{{Short description|16th Master Chief Petty Officer of the US Navy}} {{Multiple issues| {{more footnotes|date=June 2022}} {{BLP sources|date=June 2022}} }} {{Infobox military person |name= James Honea |image= MCPON James M. Honea.jpg |image_size= |alt= |caption= Official portrait, 2022 |nickname= |birth_date= |birth_place= Lubbock, Texas, U.S. |death_date= |death_place= |burial_place= |allegiance= United States |branch= United States Navy |service_years= 1987–2025 |rank= Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy |service_number= |unit= |commands= |battles= War in Afghanistan |awards= {{plainlist| * Defense Superior Service Medal * Legion of Merit (2) * Meritorious Service Medal (5) * Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4) * Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (4) }} |relations= |other_work= |module= {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Opening Statement of MCPON James Honea at a HASC Subcommittee Hearing.ogg|title=James Honea's voice|type=speech|description=Honea's opening statement at a House Armed Services Military Personnel Subcommittee hearing on the state of enlisted personnel<br/>Recorded March 9, 2023}} }} '''James M. Honea'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.navy.mil/Leadership/Flag-Officer-Biographies/BioDisplay/Article/3151928/|title=James M. Honea|access-date=10 September 2022|website=U.S. Navy}}</ref> is a retired United States Navy sailor who served as the 16th Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy from 8 September 2022 to 12 September 2025.<ref name="CNO Announcement">{{cite web|url=https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/Press-Releases/display-pressreleases/Article/2962480/cno-gilday-announces-next-master-chief-petty-officer-of-the-navy/ |title=CNO Gilday Announces Next Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy |date=10 March 2022 |website=America's Navy |publisher=US Navy}}</ref> He was previously the Senior Enlisted Leader of United States Indo-Pacific Command from August 2021 to June 2022.<ref name="SEL Indo-Pacom">{{cite web|url=https://www.pacom.mil/Leadership/Biographies/Article-View/Article/2720172/senior-enlisted-leader-us-indo-pacific-command/ |title=Senior Enlisted Leader, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command |website=U.S. Indo-Pacific Command}}</ref>
==Naval career== After attending basic training at Recruit Training Center San Diego, California, in 1987, Honea began his navy career as a Boatswain's Mate on {{USS|John A. Moore|FFG-19}}. He continued to rise through the ranks, serving aboard amphibious assault ships. His sea assignments include {{USS|Juneau|LPD-10}}, {{USS|Dubuque|LPD 8}}, and {{USS|Bonhomme Richard|LHD 6}}. When he achieved the rank of command master chief, he continued to serve at sea aboard the destroyer {{USS|Gridley|DDG 101}}, and later another amphibious assault ship {{USS|New Orleans|LPD 18}}.<ref name="SEL Indo-Pacom"></ref>
Honea's shore tours include service as the command master chief of United States Navy Embedded Training Teams, Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix, deployed to Afghanistan; as the command master chief at Naval Support Activity South Potomac; as the command master chief of United States Naval Forces Korea; and most recently as the fleet master chief of United States Pacific Fleet.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.war.gov/About/Biographies/Biography/Article/3035305/master-chief-petty-officer-of-the-navy-james-honea/|title=James Honea, Senior Enlisted Leader, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command|access-date=June 9, 2022|website=U.S. Department of Defense}}</ref>
Honea completed the Command Master Chief Course and Senior Enlisted JPME Keystone Course at the National Defense University. He is also a graduate from the United States Air Force Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Academy.<ref name="SEL Indo-Pacom"></ref>
He assumed the office of Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) on September 8, 2022 from Russell L. Smith.<ref name="CNO Announcement"></ref> He retired on September 12, 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/Press-Releases/display-pressreleases/Article/4252316/master-chief-petty-officer-of-the-navy-james-honea-announces-retirement/|title=Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy James Honea Announces Retirement|date=2025-07-22|access-date=2025-07-25|website=U.S. Navy}}</ref>
==Personal life== Honea married Evelyn in 1989 when he was stationed in Long Beach, California. They have two children.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.militaryonesource.mil/leaders-service-providers/military-family-readiness-council/evelyn-honea/|title=Ms. Evelyn Honea|access-date=June 9, 2022|website=Military One Source|date=6 October 2020 }}</ref>
==Awards and decorations== [[File:16th MCPON Change of Office 220908-N-UB993-1128.jpg|thumb|Honea receives the MCPON cutlass from Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Michael M. Gilday on September 8, 2022.]] {| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |colspan="3"|{{dodseal|ESWS|250}} |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=US Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=award-star|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{ribbon devices|number=4|type=award-star|ribbon=Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |- |{{ribbon devices|number=3|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Commendation ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{ribbon devices|number=3|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Achievement ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Joint Meritorious Unit Award (USMC and USN frame)|width=106}} |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=Navy Unit Commendation ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=Navy_Meritorious_Unit_Commendation_ribbon.svg|width=106}} |106px |- |{{ribbon devices|number=10|type=service-star|ribbon=United States Navy Good Conduct Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |- |{{ribbon devices|number=2|type=service-star|ribbon=Southwest Asia Service Medal ribbon (1991-2016).svg|width=106}} |{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=Afghanistan Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary ribbon.svg|width=106}} |- |106px |106px |106px |- |{{ribbon devices|number=9|type=service-star|ribbon=Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.svg|width=106}} |106px |{{ribbon devices|number=2|type=service-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon.svg|width=106}} |- |106px |106px |106px |- |colspan="3"|250px |- |colspan="3"|{{dodseal|MCPON|100}} |} {| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |- !Badge |colspan="6"|Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist insignia |- !1st row |colspan="2"|Defense Superior Service Medal |colspan="2"|Legion of Merit with one gold award star |colspan="2"|Meritorious Service Medal with four award stars |- !2nd row |colspan="2"|Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with three award stars |colspan="2"|Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with three award stars |colspan="2"|Joint Meritorious Unit Award |- !3rd row |colspan="2"|Navy Unit Commendation with one bronze service star |colspan="2"|Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with one bronze service star |colspan="2"|Navy "E" Ribbon w/ Wreathed Battle E device |- !4th row |colspan="2"|Navy Good Conduct Medal with two silver service stars |colspan="2"|National Defense Service Medal with service star |colspan="2"|Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal |- !5th row |colspan="2"|Southwest Asia Service Medal with two service stars |colspan="2"|Afghanistan Campaign Medal with service star |colspan="2"|Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal with service star |- !6th row |colspan="2"|Global War on Terrorism Service Medal |colspan="2"|Korea Defense Service Medal |colspan="2"|Humanitarian Service Medal |- !7th row |colspan="2"|Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with one silver and four bronze service stars |colspan="2"|Navy Reserve Sea Service Deployment Ribbon |colspan="2"|Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon with two service stars |- !8th row |colspan="2"|NATO Medal (Non-Article 5) |colspan="2"|Navy Expert Rifleman Medal |colspan="2"|Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal |- !Badge |colspan="6"|Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist insignia |- !Badge |colspan="6"|Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Badge |} *Nine gold service stripes
==References== {{reflist}}
{{s-start}} {{s-mil}} {{s-bef|before=Russell L. Smith}} {{s-ttl|title=Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy|years=2022–present}} {{s-aft|after=John J. Perryman IV}} {{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Honea, James}} Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:Master Chief Petty Officers of the United States Navy Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit