Who designates the Preliminary Inquiry Officer (PIO) within a command?

• A. The XO
• B. The Commanding Officer
• C. The CPO
• D. The Judge Advocate General

Answer: (A)

The person who designates the Preliminary Inquiry Officer is the Executive Officer. In many commands, the XO acts as the second-in-command responsible for handling administrative tasks related to inquiries and investigations. Appointing the PIO through the XO helps keep the process efficient and maintains a level of impartiality, since the XO is not the direct supervisor of the person under inquiry and can oversee the initial review without bias. The other roles aren’t typically the designation authority for this duty: the Commanding Officer oversees the command and may authorize investigations, the Chief Petty Officer is an enlisted leader with different responsibilities, and the Judge Advocate General provides legal guidance rather than appointing the PIO.