Lower ranking officers and enlisted render a salute to a senior officer and the senior officer returns that salute. The lower ranking officer or enlisted holds the salute in place until it is returned and then smartly finishes it. Looking at the senior officer is not a part of the protocol.
As I recall from about 60 years ago, to salute one must be in uniform and under cover, meaning with hat or cap on. Otherwise, no go. The question then becomes does the CiC have a uniform or cover?