Chief Facts for Kids

Chief is a word with many meanings! It often refers to a leader, the most important person, or the main part of something. You'll hear it used for people in charge, like a police chief, or even for famous athletes and characters in stories.

Important Leaders and Ranks

Military and Public Safety

The word "Chief" is often used for important roles in the military and in public safety.

A Chief master sergeant is a very high rank for enlisted people in the U.S. Air Force and Space Force.
A Chief of police is the main leader of a police department in a city or town.
A Chief of the boat is the most senior enlisted sailor on a U.S. Navy submarine.
A Chief petty officer is a skilled non-commissioned officer in many navies around the world.
A Chief warrant officer is another special military rank.
A Fire chief is the top leader of a fire department, in charge of all firefighters.

Other Leadership Roles

"Chief" can also describe leaders in many other areas, from businesses to ancient clans.

Chief x officer is a common title for top leaders in a company, like a Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
A Chief of the Name is the leader of a family or clan, especially in places like Scotland.
A Chief engineer is the most senior engineer on a ship, responsible for the engines.
A Chief mate is the highest-ranking officer in the deck department on a merchant ship, after the captain.
A Chief of staff is a person who leads a large and complex organization.
A Scottish clan chief is the traditional head of a Scottish clan.
A Tribal chief is a leader of a tribal government or community.

Places Named Chief

Some places are named "Chief," often because of their size or importance.

Chief Mountain is a large mountain located in Montana, United States.
Stawamus Chief, often called "the Chief," is a huge granite rock in British Columbia, Canada.

People Called Chief

Many famous people, especially athletes, have been given the nickname "Chief."

Athletes Nicknamed Chief

Chief Bender (1884–1954) was a famous American baseball pitcher.
Sheldon "Chief" Bender (1919–2008) was a director for baseball teams, finding new players.
Chief Chouneau (1888–1946) was another American baseball pitcher.
Peter Graham (fighter) (born 1975), known as "The Chief," is an Australian fighter.
Elon Hogsett (1903–2001) was an American baseball pitcher.
Chief Johnson (1886–1922) was an American baseball pitcher.
Chief Jones (1879–1959) was a professional ice hockey goalie.
Chief Kickingstallionsims (born 1986) is an American basketball player.
Chief Meyers (1880–1971) was an American baseball catcher.
Robert Parish (born 1953), known as "The Chief," is a famous American basketball player.
Chief Roseman (1856–1938) was an American baseball player.
Alfred Michael "Chief" Venne (1879–1971) was a Native American educator and coach.
Chief Wilson (1883–1954) was an American baseball outfielder.
Chief Youngblood (1900–1968) was an American baseball pitcher.
Chief Zimmer (1860–1949) was an American baseball catcher.

Other People Nicknamed Chief

C. Alfred "Chief" Anderson (1907–1996) was an American aviator, known as "the Father of Black Aviation."
Chief Bey (1913–2004) was an American jazz musician and storyteller.
Éamon de Valera (1882-1975), an Irish leader, was nicknamed "The Chief."
John Diefenbaker (1895–1979), a former Canadian Prime Minister, was also known as "The Chief."

Animals Called Chief

Sometimes, animals are given the name "Chief."

Chief (horse) was a famous horse.
Amauris echeria, also called the chief, is a type of butterfly found in southern Africa.

Chief in Arts and Entertainment

The word "Chief" appears a lot in movies, TV shows, books, and music.

Fictional Characters

Many characters in popular stories are called "Chief."

Carl "Chief" Kanisky was a character on the TV show Gimme a Break.
Chief (Battlestar Galactica) or Galen Tyrol, is a character in the science fiction show Battlestar Galactica.
Chief (DC Comics) is the leader of a superhero team called the Doom Patrol.
Chief is a character in the Disney movie The Fox and the Hound.
Master Chief (Halo) is the main hero in the Halo video game series.
The Chief is a character in the spy comedy show Get Smart.
The Chief is a character in the Carmen Sandiego mystery games and shows.
The Chief is a character in The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show.
The Chief is a character in the cartoon T.U.F.F. Puppy.

Books and Plays

Chiefs (novel) is a 1981 mystery novel by Stuart Woods.
The Chief (play) is a 2003 play about a sports team owner named Art Rooney.

Music

Chief (album) is a 2011 music album by Eric Church.
Chief (band) was a folk rock band that played from 2008 to 2011.
Chief Records was a record label that released music from 1957 to 1964.
The Chief (album) is a 2017 music album by Jidenna.

Newspapers and Magazines

Chief (magazine) was an online arts and culture magazine.
The Chief (New York newspaper) is a newspaper in New York City.
The Chief (Oregon newspaper) is a newspaper in northwestern Oregon, United States.

Movies and TV Shows

The Chief (film) is a 1933 American comedy movie.
Chiefs (miniseries) is a 1983 TV miniseries.
The Chief (TV series) was a British crime drama show in the 1990s.
The Chiefs (TV program) is a talk show from the Philippines.
Chiefs is a 2002 documentary movie about a high school basketball team.

Sports Teams Called Chiefs

Many sports teams use "Chiefs" in their name, often to show they are strong leaders.

Sports Organizations and Teams

Chiefs Esports Club is a gaming organization in Australia.
Chiefs (rugby union) is a rugby team from New Zealand.
Exeter Chiefs is a rugby team in England.
Kaizer Chiefs F.C. is a football (soccer) club in South Africa.
Kansas City Chiefs is a very famous American football team in Missouri.
Peoria Chiefs is a minor league baseball team.
Six Nations Chiefs is a lacrosse team in Ontario, Canada.
Spokane Chiefs is an ice hockey team in Washington state.
Syracuse Chiefs is a minor league baseball team in New York.

Fictional Teams

The Charlestown Chiefs is a fictional ice hockey team from the movie Slap Shot.

Transportation Named Chief

Some trains and airplanes have been named "Chief."

Chief (train) was a famous passenger train in the United States.
- The Southwest Chief is a modern train service that replaced the original Chief.
- The Super Chief was a premium passenger train, even more luxurious than the Chief.
Aeronca 11 Chief is an American two-seat airplane made starting in 1945.
Aeronca 50 Chief is an American light airplane from the late 1930s.

United States Navy Ships Named Chief

Several U.S. Navy ships have been named Chief.

USS Chief (AMc-67) was a minesweeper ship that served from 1942 to 1945.
USS Chief (AM-31) was another minesweeper that served from 1943 to 1955.
USS Chief (MCM-14) is a mine countermeasures ship that started service in 1994.

Other Uses of Chief

Chief (heraldry) is a horizontal band at the top of a coat of arms, used in family symbols.
Customs Handling of Import & Export Freight (CHIEF) was a computer system used for customs in the UK.
Chief (women's network) is a private group for women in business to connect and support each other.

Chief facts for kids

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