The President of the Navajo Nation is the Executive Branch of the Navajo Nation. The office was created in 1991 following 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 | |
| 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 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]
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.
| 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 | 2015 | 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 | ||