List of Chiefs of Naval Operations Educated at The United States Naval Academy - Chiefs of Naval Operations

Chiefs of Naval Operations

"Class year" refers to the alumni's class year, which usually is the same year they graduated. However, in times of war, classes often graduate early. For example, the Class of 1942 actually graduated in 1941. This class became known as the "Pearl Harbor" class."

Name	Class year	Notability	References
Benson, William S.William S. Benson	1877	Admiral; first Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) (1915–1919); defined the functions of the new CNO position and strengthened the Navy	a
Coontz, RobertRobert Coontz	1885	Admiral; Chief of Naval Operations (1919–1923); Governor of Guam (1912–1913)	a
Eberle, Edward WalterEdward Walter Eberle	1885	Admiral; Superintendent of the Academy (1915–1919); Chief of Naval Operations (1923–1927)	a
Hughes, Charles FrederickCharles Frederick Hughes	1888	Admiral; Chief of Naval Operations (1927–1930); served with the American battleship squadron that operated with the Royal Navy's Grand Fleet at Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands through World War I	a
Pratt, William V.William V. Pratt	1889	Admiral; Chief of Naval Operations (1930–1933); instructor at the Academy (1900–1902) and (1905–1908)	a
Standley, William HarrisonWilliam Harrison Standley	1895	Admiral; Signed the London Naval Treaty of 1930 on behalf of the United States; Chief of Naval Operations (1933–1937); United States Ambassador to the Soviet Union (1942–1944)	a
Leahy, William D.William D. Leahy	1897	First Fleet admiral; Chief of Naval Operations (1937–1939), during World War II; became the first fleet admiral and crafted a future thought leadership; served as Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief, which was the role model for the first Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Governor of Puerto Rico (1939–1940) ambassador to the Vichy French	a
King, ErnestErnest King	1901	Fleet Admiral; Chief of Naval Operations in World War II (1942–1945); Navy Cross recipient	a
Stark, Harold RainsfordHarold Rainsford Stark	1903	Admiral; Chief of Naval Operations (1939–1942); veteran of World War I and World War II	a
Nimitz, ChesterChester Nimitz	1905	Fleet Admiral; held the dual command of Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet ("CinCPac" pronounced "sink-pack"), for US naval forces and Commander in Chief, Pacific Ocean Areas (CinCPOA), for US and Allied air, land, and sea forces during World War II; Chief of Naval Operations (1945–1947)	a
Denfeld, Louis E.Louis E. Denfeld	1912	Admiral; Chief of Naval Operations (1947–1949); fired for his role in the "Revolt of the Admirals"	a
Carney, RobertRobert Carney	1916	Admiral; Chief of Naval Operations (1953–1955); Navy Cross recipient	a
Fechteler, WilliamWilliam Fechteler	1916	Admiral; Chief of Naval Operations (1951–1953) during the Korean War	a
Sherman, ForrestForrest Sherman	1918	Admiral; Chief of Naval Operations (1949–1951); Navy Cross recipient	a
Burke, ArleighArleigh Burke	1923	Admiral; Chief of Naval Operations (1955–1961); carrier and destroyer commander during World War II; Korean War veteran; Arleigh Burke-class of destroyers was named after him	a
Anderson, Jr., George WhelanGeorge Whelan Anderson, Jr.	1927	Admiral; Chief of Naval Operations (1961–1963), in charge of the blockade of Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis; ambassador to Portugal (1963–1966)	ca
McDonald, David L.David L. McDonald	1928	Admiral; Chief of Naval Operations (1963–1967) during the eary Vietnam War	a
Moorer, Thomas HinmanThomas Hinman Moorer	1933	Admiral; Chief of Naval Operations (1967–1970); chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (1970–1974)	da
Holloway III, James L.James L. Holloway III	1943	Admiral; Chief of Naval Operations (1974–1978); combat veteran of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam; established the Nuclear Powered Carrier Program; son of Admiral James L. Holloway, Jr.	a
Zumwalt, Jr., Elmo R.Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr.	1943	Admiral; Chief of Naval Operations (1970–1974) during Vietnam War	a
Hayward, Thomas B.Thomas B. Hayward	1948	Admiral; Chief of Naval Operations (1978–1982); recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross during the Korean War	a
Watkins, James D.James D. Watkins	1949	Admiral; Chief of Naval Operations (1982–1986); Secretary of Energy (1989–1993); chairman of United States Commission on Ocean Policy that crafted Oceans Act of 2000	ae
Trost, CarlisleCarlisle Trost	1953	Admiral; Chief of Naval Operations (1986–1990); submarine officer; graduated first in his class; Olmstead Scholar	a
Kelso, Frank B.Frank B. Kelso	1956	Admiral; Chief of Naval Operations (1990–1994); Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic; submarine officer; Secretary of the Navy (acting) (1993)	a
Johnson, Jay L.Jay L. Johnson	1968	Admiral; Chief of Naval Operations (1996–2000); aviator	a
Mullen, MichaelMichael Mullen	1968	Admiral; Chief of Naval Operations (2005–2007); chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (2007–2011)	da
Roughead, GaryGary Roughead	1973	Admiral; Chief of Naval Operations (2007–2011); Surface Warfare Officer (SWO)	a
Greenert, Jonathan W.Jonathan W. Greenert	1975	Admiral; Chief of Naval Operations (2011–present); Submarine officer (SS)

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