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 (DEP CHNAVPERS/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 DCNO N1 exercises delegated authority from the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) in establishing human resource strategy and policy and serves as a single resource sponsor for all manpower and training program matters.

The DCNO performs Capitol Hill related duties, including Congressional testimony, for matters pertaining to naval personnel, manpower, training, and education.

DCNO N1 leads the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, N1 (OPNAV N1) in providing strategic direction and policy for the MyNavy HR enterprise.