Adm. Daryl Caudle has assumed the duties as the 34th Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) of the US Navy during an assumption of office ceremony.
The ceremony took place at the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., on August 25, 2025.
“As I step into the role as your 34th Chief of Naval Operations, I do so with great pride, immense gratitude, and an absolute focus on the mission ahead,” Caudle said in a video to the Fleet, released shortly before the ceremony.
During the ceremony, he further discussed his priorities of Sailors, operational readiness, and fleet modernization.
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“The Sailor will be front and center in my vision throughout my tenure as CNO – hands down, no exception,” said Caudle during the ceremony.
“To ensure that they are ready to fight and win decisively–today, tomorrow, and well into the future—we will view everything we do we through an operational lens focused on three priorities: the foundry, the fleet, and the way we fight.”
As a native of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and a 1985 graduate of North Carolina State University, Caudle is a member of the “Wolfpack.” His previous three assignments were as commander of US Fleet Forces Command, commander of the Submarine Forces, and commander of the Submarine Force Atlantic.
Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jim Kilby relinquished the office of the CNO after serving as the acting CNO from February to August 2025.
Secretary of the Navy John Phelan acted as the presiding officer and keynote speaker of the ceremony, highlighting the importance of the US Navy and the prioritization of future shipbuilding development.
The CNO is a member of the Joint Chief of Staff and serves as an advisor to the President of the United States, the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council, and the Secretary of Defense and is responsible for the command, utilization of resources, and operating efficiency of worldwide naval forces and shore activities.