President of the Navajo Nation

The President of the Navajo Nation is the Executive Branch of the Navajo Nation. The office succeeded the Tribal Chairman, being created in 1991 during restructuring of the national government. The President and Vice President are elected every four years. The Navajo Nation President shall serve no more than two consecutive terms.^[1]

President of the Navajo Nation
Diné Binantʼaʼí  (Navajo)
Great Seal of the Navajo Nation
Incumbent Buu Nygren since January 10, 2023
Residence	Window Rock, Arizona
Term length	Four years, renewable once
Constituting instrument	Navajo Nation Code & Treaty of 1868
Inaugural holder	Peterson Zah
Formation	January 15, 1991
Salary	$55,000.00 USD per year
Website	Office of the President and Vice President of the Navajo Nation

As outlined in the Navajo Nation Code §1001-1006, until 2016, office holders had to be fluent in the Navajo language among other declared qualifications.^[2] Presently, fluency is to be determined by the Navajo voters when they cast ballots.^[3]

Presidential line of succession

The Navajo Nation Code defines who may become or act as president upon the absence of a sitting president or a president-elect. Should the president, under circumstances outlined in the Navajo Nation Code at §1005(d)-1006, be unable to serve out his full term, then the vice president shall act in his place for the remainder of the term, or until the president is able to resume his duties. §1006 of the Code instructs, that in the event a vacancy should "occur in the Office of President and Vice President, the Speaker shall serve as President of the Navajo Nation until a special election is held." The speaker does not relinquish his speaker duties whilst acting as interim president.

Officeholders

No.		Image	Name	Term	Party	Election	Vice President
1			Peterson Zah (1937–2023) [4][5]	January 15, 1991 – January 10, 1995	Democratic	1990		Marshall Plummer
2			Albert Hale (1950–2021) [5][6]	January 10, 1995 – February 19, 1998[a]	Democratic	1994		Thomas Atcitty
3			Thomas Atcitty (1933–2020) [6][7]	February 19, 1998 – July 23, 1998[b]	Democratic	–		Milton Bluehouse Sr.
4			Milton Bluehouse Sr. (1936–2019) [7][8]	July 24, 1998 – January 12, 1999	Unknown	–	vacant through August 1998
								Frank Chee Willeto
5			Kelsey Begaye (1951–2021) [8]	January 12, 1999 – January 14, 2003	Democratic	1998		Taylor McKenzie
6			Joe Shirley Jr. (born 1947) [9]	January 14, 2003 – January 11, 2011	Democratic	2002		Frank Dayish
						2006		Ben Shelly
7			Ben Shelly (1947–2023)	January 11, 2011 – May 12, 2015	Democratic	2010		Rex Lee Jim
8			Russell Begaye (born TBA)	May 12, 2015 – January 15, 2019	Democratic	2014–15		Jonathan Nez
9			Jonathan Nez (born 1975)	January 15, 2019 – January 10, 2023	Democratic	2018		Myron Lizer
10			Buu Nygren (born 1986)	January 10, 2023 – present	Democratic	2022		Richelle Montoya

Notes

1. Resigned from office.
2. Removed by the Navajo Nation Council.

Timeline

This is a graphical lifespan timeline of presidents of the Navajo Nation. They are listed in order of office.

See also

• Vice President of the Navajo Nation
• Speaker of the Navajo Nation Council
• Navajo Nation Council