Testifying before the Senate Armed Service Committee’s Personnel Subcommittee, the Navy’s chief of personnel, Vice Adm. Bob Burke, updated lawmakers on how far and fast the sea service has come in revamping the Defense Officer Personnel Management Act, the landmark 1980 legislation that’s come to be known as simply “DOPMA.”
The Navy’s major commands ashore and at sea generally start at the captain’s level. Examples include overseeing aircraft carriers, air wings and squadrons of surface warships.