Vice President of the Navajo Nation explained

The office of vice president of the Navajo Nation was created in 1991 following restructuring of the Navajo Nation government. The president and vice president are elected every four years. The Navajo Nation Vice-president shall serve no more than two terms.^[1]

In 2010, Ben Shelly became the first vice president to be elected president of the Navajo Nation.^[2]

In 2022, Richelle Montoya was the first woman to be elected into the Executive Branch of the Navajo Nation.^[3]

Officeholders

List of vice presidents of Navajo Nation

		Image	Name	Term	Party	Election	President
1			Marshall Plummer [4]	January 15, 1991 – January 10, 1995	Unknown	1990		Peterson Zah
2			Thomas Atcitty [5]	January 10, 1995 – February 19, 1998	Democratic	1994		Albert Hale
3			Milton Bluehouse Sr. [6]	February 19, 1998 – July 24, 1998	Unknown	–		Thomas Atcitty
–		Milton Bluehouse Sr.
4					Frank Chee Willeto [7]	August 1998 – January 12, 1999	Unknown
5			Taylor McKenzie [8]	January 12, 1999 – January 14, 2003	Unknown	1998		Kelsey Begaye
6			Frank Dayish	January 14, 2003 – January 9, 2007	Unknown	2002		Joe Shirley Jr.
7			Ben Shelly	January 9, 2007 – January 11, 2011	Democratic	2006
8			Rex Lee Jim	January 11, 2011 – May 12, 2015	Unknown	2010		Ben Shelly
9			Jonathan Nez	May 12, 2015 – January 15, 2019	Democratic	2014–15		Russell Begaye
10			Myron Lizer	January 15, 2019 – January 10, 2023	Republican	2018		Jonathan Nez
11			Richelle Montoya	January 10, 2023 – present	Unknown	2022		Buu Nygren

See also

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

Notes and References

1. Web site: Qualifications for President & Vice-President. Navajo Nation Election Administration.
2. News: Carolyn. Calvin. Many firsts in primary, general elections . . 2010-12-31 . 2012-07-12.
3. Web site: Navajo Nation elects Buu Nygren President . New Mexico News Port. 9 November 2022 .
4. Web site: Democracy Era Begins For Largest U.S. Tribe . . 1991-01-17 . 2012-07-07.
5. Web site: Deenise . Becenti . With Law on Heels, Navajo Boss Quits; Hale Steps Down As Navajo Boss . . 1998-02-20 . 2012-07-09.
6. Web site: Navajo name new president - again . . . 1998-07-26 . 2012-07-09.
7. Web site: Charles D. . Brunt . Former Navajo Code Talker Willeto Dies . . 2012-06-25 . 2012-07-11.
8. Web site: Michelle. Rushlo. Navajo inauguration is all-day event . . Eugene Register-Guard (page 3A) . 1999-12-12 . 2012-07-09.