Vice Chief of Naval Operations
The vice chief of naval operations (VCNO) is the second highest-ranking commissioned United States Navy officer in the Department of the Navy and functions as the principal deputy of the chief of naval operations.By statute, the vice chief is appointed as a four-star admiral.[1] The senior leadership of the U.S. Department of the Navy consists of two civilians, the secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) and the 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 may also perform other delegated duties that either the secretary of the Navy or the CNO assigns to him or her.The vice chief is appointed by the president of the United States, and must be confirmed via majority vote by the Senate.