From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The United States Department of the Navy was established by an Act of Congress on April 30, 1798, to provide administrative and technical support, and civilian leadership to the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps (and when directed by the Congress or President, the United States Coast Guard). It is headed by the Secretary of the Navy, also known as the SECNAV in naval jargon. He is assisted by an Undersecretary of the Navy. The Department was a cabinet position, along with the War Department which contained the US Army until 1947 when the National Military Establishment was formed. The National Military Establishment was later renamed Department of Defense (DOD) in 1949. The Department of the Navy then became a component of the DOD.

The Department of the Navy consists of Executive offices, mostly located within Washington, DC and is responsible for the recruiting of military and civilian personnel, organizing, supplying, equipping, training, and the mobilization and demobilization of the navy and its personnel and assets. The Department also oversees the construction, outfitting and repair of naval ships, aircraft, equipment and facilities.

The Department comprises two uniformed services, also called the sea services, the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps.

The highest ranking military officers in the department are the Chief of Naval Operations and the Commandant of the Marine Corps, who are the President's and the SECNAV's principal Naval advisors. They run their respective military components of the department and serve as members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

In H.R. 1585, the Fiscal Year 2008 National Defense Authorization Bill (NDAA) for 2008m the Department of the Navy will be renamed. The Bill which passed in the U.S. House of Representatives on May 17, 2007, and in the Senate on October 1, 2007:^[1] As of October 28, 2007, the bill is awaiting presidential signature.

SEC. 905. REDESIGNATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY AS THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY AND MARINE CORPS.
(a) Redesignation of Military Department- The military department designated as the Department of the Navy is redesignated as the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps.

(b) Redesignation of Secretary and Other Statutory Offices-

(1) SECRETARY- The position of the Secretary of the Navy is redesignated as the Secretary of the Navy and Marine Corps.

(2) OTHER STATUTORY OFFICES- The positions of the Under Secretary of the Navy, the four Assistant Secretaries of the Navy, and the General Counsel of the Department of the Navy are redesignated as the Under Secretary of the Navy and Marine Corps, the Assistant Secretaries of the Navy and Marine Corps, and the General Counsel of the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps, respectively.

(c) Conforming Amendments to Title 10, United States Code-

(1) DEFINITION OF `MILITARY DEPARTMENT'- Paragraph (8) of section 101(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: '(8) The term `military department' means the Department of the Army, the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps, and the Department of the Air Force.'.

(2) ORGANIZATION OF DEPARTMENT- The text of section 5011 of such title is amended to read as follows: `The Department of the Navy and Marine Corps is separately organized under the Secretary of the Navy and Marine Corps.'.

(3) POSITION OF SECRETARY- Section 5013(a)(1) of such title is amended by striking `There is a Secretary of the Navy' and inserting `There is a Secretary of the Navy and Marine Corps'.

(4) CHAPTER HEADINGS-

(A) The heading of chapter 503 of such title is amended to read as follows: 'CHAPTER 503--DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY AND MARINE CORPS'.

(B) The heading of chapter 507 of such title is amended to read as follows: 'CHAPTER 507--COMPOSITION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY AND MARINE CORPS'.

(5) OTHER AMENDMENTS-

(A) Title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking 'Department of the Navy' and `Secretary of the Navy' each place they appear other than as specified in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) (including in section headings, subsection captions, tables of chapters, and tables of sections) and inserting 'Department of the Navy and Marine Corps' and 'Secretary of the Navy and Marine Corps', respectively, in each case with the matter inserted to be in the same typeface and typestyle as the matter stricken.

(B)(i) Sections 5013(f), 5014(b)(2), 5016(a), 5017(2), 5032(a), and 5042(a) of such title are amended by striking 'Assistant Secretaries of the Navy' and inserting `Assistant Secretaries of the Navy and Marine Corps'.

(ii) The heading of section 5016 of such title, and the item relating to such section in the table of sections at the beginning of chapter 503 of such title, are each amended by inserting 'and Marine Corps' after 'of the Navy', with the matter inserted in each case to be in the same typeface and typestyle as the matter amended.

(d) Title 37, United States Code- Title 37, United States Code, is amended by striking `Department of the Navy' and 'Secretary of the Navy' each place they appear and inserting 'Department of the Navy and Marine Corps' and 'Secretary of the Navy and Marine Corps', respectively.

(e) Other References- Any reference in any law other than in title 10 or title 37, United States Code, or in any regulation, document, record, or other paper of the United States, to the Department of the Navy shall be considered to be a reference to the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps. Any such reference to an office specified in subsection (b)(2) shall be considered to be a reference to that office as redesignated by that subsection.

(f) Effective Date- This section and the amendments made by this section shall take effect on the first day of the first month beginning more than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

• Department of the Navy website
• US Marine Corps official website
• US Navy official website
• Department of Defense website
• History of the Department of the Navy Seal used on US Naval Dinnerware from late 1800s through the 1970s

v • d • e United States Federal Executive Departments
Agriculture • Commerce • Defense • Education • Energy • Health and Human Services • Homeland Security • Housing and Urban Development • Interior •  Justice • Labor • State • Transportation • Treasury • Veterans Affairs
Past departments:  Commerce and Labor • Health, Education, and Welfare • Navy • Post Office • War