CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 5 (CWO5) — U.S. NAVY W-5
The Navy's most senior warrant officer — the capstone of the technical-specialist career path.
OVERVIEW
Chief Warrant Officer 5 (CWO5) is the most senior commissioned warrant officer rank in the U.S. Navy at paygrade W-5. Promotion to CWO5 is highly competitive, with only a small number of warrant officers selected each year. CWO5s serve in the most senior technical-advisor billets in their community — typically at Numbered Fleet, Type Commander, or OPNAV staffs.
The Navy uses CWO5 as a capstone grade reserved for the very best of its warrant-officer corps. CWO5s are often the senior technical authority in their entire community.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Senior technical authority in their community Navy-wide
- Force-level technical advisor at Type Commander, Numbered Fleet, or OPNAV
- Senior representative for their warrant-officer community on personnel matters
- Mentor and develop the next generation of senior warrant officers
HISTORY
Congress authorized the CWO5 grade in 1991 as a capstone warrant officer rank, providing a final promotion opportunity for the most exceptional warrant officers. The Navy began appointing officers to CWO5 in 2002.
Each warrant officer community elects a small number of CWO5 billets, typically at the Force level (e.g., Force Cryptologic Warrant Officer, Force Aviation Maintenance Officer).
PAY
- Selection by the CWO5 promotion board
- Approximately 5–6 years of service as a CWO4
- Exceptional sustained technical and leadership performance
- Force Warrant Officer at a Type Commander (e.g., Surface Forces, Air Forces)
- Senior technical advisor on the OPNAV staff
- Senior community manager at MyNavyHR (BUPERS)