked out to the great satisfaction" of Daniels and Benson; the reestablishment of the Joint Army and Navy Board in 1918 with Benson as its Navy member; and the consolidation of all matters of naval aviation under

3162-482: The other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the CNO is an administrative position, with no operational command authority over the United States Navy forces. Members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, individually or collectively, in their capacity as military advisers, shall provide advice to the president, the National Security Council (NSC), or the secretary of defense (SECDEF) on a particular matter when

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3224-468: The preparation and readiness of plans for its use in war. Fiske's " end-running " of Daniels eliminated any possibility of him being named the first CNO. Nevertheless, satisfied with the change he had helped enact, Fiske made a final contribution: elevating the statutory rank of the CNO to admiral with commensurate pay. The Senate passed the appropriations bill creating the CNO position and its accompanying office on 3 March 1915, simultaneously abolishing

3286-442: The president directs otherwise, the vice chief of naval operations performs the duties of the chief of naval operations until a successor is appointed or the absence or disability ceases. The CNO also performs all other functions prescribed under 10 U.S.C.   § 8033 , such as presiding over the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV), exercising supervision of Navy organizations , and other duties assigned by

3348-448: The president, the NSC, or SECDEF requests such advice. Members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (other than the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff ) may submit to the chairman advice or an opinion in disagreement with, or advice or an opinion in addition to, the advice presented by the chairman to the president, NSC, or SECDEF. When performing her JCS duties, the CNO is responsible directly to

3410-497: The promotion flow. Chief of Naval Operations The chief of naval operations ( CNO ) is the highest-ranking officer of the United States Navy . The position is a statutory office ( 10 U.S.C.   § 8033 ) held by an admiral who is a military adviser and deputy to the secretary of the Navy . The CNO is also a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff ( 10 U.S.C.   § 151 ) and in this capacity,

3472-402: The purview of the combatant commanders who report to the secretary of defense. The current chief of naval operations is Lisa Franchetti , who was sworn in on November 2, 2023. The chief of naval operations (CNO) is typically the highest-ranking officer on active duty in the U.S. Navy unless the chairman and/or the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are naval officers. The CNO

3534-584: The rank of vice admiral exists in the NOAA Corps, its use is rare. Only three officers of the NOAA Corps or its ancestor organizations have reached the rank of vice admiral. While the Maritime Service has not been structurally organized since 1954, remnants of the service still commission officers for federal uniformed service, under the authority of the secretary of transportation and the president , to serve as administrators and instructors at

3596-601: The residence of the CNO until 1974, when Congress authorized its transformation to an official residence for the vice president . The chief of naval operations currently resides in Quarters A in the Washington Naval Yard . The chief of naval operations presides over the Navy Staff , formally known as the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations ( OPNAV ). The Office of the Chief of Naval Operations

3658-411: The secretary in times of war or emergency. The successes of Meyer's first operations aide, Rear Admiral Richard Wainwright , factored into Meyer's decision to make his third operations aide, Rear Admiral Bradley A. Fiske his de facto principal advisor on 10 February 1913. Fiske retained his post under Meyer's successor, Josephus Daniels , becoming the most prominent advocate for what would become

3720-516: The secretary or higher lawful authority, or the CNO delegates those duties and responsibilities to other officers in OPNAV or in organizations below. Acting for the secretary of the Navy, the CNO also designates naval personnel and naval forces available to the commanders of unified combatant commands , subject to the approval of the secretary of defense. The CNO is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as prescribed by 10 U.S.C.   § 151 and 10 U.S.C.   § 8033 . Like

3782-539: The total number of vice admirals that may be on active duty at any given time. The total number of active-duty flag officers is capped at 162 for the U.S. Navy. For the Navy, no more than 20% of the service's active-duty flag officers may have more than two stars. Some of these slots can be reserved by statute. Officers serving in certain Defense Agency Director positions such as the Director of

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3844-418: The unnecessary delays that would otherwise have happened with Pratt. Pratt also enjoyed a good working relationship with Army chief of staff Douglas MacArthur , and negotiated several key agreements with him over coordinating their services' radio communications networks, mutual interests in coastal defense, and authority over Army and Navy aviation. William H. Standley , who succeeded Pratt in 1933, had

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