The chief of naval operations (CNO) is the highest-ranking officer of the United States Navy. The position is a statutory office 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 and in this capacity,a military adviser to the National Security Council,the Homeland Security Council,the secretary of defense,and the president.
Vernon Eugene Clark is a retired admiral who served as the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) of the United States Navy. He retired on July 22,2005,making his tenure of five years the second-longest serving CNO behind Arleigh Burke. He currently sits on the board of directors of Raytheon and SRI International. In November 2009,he was selected along with former Secretary of Veterans Affairs Togo West by Defense Secretary Robert Gates to lead the military investigation into the Fort Hood massacre.
The United States Fleet Forces Command (USFF) is a service component command of the United States Navy that provides naval forces to a wide variety of U.S. forces. The naval resources may be allocated to Combatant Commanders such as United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) under the authority of the Secretary of Defense. Originally formed as United States Atlantic Fleet (USLANTFLT) in 1906,it has been an integral part of the defense of the United States of America since the early 20th century. In 2002,the Fleet comprised over 118,000 Navy and Marine Corps personnel serving on 186 ships and in 1,300 aircraft,with an area of responsibility ranging over most of the Atlantic Ocean from the North Pole to the South Pole,the Caribbean Sea,Gulf of Mexico,and the waters of the Pacific Ocean along the coasts of Central and South America.
The Sixth Fleet is a numbered fleet of the United States Navy operating as part of United States Naval Forces Europe-Africa. The Sixth Fleet is headquartered at Naval Support Activity Naples,Italy. The officially stated mission of the Sixth Fleet in 2011 is that it "conducts the full range of Maritime Operations and Theater Security Cooperation missions,in concert with coalition,joint,interagency,and other parties,in order to advance security and stability in Europe and Africa." The current commander of the Sixth Fleet is Vice Admiral Thomas E. Ishee.
Rodney Paul Rempt is a retired Vice Admiral of the United States Navy who served as the 59th Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy from 2003 to 2007.
Harry Binkley Harris Jr. is a retired Japanese-born American diplomat and retired U.S. Navy officer. He was the first American of Japanese descent to lead US Pacific Command in the U.S. Navy and was the highest-ranking American of Japanese descent in the U.S. Navy during his time as commander.
Rear Admiral Draper Laurence Kauffman was an American underwater demolition expert,who served during the 1960s as 44th Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy. During World War II,he organized the first U.S. Navy Combat Demolition Units from which the SEALs and Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) would evolve. His wartime service also included participation in the invasions of Saipan,Tinian,Iwo Jima,and Okinawa.
Vice Admiral Ferdinand Louis Reichmuth was an officer of the United States Navy who served in World War I and World War II.
William A. "Andy" Brown was a vice admiral in the United States Navy last serving as the director for logistics,J4 for the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Walter Edward "Ted" Carter Jr. is a retired United States Navy vice admiral and an American academic administrator who has been serving as the 17th and current president of The Ohio State University since January 2024. Carter previously served as the 8th president of the University of Nebraska system from 2020 to 2023,the 62nd superintendent of the United States Naval Academy from 2014 to 2019,and the 54th president of the United States Naval War College from 2013 to 2014.
Robin Rumble Braun is a retired vice admiral of the United States Navy. Her last assignment was as Chief of Navy Reserve and Commander,Navy Reserve Force. She assumed that assignment on 13 August 2012. She was the first female commander of the United States Navy Reserve,and the first woman to lead any Reserve component of the United States military. Prior to her last assignment,Braun served as Deputy Director,European Plans and Operations Center,ECJ-3 United States European Command.
Bernard Lige Austin was a Vice Admiral of the United States Navy. His career included service in World War II,the Korean War,and the Cold War and command of submarines and surface ship forces,during which he became a distinguished combat commander of destroyers. He also commanded the United States Second Fleet,held numerous diplomatic,educational,and administrative staff positions,and a served a lengthy tour of duty as President of the Naval War College.
Robert Peter Burke is a retired United States Navy admiral who last served as the commander of United States Naval Forces Europe-Africa and Allied Joint Force Command Naples from 17 July 2020 to 27 June 2022. He served as Vice Chief of Naval Operations from 10 June 2019 until 29 May 2020,having previously served as the 58th Chief of Naval Personnel from 27 May 2016 to 23 May 2019.
Michael Martin Gilday is a retired United States Navy officer who last served as the 32nd chief of naval operations from August 22,2019 to August 14,2023. Gilday commanded two destroyers,served as Director of the Joint Staff,commanded the Tenth Fleet/Fleet Cyber Command,and led Carrier Strike Group 8.
John Christopher Aquilino is an admiral in the United States Navy,serving as the commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command since April 30,2021. He previously served as the commander of the United States Pacific Fleet and before that,commander of the United States Fifth Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces.
Bernard Franklin Roeder was a decorated officer in the United States Navy with the rank of vice admiral,who held many important assignments,including commander in chief of United States First Fleet and Director of Naval Communications. He also served as first director of the Naval Security Group.
Admiral Lisa Marie Franchetti is a United States Navy admiral who has served as the 33rd chief of naval operations since November 2,2023. She most recently served as the 42nd vice chief of naval operations from September 2022 to November 2023 and as acting chief of naval operations (CNO) from August to November 2023.
