Secretary supervises those offices and organiza-
tions the SECNAV assigns.
Assistant Secretary of the Navy
(Shipbuilding and Logistics)
As an acquisition executive, the Assistant
Secretary of the Navy (Shipbuilding and Logistics)
procures aircraft and naval ships. This executive
manages all stages of acquisition of naval ships
in the 5-year shipbuilding program, including
design and weapons system integration. The
Assistant Secretary’s responsibility includes
business and contractual policy and logistic
support of all Department of the Navy acquisition
programs. It includes the maintenance, alteration,
supply, distribution, and disposal of material;
the Mutual Defense Assistance Program; all
transportation matters; printing and publications;
and industrial security. It also includes labor
relations of contractors with the Department of
the Navy. The Assistant Secretary supervises the
acquisition,
construction, use, improvement,
alteration., maintenance, and disposal of DON
real estate and facilities. The Secretary supervises
those offices and organizations the SECNAV
assigns.
Office of the General Counsel of the Navy
The Office of the General Counsel of the Navy
provides legal advice, counsel, and guidance
to SECNAV, SECNAV's civilian executive
assistants, and their staffs. These legal services
concern matters of business and commercial law.
This office manages the Department of the Navy
and performs such other duties as the SECNAV
assigns.
Chief of Naval Operations
The Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) is the
senior military officer of the Department of the
Navy. The CNO takes precedence over all other
naval officers, except a naval officer serving as
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The CNO
is the principal naval advisor to the President and
the SECNAV on the conduct of DON activities.
The CNO keeps the Secretary of the Navy fully
informed on matters the JCS considers or acts
upon. The CNO is the Navy member of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff. As such, the CNO is responsible
to the President and the SECDEF for duties
external to DON as prescribed by law.
The Chief of Naval Operations, under the
direction of the Secretary of the Navy, exercises
command over the operating forces of the Navy.
(The CNO’s authority is consistent with the
operational command vested in the commanders
of unified or specified combatant commands.)
These forces include the Military Sealift
Command, the Fleet Marine Forces, and the
several fleets, seagoing forces, and other forces
and activities assigned by the President or the
SECNAV. The CNO also exercises command over
the Bureau of Naval Personnel and other shore
activities assigned by the SECNAV. In addition,
the Chief of Naval Operations has the following
specific responsibilities:
To organize, train, equip, prepare, and
maintain the readiness of Navy operational
forces
To determine and direct the efforts needed
to fulfill current and future Navy require-
ments for manpower, material, weapons,
facilities, and services
To exercise leadership in maintaining a
high degree of competence among Navy
officers and enlisted and civilian personnel
To maintain the morale and motivation of
Navy personnel and the prestige of a Navy
career
To plan and provide health care for
personnel of the naval service and their
dependents
To direct the organization, administration,
training, and support of the Naval Reserve
To monitor the Department of the Navy
to determine and maintain efficiency,
discipline, and readiness
To determine the need for and to provide
for the conduct of research, development,
test, and evaluation that meet long-range
goals, immediate requirements, and fiscal
limitations
To devise Navy strategic plans and policies
and help devise joint and combined
strategic plans and policies
To budget for commands, bureaus, and
offices assigned to the CNO’s command and
for other activities and programs as assigned
1-8
