Which of the following roles is subordinate to the Chief of Naval Operations?

The role that is subordinate to the Chief of Naval Operations is a Navy Captain. The Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) is the highest-ranking officer in the U.S. Navy and is responsible for the command, utilization of resources, and operating efficiency of the naval forces. Below the CNO are a series of ranks and positions, and Navy Captain is one of those ranks, indicating that Captains report to higher officers, including the CNO.

The other roles mentioned do not fall under the same chain of command. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is a senior position that oversees all military branches and advises the President and Secretary of Defense, maintaining a level above the CNO. The Navy Chief, or Chief Petty Officer (CPO), while a respected leadership position within the enlisted ranks, operates at a different level of command and serves under the officer ranks, including Captains. Fleet Admiral is a five-star rank that is historically associated with wartime leadership and is not in active use in day-to-day command situations, also with a distinction above that of a Navy Captain. Hence, a Navy Captain is clearly subordinate to the Chief of Naval Operations in the hierarchy of the Navy.