Warrant Officer of the Navy

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Warrant Officer of the Navy (WO-N) is the most senior non-officer rank in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and is also a singular rank. That is, it is only held by one person at any time. The insignia for a WO-N is the Australian coat of arms with a wreath around it. The current Warrant Officer of the Navy is James Levay.

Based on the United States Navy practice of appointing a Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, the WO-N is responsible to the Chief of Navy (CN), and is entitled to exercise command over all other Sailors in the RAN. The WO-N is a member of the personal staff of the CN and as such, operates from the office of the CN and is a member of Chief of Navy's Senior Advisory Committee (CNSAC). The WO-N's primary duty is to represent to CN and others the solicited and unsolicited views, concerns and opinions of Sailors which effect the Navy as a whole. In addition, the WO-N is responsible for:

• assisting in the overall maintenance of discipline and morale of Sailors in the RAN;
• providing input as necessary to ad hoc reviews/inquiries;
• channelling feedback to Navy Headquarters Directorates;
• representing Sailors on standing committees; and
• advising any Officer seeking advice on matters relating to Sailors in general.

The WO-N provides administrative advice and input to the CN of any need to review regulations or conditions of service, monitors the effectiveness of the Divisional System, guides Warrant Officers and Senior Sailors Messes on matters of administration, protocol and has functional control over the Senior Sailor's Handbook. He/she maintains a close working relationship with the Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army (RSM-A) and the Warrant Officer of the Air Force (WOFF-AF).