The Department of the Navy has two tasks.
It carries out the first task as directed by the
President or the Secretary of Defense. That task
is to organize, train, equip, prepare, and maintain
the readiness of Navy and Marine Corps forces
to perform military missions. It carries out the
second task as directed by the Secretary of
Defense. That task is to support Navy and Marine
Corps forces, as well as the forces of other military
departments assigned to unified or specified
commands. Support includes administrative,
personnel, material, funding, and technological
support through research and development. The
Department of the Navy is under the control of
the Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV).
The Secretary of the Navy heads the
Department of the Navy under the direction,
authority, and control of the Secretary of Defense.
The Secretary of the Navy is responsible for the
policies and control of the Department of the
Navy, including its organization, administration,
operation, and efficiency.
The Secretary of the Navy assigns department-
wide responsibilities essential to the efficient
administration of DON to civilian executive
assistants. These assistants consist of the Under
Secretary of the Navy, the Assistant Secretaries
of the Navy, and the General Counsel of the
Navy. They are SECNAV’s principal advisors and
assistants on DON administrative affairs. Each
civilian executive assistant has a certain area of
responsibility. The civilian executive assistants
carry out their duties in cooperation with the
CNO, the principal naval advisor and executive
to the SECNAV.
THE NAVY DEPARTMENT
The Navy Department aids SECNAV in
carrying out the responsibilities of that office. As
mentioned before, SECNAV is responsible, under
the Secretary of Defense, for the policies and
control of the Navy. SECNAV’s responsibility
includes the Navy’s organization, administration,
operation, and efficiency. The Navy Department
controls and provides policy and direction for the
Shore Establishment and the operating forces.
The Navy Department, shown in figure 1-4,
includes the following organizational levels:
The Under Secretary of the Navy
The civilian executive assistants
The offices of staff assistants
The Chief of Naval Operations and
supporting staff
The Commandant of the Marine Corps
and the Marine Corps Headquarters
The headquarters organization of the
Bureau of Naval Personnel
Let’s take a look at those offices of the Navy
Department that could be of interest to you. They
include the Office of Legislative Affairs, Office
of Information, Office of the Judge Advocate
General, and Office of Program Appraisal. These
offices are generally headed by military officers.
We will also look at the Assistant Secretaries of
Figure 1-4.-The Navy Department.
1-6
