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The Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON, pronounced "mic-pon") is a unique non-commissioned rank in the United States Navy. The holder of this rank and post is the 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, and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard. They are 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 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. His personnel code is OP-00A as the enlisted advisor to Chief of Naval Operations and PERS-00D in his special advisory capacity to Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Manpower, Personnel and Training)/Chief of Naval Personnel. In 1988, the MCPON's spouse was made the Ombudsman at Large, authorizing her to travel around the fleet with her husband, representing the interests of the spouses of enlisted members.
[edit] Origin
In 1966, the opportunity was given to sailors in the Navy's two largest concentration areas, Norfolk, Virginia and San Diego, California to voice their concerns, complaints, and recommendations to the top levels of the Navy. The response was overwhelming; Navy leaders realized that they were out of touch with what the sailor on the deckplate was truly feeling. In order to provide a permanent channel for the enlisted force to provide input 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 April 28 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, who had created equivalent positions in 1957 and July 1966 respectively. MCPON Black's duties were to the Chief of Naval Personnel; all subsequent MCPONs reported to both the CNO and CNP.
[edit] MCPON Insignia
During his tour, the MCPON adds a third silver star above the gold anchor on his collar and cap devices, and wears a rating badge consisting of a silver eagle ("crow") atop three inverted gold chevrons and rocker, and three inverted gold stars above the eagle. The MCPON's rating specialty mark is replaced by a single inverted gold star. He will also wear the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Badge on his uniform.
On 2006-07-10, Joe R. Campa became the 11th MCPON.[1]
- ^ New Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Selected. DOD News. U.S. Department of Defense (June 16, 2006). Retrieved on July 10, 2006.
[edit] References
- Crist, Charlotte D. Winds of Change: The History of the Office of the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy 1967-1992. Washington DC: 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.]
