Who holds the sole authority for advancing personnel to pay grades E7 through E9?

The correct answer is that CHNAVPERS, or Chief of Naval Personnel, holds the sole authority for advancing personnel to pay grades E7 through E9. This authority is critical because CHNAVPERS is responsible for overseeing the advancement processes within the Navy, ensuring that specific standards, evaluations, and techniques are applied uniformly across the service. By centralizing this authority, CHNAVPERS can maintain consistency and fairness in the advancement system, ensuring that all personnel meet the required qualifications and performance standards before being promoted to these higher ranks.

The other entities listed, while important in the administrative structure of the Navy, do not have the final say in advancements to these pay grades. The Commanding Officer, for instance, plays a significant role in the evaluation and recommendation process but ultimately submits those recommendations up the chain of command to CHNAVPERS. Similarly, a Regional Personnel Officer manages personnel matters at a regional level but does not have the authority to approve advancements to E7 through E9, which are governed at a central level to maintain uniformity in the advancement process.