Navy (Navy)

The Navy secretary is appointed by the president and is responsible to the defense secretary for the operation and efficiency of the Navy. The secretary is responsible for the policies and control of the Department of the Navy, including its organization, administration, functioning and efficiency. The members of the secretary's executive administration assist in the discharge of the responsibilities of the secretary.

The chief of naval operations (CNO) is the senior military officer in the Navy. The CNO is a four-star admiral and is responsible to the Navy secretary for the command, utilization of resources and operating efficiency of the operating forces of the Navy and of the Navy shore activities assigned by the Secretary. A member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the CNO is the principal naval adviser to the president and to the Navy secretary on the conduct of war, and is the principal adviser and naval executive to the secretary on the conduct of naval activities of the Department of the Navy. Assistants are the vice chief of naval operations, the deputy chiefs of naval operations and a number of other ranking officers. These officers and their staffs are collectively known as the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV).

The shore establishment provides support to the operating forces (known as "the fleet") in the form of: facilities for the repair of machinery and electronics; communications centers; training areas and simulators; ship and aircraft repair; intelligence and meteorological support; storage areas for repair parts, fuel, and munitions; medical and dental facilities; and air bases.

The operating forces commanders and fleet commanders have a dual chain of command. Administratively, they report to the CNO and provide, train and equip naval forces. Operationally, they provide naval forces and report to the appropriate unified combatant commanders. Commander Fleet Forces Command commands and controls fleet assets on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts for interdeployment training cycle purposes.

Major domestic elements of the Navy involved in top-secret work include:

* Naval Network Warfare Command

* Naval Special Warfare Command

* Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command