Fleet Master Chief John Perryman has been selected to become the 17th Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, the service announced Friday.

Perryman, currently the senior enlisted leader for U.S. Fleet Forces Command, will succeed Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy James Honea, who has served as the Navy’s top enlisted sailor since Sept. 8, 2022. In July, Honea announced he would retire Sept. 12 after nearly four decades of service.

“With decades of operational experience across the fleet, Perryman will play a vital role in advising Navy leadership, shaping enlisted policy and maintaining warfighting readiness in an era of strategic competition,” the Navy said.

A change of command ceremony is scheduled for September at the Navy Memorial in Long Beach, California, according to the

See Full Page