Richard John Cheeseman Jr. is a United States Navy vice admiral and surface warfare officer who has served as the deputy chief of naval operations for manpower, personnel, training and education and 60th Chief of Naval Personnel since June 3, 2022. He previously served as a special assistant to the Commander, United States Fleet Forces Command, and prior to that was commander of Carrier Strike Group 10 from December 14, 2020 to April 6, 2022. He has also commanded Carrier Strike Group 2 with tours as commanding officer of the USS Bulkeley (DDG-84) and USS Monterey (CG-61).

The Chief of Naval Personnel (CNP) is responsible for overall manpower readiness for the United States Navy. As such, the CNP is the highest ranking human resources officer in the Navy. The CNP also serves in an additional duty capacity as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations and is one of five Deputy Chiefs of Naval Operations, with the identification of OPNAV N1/PMT. The CNP oversees the operations of the Bureau of Naval Personnel (BUPERS), the Navy Manpower Analysis Center (NAVMAC), and the Naval Education and Training Command (NETC). While most BUPERS offices are located in Millington, Tennessee and are overseen on a day-to-day basis by the Deputy Chief of Naval Personnel (DCNP), a small BUPERS staff is located in Arlington, Virginia to directly support the CNP. The CNP and the other four DCNOs are nominated by the President of the United States and must be confirmed via majority vote by the Senate. The CNP and the DCNOs are each appointed as a three-star vice admiral while holding office.