By law, the CNO is named a four-star admiral. The Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) is the highest-ranking officer and professional chief of the United States Navy. The position is a statutory position (10 U, S, C.) Independent as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (10 U, S, C. The current Chief of Naval Operations is Admiral Michael M.
The ranks of Navy officers include commissioned officers and non-commissioned officers (specialists and experts in certain military technologies or capabilities). Officer promotions are confirmed by the Senate. Officers are promoted to admiral for a specific position, and can only remain in the grade for a specified period of time. Of the 160 flag officer posts assigned to the Navy, there can only be 6 four-star admirals.
Two of these posts are reserved for the Chief of Naval Operations and the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, so that only four active duty admirals serve on the battlefield at any given time. The Chief of Naval Operations chairs the Navy General Staff, formally known as the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV). Like the other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the CNO is an administrative position, with no operational command authority over the forces of the United States Navy. Members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (except for the president of the Joint Chiefs of Staff) may present to the President an advice or opinion in addition to the advice presented by the president to the President, the NSC, or the SECDEF.
Admiral assignments include regional command commanders, joint commands, chiefs of naval operations, and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Chief of Naval Operations liked the house so much that in 1923 he converted it into his official residence. As a flag officer, he held joint positions such as director of operations of the NATO Lisbon Joint Forces Command; as chief of staff of the NATO Naval Attack and Support Forces; director of operations, J3, of U. The Chief of Naval Operations is nominated by the president for appointment and must be confirmed by the Senate.
The initial rank of commissioned officer held by graduates of the United States Naval Academy (USNA), the Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC), the Officer Candidate School (OCS), and other sources of commissioning.
