The
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (
MCPON, pronounced ) is a unique
non-commissioned rate of the
United States Navy, which has with it the
paygrade of E-9. The holder of this rank and position of office is the most 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,
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard, and
Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He is appointed by the
Chief of Naval Operations to serve as a spokesman to address the issues of enlisted personnel to the highest positions in the Navy. As such, he is the
senior enlisted advisor to the
Chief of Naval Operations as well as the
Chief of Naval Personnel. His exact duties vary, depending on the CNO, though he generally devotes much of his time to traveling throughout the Navy observing training and talking to sailors and their families. His personnel code is N00A as the senior enlisted advisor to Chief of Naval Operations and PERS-00D in his special advisory capacity to Chief of Naval Personnel/Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Manpower, Personnel and Training). 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. While the MCPON is a non-commissioned officer, this
billet is protocol equivalent to a
vice admiral.