United States Secretary of the Navy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Secretary of the Navy
Flag of the secretary
Seal of the Department of the Navy
Incumbent Terence G. Emmert since 20 January 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	The Under Secretary (Principal Civilian Deputy) Chief of Naval Operations (Navy Advisor and Deputy) The 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 United States Department of the Navy. This department is a part of the United States Department of Defense. The SECNAV is like the chief executive officer for the Navy.

By law, the person who holds this job must be a civilian. This means they cannot be an active military member. They must have been out of active military service for at least five years. The President chooses the Secretary of the Navy. Then, the Senate must approve this choice.

From 1798 until 1949, the Secretary of the Navy was a member of the President's top team, called the Cabinet. After 1949, the role changed. The Secretary of the Navy, along with the Secretaries of the Army and Air Force, began reporting to the Secretary of Defense.

On August 7, 2021, Carlos Del Toro became the Secretary of the Navy.

What Does the Secretary of the Navy Do?

The Department of the Navy includes two main military branches: 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 oversee almost everything the Navy and Marine Corps do.

The SECNAV's job includes many important tasks. They are responsible for finding new recruits and organizing the forces. They also make sure the Navy and Marine Corps have all the supplies and equipment they need. Training, mobilizing (getting ready for action), and demobilizing (standing down) are also their responsibilities.

The Secretary also watches over the building and repair of naval ships and facilities. They create and carry out plans that match the country's security goals. These goals are set by the President or the Secretary of Defense.

The SECNAV is part of the Defense Acquisition Board. This group helps decide what military equipment to buy. The Secretary also has duties related to military justice. They can approve military court cases and change sentences for Navy and Marine Corps members.

The main military advisors to the SECNAV are the leaders of the Navy and Marine Corps. For the Navy, it's the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO). For the Marine Corps, it's the Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC). These leaders help the SECNAV carry out orders within their branches.

Navy Rules and Regulations

The United States Navy Regulations are the main rulebook for the Department of the Navy. 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 duties for the Coast Guard as the Secretary of Homeland Security normally does.

The Navy Secretariat: SECNAV's Support Team

The Office of the Secretary of the Navy is the team that helps the Secretary do their job. It's also known as the Navy Secretariat. Key people in this office include the Under Secretary of the Navy, who is the Secretary's main civilian helper. There are also Assistant Secretaries, the legal advisor, and the chief lawyer.

Other important roles include the Naval Inspector General, who checks how things are run. The Chief of Legislative Affairs works with Congress. The Chief of Naval Research looks into new technologies. This office is in charge of buying things, checking finances, and handling public and legislative matters for the Navy.

The Secretary of the Navy also recognizes commands each year for their work in protecting the environment. This includes efforts in environmental quality, cleanup, natural resources, and preventing pollution.

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

Early Leaders: Continental Congress

Before the official Secretary of the Navy role, there were committees and agents.

Position	Portrait	Name	Term of office
Chairman of the Marine Committee		John Adams	October 13, 1775 – 1779
Member of the Marine Committee		John Langdon	October 13, 1775–?
Member of the Marine Committee		Silas Deane	October 13, 1775–?
Member of the Marine Committee		Joseph Hewes	1775
Continental Navy Board (under Marine Committee)			November 6, 1776 – October 28, 1779
Chairman of the Continental Board of Admiralty		Francis Lewis	December 1779 – 1780
Secretary of Marine		Alexander McDougall	February 7, 1781 – August 29, 1781
Agent of Marine		Robert Morris	August 29, 1781 – 1784

(The job of Secretary of Marine was created but stayed empty for a while.)

Secretaries from 1798–1949

     Denotes an Acting United States Secretary of the Navy

No.	Portrait	Name	State	Start	End	President(s)
1		Stoddert, BenjaminBenjamin Stoddert	Maryland	June 18, 1798	March 31, 1801		Adams, JohnJohn Adams (1797–1801)
							Jefferson, ThomasThomas Jefferson (1801–1809)
2		Smith, RobertRobert Smith	Maryland	July 27, 1801	March 4, 1809
3		Hamilton, PaulPaul Hamilton	South Carolina	May 15, 1809	December 31, 1812		Madison, JamesJames Madison (1809–1817)
4		Jones, WilliamWilliam Jones	Pennsylvania	January 19, 1813	December 1, 1814
5		Crowninshield, BenjaminBenjamin Crowninshield	Massachusetts	January 16, 1815	September 30, 1818
							Monroe, JamesJames Monroe (1817–1825)
6		Thompson, SmithSmith Thompson	New York	January 1, 1819	August 31, 1823
7		Southard, Samuel L.Samuel L. Southard	New Jersey	September 16, 1823	March 4, 1829
							Adams, John QuincyJohn Quincy Adams (1825–1829)
8		Branch, JohnJohn Branch	North Carolina	March 9, 1829	May 12, 1831		Jackson, AndrewAndrew Jackson (1829–1837)
9		Woodbury, LeviLevi Woodbury	New Hampshire	May 23, 1831	June 30, 1834
10		Dickerson, MahlonMahlon Dickerson	New Jersey	July 1, 1834	June 30, 1838
							Van Buren, MartinMartin Van Buren (1837–1841)
11		Paulding, James K.James K. Paulding	New York	July 1, 1838	March 4, 1841
12		Badger, George E.George E. Badger	North Carolina	March 6, 1841	September 11, 1841		Harrison, William HenryWilliam Henry Harrison (1841)
							Tyler, JohnJohn Tyler (1841–1845)
13		Upshur, Abel P.Abel P. Upshur	Virginia	October 11, 1841	July 23, 1843
14		Henshaw, DavidDavid Henshaw	Massachusetts	July 24, 1843	February 18, 1844
15		Gilmer, Thomas W.Thomas W. Gilmer	Virginia	February 19, 1844	February 28, 1844
16		Mason, John Y.John Y. Mason	Virginia	March 26, 1844	March 4, 1845
17		Bancroft, GeorgeGeorge Bancroft	Massachusetts	March 11, 1845	September 9, 1846		Polk, James K.James K. Polk (1845–1849)
18		Mason, John Y.John Y. Mason	Virginia	September 10, 1846	March 4, 1849
19		Preston, William B.William B. Preston	Virginia	March 8, 1849	July 22, 1850		Taylor, ZacharyZachary Taylor (1849–1850)
20		Graham, WilliamWilliam Graham	North Carolina	August 2, 1850	July 25, 1852		Fillmore, MillardMillard Fillmore (1850–1853)
21		Kennedy, John P.John P. Kennedy	Maryland	July 26, 1852	March 4, 1853
22		Dobbin, James C.James C. Dobbin	North Carolina	March 8, 1853	March 4, 1857		Pierce, FranklinFranklin Pierce (1853–1857)
23		Toucey, IsaacIsaac Toucey	Connecticut	March 7, 1857	March 4, 1861		Buchanan, JamesJames Buchanan (1857–1861)
24		Welles, GideonGideon Welles	Connecticut	March 7, 1861	March 4, 1869		Lincoln, AbrahamAbraham Lincoln (1861–1865)
							Johnson, AndrewAndrew Johnson (1865–1869)
25		Borie, Adolph E.Adolph E. Borie	Pennsylvania	March 9, 1869	June 25, 1869		Grant, Ulysses S.Ulysses S. Grant (1869–1877)
26		Robeson, George M.George M. Robeson	New Jersey	June 26, 1869	March 4, 1877
Acting		Faxon, WilliamWilliam Faxon		March 4, 1877	March 13, 1877		Hayes, Rutherford B.Rutherford B. Hayes (1877–1881)
27		Thompson, Richard W.Richard W. Thompson	Indiana	March 13, 1877	December 20, 1880
28		Goff Jr., NathanNathan Goff Jr.	West Virginia	January 7, 1881	March 4, 1881
29		Hunt, William H.William H. Hunt	Louisiana	March 7, 1881	April 16, 1882		Garfield, James A.James A. Garfield (1881)
							Arthur, Chester A.Chester A. Arthur (1881–1885)
30		Chandler, William E.William E. Chandler	New Hampshire	April 16, 1882	March 4, 1885
31		Whitney, William C.William C. Whitney	New York	March 7, 1885	March 4, 1889		Cleveland, GroverGrover Cleveland (1885–1889)
32		Tracy, Benjamin F.Benjamin F. Tracy	New York	March 6, 1889	March 4, 1893		Harrison, BenjaminBenjamin Harrison (1889–1893)
33		Herbert, Hilary A.Hilary A. Herbert	Alabama	March 7, 1893	March 4, 1897		Cleveland, GroverGrover Cleveland (1893–1897)
34		Long, John DavisJohn Davis Long	Massachusetts	March 6, 1897	April 30, 1902		McKinley, WilliamWilliam McKinley (1897–1901)
							Roosevelt, TheodoreTheodore Roosevelt (1901–1909)
35		Moody, WilliamWilliam Moody	Massachusetts	May 1, 1902	June 30, 1904
36		Morton, PaulPaul Morton	Illinois	July 1, 1904	June 30, 1905
37		Bonaparte, CharlesCharles Bonaparte	Maryland	July 1, 1905	December 16, 1906
38		Metcalf, Victor H.Victor H. Metcalf	California	December 17, 1906	November 30, 1908
39		Newberry, Truman HandyTruman Handy Newberry	Michigan	December 1, 1908	March 4, 1909
40		von Lengerke Meyer, GeorgeGeorge von Lengerke Meyer	Massachusetts	March 6, 1909	March 4, 1913		Taft, William HowardWilliam Howard Taft (1909–1913)
41		Daniels, JosephusJosephus Daniels	North Carolina	March 5, 1913	March 4, 1921		Wilson, WoodrowWoodrow Wilson (1913–1921)
42		Denby, EdwinEdwin Denby	Michigan	March 6, 1921	March 10, 1924		Harding, Warren G.Warren G. Harding (1921–1923)
							Coolidge, CalvinCalvin Coolidge (1923–1929)
Acting		Roosevelt Jr., TheodoreTheodore Roosevelt Jr.		March 10, 1924	March 19, 1924
43		Wilbur, Curtis D.Curtis D. Wilbur	California	March 19, 1924	March 4, 1929
44		Adams III, Charles FrancisCharles Francis Adams III	Massachusetts	March 5, 1929	March 4, 1933		Hoover, HerbertHerbert Hoover (1929–1933)
45		Swanson, Claude A.Claude A. Swanson	Virginia	March 4, 1933	July 7, 1939		Roosevelt, Franklin D.Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933–1945)
46		Edison, CharlesCharles Edison	New Jersey	July 7, 1939	January 2, 1940
				January 2, 1940	June 24, 1940
Acting		Compton, LewisLewis Compton		June 24, 1940	July 11, 1940
47		Knox, FrankFrank Knox	Illinois	July 11, 1940	April 28, 1944
Acting		Bard, Ralph AustinRalph Austin Bard		April 28, 1944	May 19, 1944
48		Forrestal, JamesJames Forrestal	New York	May 19, 1944	September 17, 1947
							Truman, Harry S.Harry S. Truman (1945–1953)
49		Sullivan, JohnJohn Sullivan	New Hampshire	September 18, 1947	May 24, 1949
50		Matthews, Francis P.Francis P. Matthews	Nebraska	May 25, 1949	August 10, 1949

Secretaries from 1949–Present

     Denotes an Acting United States Secretary of the Navy

No.	Portrait	Name	Term of office			President(s)
			Start	End	Duration
50		Matthews, Francis P.Francis P. Matthews	August 10, 1949	July 31, 1951	797		Truman, Harry S.Harry S. Truman (1945–1953)
51		Kimball, Dan A.Dan A. Kimball	July 31, 1951	January 20, 1953	539
52		Anderson, RobertRobert Anderson	February 4, 1953	March 3, 1954	392		Eisenhower, Dwight D.Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953–1961)
53		Thomas, CharlesCharles Thomas	May 3, 1954	April 1, 1957	1064
54		Gates Jr., Thomas S.Thomas S. Gates Jr.	April 1, 1957	June 8, 1959	798
55		Franke, William B.William B. Franke	June 8, 1959	January 19, 1961	591
56		Connally, JohnJohn Connally	January 25, 1961	December 20, 1961	329		Kennedy, John F.John F. Kennedy (1961–1963)
57		Korth, FredFred Korth	January 4, 1962	November 1, 1963	666
Acting		Fay, Paul B.Paul B. Fay	November 2, 1963	November 28, 1963	26
							Johnson, Lyndon B.Lyndon B. Johnson (1963–1969)
58		Nitze, PaulPaul Nitze	November 29, 1963	June 30, 1967	1309
Acting		Baird, Charles F.Charles F. Baird	July 1, 1967	August 31, 1967	61
59		Ignatius, PaulPaul Ignatius	September 1, 1967	January 24, 1969	511
							Nixon, RichardRichard Nixon (1969–1974)
60		Chafee, JohnJohn Chafee	January 31, 1969	May 4, 1972	1189
61		Warner, JohnJohn Warner	May 4, 1972	April 8, 1974	704
62		Middendorf, J. WilliamJ. William Middendorf	April 8, 1974	January 20, 1977	1018
							Ford, GeraldGerald Ford (1974–1977)
63		Claytor Jr., W. GrahamW. Graham Claytor Jr.	February 14, 1977	August 24, 1979	921		Carter, JimmyJimmy Carter (1977–1981)
64		Hidalgo, EdwardEdward Hidalgo	October 24, 1979	January 20, 1981	454
65		Lehman, JohnJohn Lehman	February 5, 1981	April 10, 1987	2255		Reagan, RonaldRonald Reagan (1981–1989)
66		Webb, JimJim Webb	May 1, 1987	February 23, 1988	298
67		Ball, William L.William L. Ball	March 28, 1988	May 15, 1989	413
							Bush, George H. W.George H. W. Bush (1989–1993)
68		Garrett III, Henry L.Henry L. Garrett III	May 15, 1989	June 26, 1992	1138
Acting		Howard, DanielDaniel Howard	June 26, 1992	July 7, 1992	11
69		O'Keefe, SeanSean O'Keefe	July 7, 1992	October 2, 1992	87
			October 2, 1992	January 20, 1993	110
Acting		Kelso, FrankFrank Kelso	January 20, 1993	July 21, 1993	182		Clinton, BillBill Clinton (1993–2001)
70		Dalton, John H.John H. Dalton	July 22, 1993	November 16, 1998	1943
71		Danzig, RichardRichard Danzig	November 16, 1998	January 20, 2001	796
Acting		Pirie Jr., Robert B.Robert B. Pirie Jr.	January 20, 2001	May 24, 2001	124		Bush, George W.George W. Bush (2001–2009)
72		England, Gordon R.Gordon R. England	May 24, 2001	January 30, 2003	616
Acting		Livingstone, SusanSusan Livingstone	January 30, 2003	February 7, 2003	8
Acting		Johnson, Hansford T.Hansford T. Johnson	February 7, 2003	September 30, 2003	235
73		England, Gordon R.Gordon R. England	October 1, 2003	December 29, 2005	820
Acting		Aviles, Dionel M.Dionel M. Aviles	December 29, 2005	January 3, 2006	5
74		Winter, Donald C.Donald C. Winter	January 3, 2006	March 13, 2009	1165
							Obama, BarackBarack Obama (2009–2017)
Acting		Penn, B. J.B. J. Penn	March 13, 2009	May 19, 2009	67
75		Mabus, RayRay Mabus	May 19, 2009	January 20, 2017	2803
Acting		Stackley, SeanSean Stackley	January 20, 2017	August 3, 2017	195		Trump, DonaldDonald Trump (2017–2021)
76		Spencer, Richard V.Richard V. Spencer	August 3, 2017	July 15, 2019	711
Acting		Modly, ThomasThomas Modly	July 15, 2019	July 31, 2019	16
76		Spencer, Richard V.Richard V. Spencer	July 31, 2019	November 24, 2019	116
Acting		Modly, ThomasThomas Modly	November 24, 2019	April 7, 2020	135
Acting		McPherson, James E.James E. McPherson	April 7, 2020	May 29, 2020	52
77		Braithwaite, KennethKenneth Braithwaite	May 29, 2020	January 20, 2021	236
Acting		Harker, ThomasThomas Harker	January 20, 2021	August 9, 2021	201		Biden, JoeJoe Biden (2021–2025)
78		Del Toro, CarlosCarlos Del Toro	August 9, 2021	January 20, 2025	1260
Acting		Emmert, TerenceTerence Emmert	January 20, 2025	Present			Trump, DonaldDonald Trump (2025–present)

See Also

• Military awards of the United States Department of the Navy
• Secretary of the Navy Council of Review Boards
• Stephen Mallory, the only Secretary of the Navy of the Confederate States of America