Editing Vice Chief of Naval Operations

{{Short description|Second highest-ranking officer in the U.S. Navy}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox official post
| post                     = Vice Chief
| body                     = Naval Operations
| native_name              = 
| insignia                 = File:Emblem of the United States Navy.svg
| insigniasize             = 
| insigniacaption          = Mark of the U.S. Navy
| flag                     = Flag of the United States Vice Chief of Naval Operations.svg
| flagsize                 = 
| flagcaption              = Flag of the vice chief of naval operations
| image                    = ADM James W. Kilby.jpg
| imagesize                = 
| alt                      = 
| incumbent                = [[Admiral (United States)|Admiral]] [[James W. Kilby]]
| incumbentsince           = 5 January 2024
| department               = [[United States Navy]]<Br/>[[Office of the Chief of Naval Operations]]
| style                    = 
| type                     = 
| status                   = 
| abbreviation             = VCNO
| member_of                = 
| reports_to               = [[Chief of Naval Operations]]
| residence                = 
| seat                     = 
| nominator                = 
| appointer                = The [[President of the United States|president]]
| appointer_qualified      = with [[United States Senate|Senate]] [[advice and consent]]
| termlength               = 
| termlength_qualified     = 
| constituting_instrument  = {{UnitedStatesCode|10|8035}}
| precursor                = 
| formation                = {{start date and age|df=yes|1942|03|26}}
| first                    = [[Frederick J. Horne]]
| last                     = 
| abolished                = 
| succession               = 
| unofficial_names         = 
| deputy                   = 
| salary                   = 
| website                  = 
}}

The '''vice chief of naval operations''' ('''VCNO''') is the second highest-ranking commissioned [[United States Navy]] officer and functions as the principal deputy of the [[Chief of Naval Operations|chief of naval operations]]. By statute, the vice chief is appointed as a four-star [[Admiral (United States)|admiral]].<ref>{{cite web |date=15 March 2025 |title=10 U.S. Code § 8035 - Vice Chief of Naval Operations |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/8035 |access-date=15 March 2025 |website=Cornell Law School, Legal Information Institute, U.S. Code: Table Of Contents}}</ref>

==Role==
The senior leadership of the [[U.S. Department of the Navy]] consists of two civilians, the [[United States Secretary of the Navy|secretary of the Navy]] (SECNAV) and the [[Under Secretary of the Navy|under secretary of the Navy]] (USECNAV), as well as the four senior commissioned officers on the two military service staffs: [[Office of the Chief of Naval Operations]] (OPNAV) and [[Headquarters Marine Corps]] (HQMC).

The vice chief is the principal deputy of the chief of Naval operations (CNO). The vice chief may also perform other delegated duties that either the secretary of the Navy or the CNO assigns to him or her. If the CNO is absent or is unable to perform their duties, then the vice chief assumes the duties and responsibilities of the CNO. Within the [[Office of the Chief of Naval Operations]], while there are several Deputy Chiefs of Naval Operations (DCNOs) of either three or two star rank, there is only one VCNO.

The vice chief is appointed by the [[president of the United States]], and must be confirmed via majority vote by the [[United States Senate|Senate]]. While there is not a fixed term nor a term limit in the statute; the historical precedent is that a vice chief of naval operations serves for a tenure of two to three years.

==Historical background==
The equivalent of the current VCNO position was called Assistant for Operations in 1915, and Assistant Chief of Naval Operations in 1922. In 1942 the title became Vice Chief of Naval Operations.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/research-guides/lists-of-senior-officers-and-civilian-officials-of-the-us-navy/vice-chief-of-naval-operations.html 
 |title=Vice Chief of Naval Operations 
 |date=22 June 2016
 |work=Lists of Senior Officers and Civilian Officials of the US Navy 
 |publisher=Naval History and Heritage Command 
 |access-date=17 June 2019 
}}</ref>

== List of vice chiefs of naval operations ==

{|class="wikitable sortable"
!rowspan="2"| No.
!rowspan="2"| Image
!rowspan="2"| Name
!colspan="2"| Tenure
!rowspan="2"| Post(s) held after VCNO tenure
|-
! Began
! Ended
|-
|1
| [[File:Admiral Frederick J Horne.png|75px]]
| VADM (ADM) [[Frederick J. Horne]]
| 26 March 1942
| 2 September 1945
| {{small|Retired, 1945<br/>Promoted to admiral on 29 January 1945}}
|-
| 2 
| [[File:ADM_Richard_S._Edwards.jpg|75px]]
| ADM [[Richard S. Edwards|Richard S. Edwards Jr.]] 
| 1945
| 1946
| {{small|Commander, [[Western Sea Frontier]] (1946–1947)<br>Commander, [[Pacific Reserve Fleet]] (1946–1947)<br>Retired, 1947}}
|-
| 3 
| [[File:Adm_ramsey.jpg|75px]]
| ADM [[DeWitt C. Ramsey|DeWitt Clinton Ramsey]]   
| 15 January 1946
| 3 January 1948
| {{small|Commander in Chief, [[U.S. Pacific Command]] (1948–1949)<br>Commander in Chief, [[U.S. Pacific Fleet]] (1948–1949<br>High Commissioner, [[Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands]] (1948–1949)<br>Retired, 1949}}
|-
| 4 
| [[File:ADM_Arthur_Radford.JPG|75px]]
| VADM [[Arthur W. Radford]]  
| January 1948
| May 1949
| {{small|Commander in Chief, [[U.S. Pacific Command]] (1949–1953)<br>Commander in Chief, [[U.S. Pacific Fleet]] (1949–1953)<br>High Commissioner, [[Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands]] (1949–1951)<br>[[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]] (1953–1957)<br>Retired, 1957}}
|-
| 5 
| [[File:VADM_John_Dale_Price_USN_aviator_1892-1957.png|75px]]
| VADM [[John D. Price]]	
| 1949
| 1950
| {{small|Retired, 1950<br/>Promoted to admiral upon retirement}}
|-
| 6 
| [[File:ADM_McCormick,_Lynde_D.jpg|75px]]
| ADM [[Lynde D. McCormick]]       
| 1950
| 1951
| {{small|Commander in Chief, [[U.S. Atlantic Command]] (1951–1954)<br>Commander in Chief, [[U.S. Atlantic Fleet]] (1951–1954)<br>[[Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic]] (1952–1954)<br>Retired, 1954}}
|-
| 7
| [[File:Donald_B_Duncan.jpg|75px]]
| ADM [[Donald B. Duncan]]       
| 1951
| 1956
| {{small|Retired, 1956}}
|-
| 8 
| [[File:Harry_Donald_Felt.jpg|75px]]
| ADM [[Harry D. Felt]]   
| 1956
| 1958
| {{small|Commander in Chief, [[U.S. Pacific Command]] (1958–1964)<br>Retired, 1964}}
|-
| 9 
| [[File:ADM James S. Russell.jpg|75px]]
| ADM [[James S. Russell]]   
| 21 July 1958
| September 1961
| {{small|Commander in Chief, [[Allied Forces Southern Europe]] (1961–1965)<br>Retired, 1965}}
|-
| 10 
| [[File:ADM_Claude_V._Ricketts.jpg|75px]]
| ADM [[Claude V. Ricketts]]   
| 25 September 1961
| 6 July 1964
| {{small|Died in office, 1964}}
|-
| 11 
| [[File:ADM_Rivero,_Horacio_Jr.jpg|75px]]
| ADM [[Horacio Rivero, Jr.]] 
| July 1964 
| January 1968
| {{small|Commander in Chief, [[Allied Forces Southern Europe]] (1968–1972)<br>Retired, 1972}}
|-
| 12 
| [[File:Chick Clarey (edit).jpg|75px]]
| ADM [[Bernard A. Clarey]]   
| January 1968 | 
| December 1970
| {{small|Commander in Chief, [[U.S. Pacific Fleet]] (1970–1973)<br>Retired 1973}}
|-
| 13 
| [[File:L38-18 ADM Ralph W. Cousins.jpg|75px]]
| ADM [[Ralph W. Cousins]] 
| 1970
| 1972
| {{small|[[Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic]] (1972–1975)<br>Commander in Chief, [[U.S. Atlantic Command]] (1972–1975)<br>Commander in Chief, [[U.S. Atlantic Fleet]] (1972–1975)<br>Retired, 1975}}
|-
| 14 
| [[File:CINCPAC_ADM_Weisner.jpg|75px]]
| ADM [[Maurice F. Weisner]] 
| 1972 
| 1973
| {{small|Commander in Chief, [[U.S. Pacific Fleet]] (1973–1976)<br>Commander in Chief, [[U.S. Pacific Command]] (1976–1979)<br>Retired, 1979}}
|-
| 15 
| [[File:James_Holloway_III.jpg|75px]]
| ADM [[James L. Holloway III]] 
| September 1973
| 1974
| {{small|Chief of Naval Operations (1974–1978)<br>Retired, 1978}}
|-
| 16 
| [[File:ADM_Worth_H._Bagley.jpg|75px]]
| ADM [[Worth H. Bagley]] 
| June 1974 
| July 1975
| {{small|Retired, 1975}}
|-
| 17 
| [[File:ADM Shear, Harold Edson.jpg|75px]]
| ADM [[Harold E. Shear]] 
| 1975
| 1977
| {{small|Commander in Chief, [[Allied Forces Southern Europe]] (1978–1980)<br>Retired, 1980<br>Administrator of the [[United States Maritime Administration|Maritime Administration]] (1981–1985)}}
|-
| 18 
| [[File:Robert_LJ_Long.jpg|75px]]
| ADM [[Robert L. J. Long]] 
| July 1977
| April 1979
| {{small|Commander in Chief, [[U.S. Pacific Command]] (1979–1983)<br>Retired, 1983}}
|-
| 19 
| [[File:Admiral James Watkins, official military photo.JPEG|75px]]
| ADM [[James D. Watkins]] 
| April 1979
| 1981
| {{small|Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (1981–1982)<br>Chief of Naval Operations (1982–1986)<br>Retired, 1986<br>[[United States Secretary of Energy|Secretary of Energy]] (1989–1993)}}
|-
| 20 
| [[File:ADM Small, William Newell.jpg|75px]]
| ADM [[William N. Small]] 
| 1981
| 1983
| {{small|Commander in Chief, [[U.S. Naval Forces Europe]] (1983–1985)<br>Commander in Chief, [[Allied Forces Southern Europe]] (1983–1985)<br>Retired, 1985}}
|-
| 21 
| [[File:Ronald J Hays.jpg|75px]]
| ADM [[Ronald J. Hays]] 
| 1983
| 1985
| {{small|Commander in Chief, [[U.S. Pacific Command]] (1985–1988)<br>Retired, 1988}}
|-
| 22 
| [[File:James B Busey IV.jpg|75px]]
| ADM [[James B. Busey IV]] 
| September 1985
| March 1987<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.epnaao.com/BIOS_files/REGULARS/Busey-James%20B.pdf|title=James B. Busey, Admiral USN (Ret.), NA #5081|access-date=30 January 2022}}</ref>
| {{small|Commander in Chief, [[U.S. Naval Forces Europe]] (1987–1989)<br>Commander in Chief, [[Allied Forces Southern Europe]] (1987–1989)<br>Retired, 1989<br>Administrator of the [[Federal Aviation Administration]] (1989–1991)<br>[[United States Deputy Secretary of Transportation|Deputy Secretary of Transportation]] (1991–1992)}}
|-
| 23 
| [[File:Huntington Hardisty.jpg|75px]]
| ADM [[Huntington Hardisty]] 
| March 1987
| 1988
| {{small|Commander in Chief, [[U.S. Pacific Command]] (1988–1991)<br>Retired, 1991}}
|-
| 24 
| [[File:Portrait of US Navy Admiral Leon A. Edney.jpg|75px]]
| ADM [[Leon A. Edney]]       
| August 1988
| May 1990
| {{small|[[Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic]] (1990–1992)<br>Commander in Chief, [[U.S. Atlantic Command]] (1990–1992)<br>Retired, 1992}}
|-
| 25 
| [[File:Jerome L Johnson.jpg|75px]]
| ADM [[Jerome L. Johnson]] 
| May 1990
| July 1992
| {{small|Retired, 1992}}
|-
| 26 
| [[File:Stanley R Arthur.jpg|75px]]
| ADM [[Stanley R. Arthur]]   
| 6 July 1992
| 1995
| {{small|Retired, 1995}}
|-
| 27 
| [[File:Joseph W. Prueher, ADM USN, 1996.jpg|75px]]
| ADM [[Joseph Prueher|Joseph W. Prueher]]       
| April 1995
| 1996
| {{small|Commander in Chief, [[U.S. Pacific Command]] (1996–1999)<br>Retired, 1999<br>[[U.S. Ambassador to China]] (1999–2001).}}
|-
| 28 
| [[File:Admiral Jay L. Johnson, 1996.jpg|75px]]
| ADM [[Jay L. Johnson]]       
| April 1996
| August 1996
| {{small|Chief of Naval Operations (1996–2000)<br>Retired, 2000}}
|-
| 29 
| [[File:Admiral Harold W. Gehman, Jr..jpg|75px]]
| ADM [[Harold W. Gehman, Jr.]] 
| September 1996
| September 1997
|{{small|[[Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic]] (1997–2000)<br>Commander in Chief, [[U.S. Atlantic Command]] (1997–1999)<br>Commander in Chief, [[U.S. Joint Forces Command]] (1999–2000)<br>Retired, 2000}}
|-
| 30 
| [[File:Donald L Pilling.jpg|75px]]
| ADM [[Donald L. Pilling]] 
| October 1997
| October 2000
| {{small|Retired, 2000}}
|-
| 31 
| [[File:Adm. William J. Fallon.jpg|75px]]
| ADM [[William J. Fallon]] 
| October 2000
| August 2003
| {{small|Commander, [[Fleet Forces Command]]/[[U.S. Atlantic Fleet]] (2003–2005)<br>Commander, [[U.S. Pacific Command]] (2005–2007)<br>Commander, [[U.S. Central Command]] (2007–2008)<br>Retired, 2008}}
|-
| 32 
| [[File:Admiral Michael Mullen, official Navy photograph.jpg|75px]]
| ADM [[Michael G. Mullen]] 
| August 2003
| August 2004
| {{small|Commander, [[U.S. Naval Forces Europe]] (2004–2005)<br>Commander, [[Allied Joint Force Command Naples]] (2004–2005)<br>Chief of Naval Operations (2005–2007)<br>[[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]] (2007–2011)<br>Retired, 2011}}
|-
| 33 
| [[File:John B. Nathman.jpg|75px]]
| ADM [[John B. Nathman]] 
| August 2004
| February 2005
| {{small|Commander, [[U.S. Fleet Forces Command]] (2005–2007)<br>Retired, 2007}}
|-
| 34 
| [[File:Robert F. Willard cov.jpg|75px]]
| ADM [[Robert F. Willard]]
| 18 March 2005
| 5 April 2007
| {{small|Commander, [[U.S. Pacific Fleet]] (2007–2009)<br>Commander, [[U.S. Pacific Command]] (2009–2012)<br>Retired, 2012}}
|-
| 35 
| [[File:ADM_Walsh.jpg|75px]]
| ADM [[Patrick M. Walsh]] 
| 5 April 2007
| 13 August 2009
| {{small|Commander, [[U.S. Pacific Fleet]] (2009–2012)<br>Retired, 2012}}
|-
| 36 
| [[File:Jonathan W. Greenert 2010.jpg|75px]]
| ADM [[Jonathan W. Greenert]]
| 13 August 2009
| 22 August 2011
| {{small|Chief of Naval Operations (2011–2015)<br>Retired, 2015}}
|-
| 37 
| [[File:ADM Mark E. Ferguson III VCNO.jpg|75px]]
| ADM [[Mark E. Ferguson III]] 
| 22 August 2011
| 1 July 2014
| {{small|Commander, [[U.S. Naval Forces Europe]] (2014–2016)<br>Commander, [[U.S. Naval Forces Africa]] (2014–2016)<br>Commander, [[Allied Joint Force Command Naples]] (2014–2016)<br>Retired, 2016}}
|-
| 38 
| [[File:Admiral_Michelle_J._Howard_VCNO.jpg|75px]]
| ADM [[Michelle J. Howard]]
| 1 July 2014
| 31 May 2016
| {{small|Commander, [[U.S. Naval Forces Europe]] (2016–2017)<br>Commander, [[U.S. Naval Forces Africa]] (2016–2017)<br>Commander, [[Allied Joint Force Command Naples]] (2016–2017)<br>Retired, 2017}}
|-
| 39 
| [[File:Moran_2016_2.jpg|75px]]
| ADM [[William F. Moran (admiral)|William F. Moran]]
| 31 May 2016
| 10 June 2019
| {{small|Retired, 2019}}<ref>{{Cite news | url = https://lacrossetribune.com/news/national/govt-and-politics/admiral-to-lead-navy-instead-will-retire-bad-judgment-cited/article_b5d85351-8d8f-57c7-bc9b-6199ff629164.html | title = Admiral to lead Navy instead will retire; bad judgment cited | work = [[La Crosse Tribune]] | agency = [[Associated Press]] | last = Burns | first = Robert | date = 7 July 2019 | access-date = 8 July 2019}}</ref>
|-
| 40
| [[File:Adm. Robert P. Burke.jpg|75px]]
| ADM [[Robert P. Burke]]
| 10 June 2019
| 29 May 2020
| {{small|Commander, [[United States Naval Forces Europe-Africa]] (2020–2022)<br/>Commander, [[Allied Joint Force Command Naples]] (2020–2022)<br>Retired, 2022}}
|-
| 41
| [[File:Adm. William K. Lescher.jpg|75px]]
| ADM [[William K. Lescher]]
| 29 May 2020
| 2 September 2022
| {{small|Retired, 2022}}
|-
| 42
| [[File:ADM Lisa M. Franchetti (2).jpg|75px]]
| ADM [[Lisa M. Franchetti]]
| 2 September 2022
| 2 November 2023
| {{small|[[Chief of Naval Operations]] (2023–2025)}}
|-
| 43
| [[File:ADM James W. Kilby.jpg|75px]]
| ADM [[James W. Kilby]]
| 5 January 2024
| ''Incumbent''
| 
|}

==See also==
*[[Under Secretary of the Navy]]
*[[Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy]]
*[[Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army|Vice Chief of Staff of the Army]] (U.S. Army counterpart)
*[[Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps]] (U.S. Marine Corps counterpart)
*[[Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force|Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force]] (U.S. Air Force counterpart)
*[[Vice Chief of Space Operations]] (U.S. Space Force counterpart)
*[[Vice Commandant of the United States Coast Guard|Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard]] (U.S. Coast Guard counterpart)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.navy.mil/Leadership/Chief-of-Naval-Operations/ Office of the Chief of Naval Operations]

{{US Navy navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vice Chief of Naval Operations}}
[[Category:Flag appointments of the United States Navy|*V]]
[[Category:Vice chiefs of staff]]
[[Category:Vice chiefs of Naval Operations| ]]
[[Category:Office of the Chief of Naval Operations]]