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United States Secretary of the Navy
Flag of the United States Secretary of the Navy.svg
Flag of the secretary
United States Department of the Navy Seal.svg
Seal of the Department of the Navy
Secretary of Navy John Phelan.png
Incumbent
John Phelan

since 25 March 2025
Department of the Navy
Style Mister Secretary
The Honorable (formally)
Abbreviation SECNAV
Reports to Secretary of Defense
Deputy Secretary of Defense
Appointer The president
with Senate advice and consent
Constituting instrument 10 U.S.C. § 8013
Formation 18 June 1798; 227 years ago (18 June 1798)
First holder Benjamin Stoddert
Succession 3rd in SecDef succession
Deputy Under Secretary
(Principal Civilian Deputy)
Chief of Naval Operations
(Navy Advisor and Deputy)
Commandant
(Marine Corps Advisor and Deputy)
Salary Executive Schedule, level II

The Secretary of the Navy (often called SECNAV) is a very important leader in the Department of the Navy. This department is part of the United States Department of Defense. The Secretary of the Navy is like the chief executive officer for the Navy and the United States Marine Corps.

To become the Secretary of the Navy, a person must be a civilian. This means they cannot have been on active military duty for at least seven years. The President chooses the Secretary. Then, the Senate must approve the choice. As of March 25, 2025, John Phelan is the Secretary of the Navy.

History of the Secretary of the Navy

The job of Secretary of the Navy started in 1798. For a long time, this person was a member of the President's top team, called the Cabinet.

However, in 1949, things changed. The Secretary of the Navy, along with the leaders of the Army and Air Force, began working under the Secretary of Defense. This made the Secretary of Defense the main leader for all military branches.

For many years, people in the United States Congress wanted to change the name of the Department of the Navy. They wanted it to be called the "Department of the Navy and Marine Corps." This would also change the Secretary's title. But this idea did not pass because a Senator named John McCain, who used to be in the Navy, was against it.

What the Secretary of the Navy Does

The Department of the Navy includes two main military groups: the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps. The Secretary of the Navy is in charge of both. They have the power to "conduct all the affairs of the Department of the Navy." This means they lead everything, as long as it follows the law and the directions from the President and the Secretary of Defense.

Basically, almost all power within the Navy and Marine Corps comes from the Secretary of the Navy. They make sure everything runs smoothly.

Key Responsibilities

The Secretary of the Navy has many important jobs. These include:

  • Finding and signing up new people (recruiting).
  • Setting up how the Navy and Marine Corps are structured (organizing).
  • Making sure they have all the supplies they need (supplying).
  • Providing all the necessary gear and tools (equipping).
  • Making sure service members are well-trained (training).
  • Getting forces ready for action (mobilizing).
  • Bringing forces back home after action (demobilizing).

The Secretary also watches over the building and fixing of naval ships, equipment, and bases. They create and carry out plans that match the country's security goals set by the President or the Secretary of Defense.

The Secretary of the Navy is also part of a group called the Defense Acquisition Board. This group helps decide what new equipment the military will buy. The Secretary also has duties related to military justice for the Navy and Marine Corps. This includes approving military court cases and changing sentences.

The two main military advisors to the Secretary of the Navy are the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) for the Navy and the Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) for the Marines. These two leaders help the Secretary carry out their orders within their specific services.

Navy Rules and Regulations

The main rulebook for the Department of the Navy is called the United States Navy Regulations. Any changes to these rules must be approved by the Secretary of the Navy.

Role with the U.S. Coast Guard

Sometimes, the United States Coast Guard works as part of the Department of the Navy. When this happens, the Secretary of the Navy has the same powers over the Coast Guard as the Secretary of Homeland Security does when the Coast Guard is not part of the Navy.

The Secretary's Team

The Office of the Secretary of the Navy is the team that helps the Secretary do their job. This team is also known as the Navy Secretariat. Important people on this team include the Under Secretary of the Navy (who is the Secretary's main civilian helper), and several assistant secretaries.

This office is responsible for things like buying new equipment, checking finances, managing information, working with Congress, and handling public relations for the Navy.

Each year, the Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Naval Operations recognize commands for their achievements. These awards are for things like protecting the environment, cleaning up pollution, saving natural resources, and preventing waste.

The Chief of Naval Operations and the Commandant of the Marine Corps have their own separate teams. These are called the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) and Headquarters Marine Corps.

Past Secretaries of the Navy

     Denotes acting secretaries

Continental Congress Era

The very first leaders in charge of naval matters were part of the Continental Congress.

Position Portrait Name Term of office
Chairman of the Marine Committee
Gilbert Stuart, John Adams, c. 1800-1815, NGA 42933
John Adams
John Adams October 13, 1775 – 1779
Agent of Marine
Robert Morris by Charles Willson Peale, c. 1782 (New Orleans Mus of Art 78.2) - wide crop
Robert Morris
Robert Morris August 29, 1781 – 1784

Executive Department (1798–1949)

This is when the official position of Secretary of the Navy was created.      Denotes an Acting United States Secretary of the Navy

No. Portrait Name State Start End President(s)
1
Benjamin Stoddert SecNavy
Benjamin Stoddert
Stoddert, BenjaminBenjamin Stoddert Maryland June 18, 1798 March 31, 1801 Adams, JohnJohn Adams
(1797–1801)
2
Secretary of the Navy, Robert Smith
Robert Smith
Smith, RobertRobert Smith Maryland July 27, 1801 March 4, 1809 Jefferson, ThomasThomas Jefferson
(1801–1809)
48
James Forrestal - SecOfDef
James Forrestal
Forrestal, JamesJames Forrestal New York May 19, 1944 September 17, 1947 Truman, Harry S.Harry S. Truman
(1945–1953)
49
John L Sullivan SecofNavy
John L. Sullivan
Sullivan, JohnJohn Sullivan New Hampshire September 18, 1947 May 24, 1949
50
Francis P. Matthews
Francis P. Matthews
Matthews, Francis P.Francis P. Matthews Nebraska May 25, 1949 August 10, 1949

Military Department (1949–Present)

Since 1949, the Secretary of the Navy has been part of the larger Department of Defense.      Denotes an Acting United States Secretary of the Navy

No. Portrait Name Term of office President(s)
Start End Duration
50
Francis P. Matthews
Francis P. Matthews
Matthews, Francis P.Francis P. Matthews August 10, 1949 July 31, 1951 797 Truman, Harry S.Harry S. Truman
(1945–1953)
51
DanAKimball
Dan A. Kimball
Kimball, Dan A.Dan A. Kimball July 31, 1951 January 20, 1953 539
77
Kenneth J. Braithwaite II official photo
Kenneth Braithwaite
Braithwaite, KennethKenneth Braithwaite May 29, 2020 January 20, 2021 236 Trump, DonaldDonald Trump
(2017–2021)
Acting
Thomas W. Harker official photo
Thomas Harker
Harker, ThomasThomas Harker January 20, 2021 August 9, 2021 201 Biden, JoeJoe Biden
(2021–2025)
78
Carlos Del Toro SECNAV portrait
Carlos Del Toro
Del Toro, CarlosCarlos Del Toro August 9, 2021 January 20, 2025 1260
Acting
Terence G. Emmert (2)
Terence Emmert
Emmert, TerenceTerence Emmert January 20, 2025 March 25, 2025 64 Trump, DonaldDonald Trump
(2025–present)
79
Secretary of Navy John Phelan
John Phelan
Phelan, JohnJohn Phelan March 25, 2025 Incumbent 122

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Secretario de la Armada de los Estados Unidos para niños

  • Military awards of the United States Department of the Navy
  • Secretary of the Navy Council of Review Boards
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