United States Department of the Navy

United States Department of the Navy
Name	United States Department of the Navy
Seal width	200
Formed	30 April 1798
Preceding1	Department of War
Jurisdiction	Federal government of the United States
Headquarters	The Pentagon, Arlington County, Virginia
Chief1 name	Carlos Del Toro
Chief1 position	United States Secretary of the Navy
Chief2 name	Erik Raven
Chief2 position	United States Under Secretary of the Navy
Chief3 name	Lisa M. Franchetti
Chief3 position	Chief of Naval Operations
Chief4 name	David H. Berger
Chief4 position	Commandant of the Marine Corps
Parent department	United States Department of Defense
Child1 agency	United States Navy
Child2 agency	United States Marine Corps
Child3 agency	United States Naval Academy
Website	www.navy.mil

Contents

United States Department of the Navy. It is a military department within the United States Department of Defense responsible for the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps. Established by an Act of Congress in 1798, its civilian leadership is headed by the United States Secretary of the Navy, who reports to the United States Secretary of Defense. The department's mission is to maintain, train, and equip naval forces for global power projection and maritime dominance.

History

The department was created on April 30, 1798, during the Quasi-War with France, separating naval affairs from the Department of War. Key early leaders included the first United States Secretary of the Navy, Benjamin Stoddert, who oversaw the expansion of the Continental Navy into a permanent force. The American Civil War saw significant technological evolution under Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles, including the use of ironclads like the USS Monitor. The 20th century brought massive growth during World War I and especially World War II, under figures like Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox and Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. The National Security Act of 1947 subsequently placed it under the newly created United States Department of Defense.

The department is headquartered at The Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia. Its structure bifurcates into civilian and military branches. The civilian side includes the Office of the United States Secretary of the Navy, the United States Under Secretary of the Navy, and several Assistant Secretaries, such as the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition. The military side is led by the Chief of Naval Operations and the Commandant of the Marine Corps, who serve as members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Key subordinate commands include United States Fleet Forces Command and United States Pacific Fleet.

Senior civilian leadership is vested in the United States Secretary of the Navy, a Cabinet-level official appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate. The current secretary is Carlos Del Toro. The principal military advisors are the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Lisa M. Franchetti, and the Commandant of the Marine Corps, General David H. Berger. They are supported by the Vice Chief of Naval Operations and the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps. The United States Under Secretary of the Navy, Erik Raven, acts as the department's chief operating officer.

Its primary responsibility is to organize, recruit, train, and equip the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps for combat operations. This includes developing naval strategy, doctrine, and tactics, as articulated in publications like *Naval Doctrine Publication 1*. The department oversees the construction and maintenance of ships, aircraft, and weapons systems, such as the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier and the F-35 Lightning II. It also manages global installations like Naval Station Norfolk and Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, and supports United States Cyber Command and United States Space Force operations.

The two primary uniformed services are the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps. The department also includes several affiliated organizations. The United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland commissions future officers. The United States Navy Reserve and the United States Marine Corps Reserve provide trained personnel. Other components include the Office of Naval Intelligence, the United States Naval Observatory, and the United States Navy Band. Civilian employees, including scientists at the Naval Research Laboratory, form a critical part of the workforce.

The department's budget is submitted as part of the larger United States Department of Defense budget request to the United States Congress. Funding supports personnel pay, operations and maintenance, procurement of new systems like the Columbia-class submarine, and research and development through agencies like the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Major recent appropriations have focused on modernizing the fleet, including the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer and the Virginia-class submarine. Budget oversight is conducted by committees including the United States House Committee on Armed Services and the United States Senate Committee on Appropriations.