Though in the works for many years, the position formally was established as "Senior Enlisted Advisor of the Navy" in January 1967. Its title officially was changed to "Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy" three months later. The individual rating specialty marks for the MCPON was replaced by an inverted star in 1971.

These individuals have served as Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy:

NAME TENURE
Master Chief Gunner Mate Delbert D. Black, USN 13 Jan. 1967 - 01 Apr. 1971
Master Chief Aviation Machinist Mate John "Jack" Whittet, USN 01 Apr. 1971 - 25 Sept. 1975
Master Chief Operations Specialist Robert Walker, USN 25 Sep. 1975 - 28 Sept. 1979
Aviation Master Chief Thomas S. Crow, USN 28 Sep. 1979 - 01 Oct. 1982
Master Chief Avionics Technician Billy C. Sanders, USN 01 Oct. 1982 - 04 Oct. 1985
Master Chief Operations Specialist William H. Plackett, USN 04 Oct. 1985 - 09 Sept. 1988
Master Chief Aviation Electronics Technician Duane R. Bushey, USN 09 Sep. 1988 - 28 Aug. 1992
MCPON (SW) John Hagan, USN 28 Aug. 1992 - 27 Mar. 1998
MCPON (SS/SW/AW) James L.Herdt, USN 27 Mar. 1998 - 22 Apr. 2002
MCPON (SS/AW) Terry D. Scott, USN 22 Apr. 2002 - present