Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy James Honea, shown in this undated photo, will retire in September, the service said this week. Honea began his military career in 1987 and has served as the Navy's top enlisted leader since Sept. 8, 2022. (U.S. Navy)
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy James Honea will retire in the coming months, capping a 38-year career that began on a frigate during the Cold War and ends in Washington as the top enlisted sailor.
Honea, who has served as the 16th MCPON since September 2022, will leave Sept. 12, a Navy statement said Tuesday.
Honea worked to remove barriers and improve the quality of life for sailors and their families, according to the statement.
“I will carry with me the countless memories of meeting sailors across the fleet, hearing about your remarkable achievements, as well as the level of trust you placed in me to advocate for you and your families,” Honea said in the statement.
The MCPON is the senior enlisted sailor in the Navy and serves as an adviser to the chief of naval operations, the highest-ranking officer in the service.
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy James Honea attends a recruit graduation ceremony in Great Lakes, Ill., on May 15, 2025. The Navy’s top enlisted leader since 2022, Honea plans to retire in September, a service statement this week said. (William Bennett IV/U.S. Navy)
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy James Honea speaks with sailors following a ceremony in Great Lakes, Ill., on Sept. 5, 2024. Honea plans to retire in September after 38 years of military service, a Navy statement this week said. (Anna Van Nuys/U.S. Navy)
The job includes addressing sailors’ concerns and acting on input from the fleet during visits to ships, bases and other naval units.
Honea’s work with Congress and the Defense Department contributed to significant quality-of-life advancements for Navy personnel, including a 15% pay increase for junior enlisted sailors, according to the statement.
He also helped improve unaccompanied housing, medical care, spouse employment and child care services, and was behind initiatives to better enlisted leadership development, naval education and performance evaluations, the Navy said.
It was unclear Wednesday when the Navy will name the next MCPON, who is typically chosen by the chief of naval operations.
Last month, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth nominated Adm. Daryl Caudle to lead the Navy. The Senate Armed Services Committee is scheduled to begin Caudle’s confirmation process during a hearing Thursday.
Adm. James Kilby, vice chief of naval operations, has served as acting chief since February following Hegseth’s dismissal of Adm. Lisa Franchetti, who had been in the post since August 2023.
Following his enlistment in 1987, Honea first served as a boatswain’s mate aboard the frigate USS John A. Moore, according to his Navy biography.
In 2006, he was promoted to master chief and selected to serve as command master chief in 2009, completing tours on the destroyer USS Gridley and the amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans, the biography states.
His ashore assignments include command master chief of U.S. Navy Embedded Training Teams, Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix, deploying to Afghanistan.
He also served as the command master chief of U.S. Naval Forces Korea and U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet, among other assignments, according to the biography.
“As I embark on the next chapter of my life, I will forever cherish the impact you’ve had on me and look forward to crossing paths with you again in the fleet,” Honea said in the statement.
