United States Secretary of the Navy

{{short description|Statutory office and the head of the U.S. Department of the Navy}} {{Distinguish|Chief of Naval Operations}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}} {{Infobox official post | post = United States Secretary | body = the Navy | insignia = United States Department of the Navy Seal.svg | insigniacaption = Seal of the Department of the Navy | insigniaalt = | flag = Flag of the United States Secretary of the Navy.svg | flagalt = | flagborder = | flagcaption = Flag of the secretary | image = Hung Cao.jpg | imagesize = | alt = | incumbent = Hung Cao | acting = yes | incumbentsince = April 22, 2026 | department = Department of the Navy | style = Mister Secretary The Honorable (formally) | type = | status = | abbreviation = SECNAV | member_of = | reports_to = Secretary of Defense Deputy Secretary of Defense | seat = | nominator = | appointer = The president | appointer_qualified = with Senate advice and consent | termlength = | termlength_qualified = | constituting_instrument = {{USC|10|8013}} | precursor = | formation = {{Start date and age|18 June 1798}} | first = Benjamin Stoddert | last = | abolished = | succession = 3rd in SecDef succession | unofficial_names = | 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 | website = {{url|https://www.secnav.navy.mil/}} | footnotes = }} The '''secretary of the Navy''' ('''SECNAV''') is a statutory officer ({{UnitedStatesCode|10|8013}}) and the head (chief executive officer) of the Department of the Navy, a military department within the United States Department of Defense. On April 22, 2026, Hung Cao became acting Secretary of the Navy following the removal of John Phelan.<ref> {{Cite web |last=Finley | first=Ben |url=https://apnews.com/article/pentagon-navy-secretary-phelan-cao-3a871b87f1a31c1c7168f69e8fe4f7b5 |title=Pentagon says Navy Secretary John Phelan is leaving, in latest departure of a top defense leader |date=April 22, 2026 |work=Associated Press |access-date=April 22, 2026}} </ref>

By law, the secretary of the Navy must be a civilian at least seven years removed from active military service ({{UnitedStatesCode|10|8013}}). The secretary is appointed by the president and requires confirmation by the Senate.

== History == The position of Secretary of the Navy was created in 1798. It was a member of the president's Cabinet until 1949, when the secretary of the Navy (and the secretaries of the Army and Air Force) were by amendments to the National Security Act of 1947 made subordinate to the secretary of defense.<ref>{{cite web |title=Guide to Federal Records – General Records of the Department of the Navy, 1798–1947 |url=https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/080.html#80.1 |access-date=2007-09-23 |archive-date=17 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917031651/https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/080.html#80.1 |url-status=live }}</ref>

From 2001 to 2019, proposals to rename the Department of the Navy to the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps, which would have also renamed the secretary of the Navy to the '''secretary of the Navy and Marine Corps''', were introduced with wide support in the United States Congress, but failed due to the opposition of Senator and retired U.S. Navy officer John McCain.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2016/05/02/congressman-i-ll-keep-fighting-like-a-bulldog-to-rename-the-navy-department-for-marines/ |first1=Lance M. |last1=Bacon |title=Congressman: I'll 'keep fighting like a bulldog' to rename the Navy Department for Marines |publisher=Marine Corps Times |date=2016-05-02 |access-date=2022-03-16 |archive-date=13 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220213202243/https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2016/05/02/congressman-i-ll-keep-fighting-like-a-bulldog-to-rename-the-navy-department-for-marines/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Responsibilities== The Department of the Navy (DoN) consists of two uniformed services: the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps.<ref>{{cite web |title=Responsibilities |website=The US Navy |url=http://www.navy.mil/navydata/leadership/secnav_resp.asp |access-date=2007-09-23 |archive-date=17 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217101424/http://www.navy.mil/navydata/leadership/secnav_resp.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref> The secretary of the Navy is responsible for, and has statutory authority ({{UnitedStatesCode|10|8013}}) to "conduct all the affairs of the Department of the Navy", i.e. as its chief executive officer, subject to the limits of the law, and the directions of the president and the secretary of defense. In effect, all authority within the Navy and Marine Corps, unless specifically exempted by law, is derivative of the authority vested in the secretary of the Navy.

Specifically enumerated responsibilities of the SECNAV in the aforementioned section are: recruiting, organizing, supplying, equipping, training, mobilizing, and demobilizing. The secretary also oversees the construction, outfitting, and repair of naval ships, equipment, and facilities. SECNAV is responsible for the formulation and implementation of policies and programs that are consistent with the national security policies and objectives established by the president or the secretary of defense.<ref>{{cite web |title=10 U.S. Code § 8013 – Secretary of the Navy |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/8013 |website=LII |access-date=2022-12-13 |archive-date=28 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028005118/https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/8013 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |work=U.S. Navy Biographies |title= The Honorable Donald C. Winter |url=http://www.navy.mil/navydata/bios/bio.asp?bioID=325 |date=3 January 2006 |access-date=2007-09-23 |archive-date=12 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070912145321/https://www.navy.mil/navydata/bios/bio.asp?bioID=325 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The secretary of the Navy is a member of the Defense Acquisition Board (DAB), chaired by the under secretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics. Furthermore, the secretary has several statutory responsibilities under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) with respect to the administration of the military justice system for the Navy & the Marine Corps, including the authority to convene general courts-martial and to commute sentences.

The principal military advisers to the SECNAV are the two service chiefs of the naval services: for matters regarding the Navy the chief of naval operations (CNO), and for matters regarding the Marine Corps the commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC). The CNO and the Commandant act as the principal executive agents of the SECNAV within their respective services to implement the orders of the secretary.

===Navy regulations=== The United States Navy Regulations is the principal regulatory document of the Department of the Navy, and all changes to it must be approved by the secretary of the Navy.

===U.S. Coast Guard=== Whenever the United States Coast Guard operates as a service within the Department of the Navy, the secretary of the Navy has the same powers and duties with respect to the Coast Guard as the secretary of homeland security when the Coast Guard is not operating as a service in the Department of the Navy.<ref>{{cite web |title=10 U.S. Code § 8013a – Secretary of the Navy: powers with respect to Coast Guard |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/8013a |access-date=2022-12-13 |archive-date=13 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213082751/https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/8013a |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Navy Secretariat== The '''Office of the Secretary of the Navy''', also known within DoD as the ''Navy Secretariat'' or simply just as the ''Secretariat'' in a DoN setting, is the immediate headquarters staff that supports the secretary in discharging their duties. The principal officials of the Secretariat include the Under Secretary of the Navy (the secretary's principal civilian deputy), the assistant secretaries of the Navy (ASN), the general counsel of the Navy, the judge advocate general of the Navy (JAG), the Naval inspector general (NIG), the chief of Legislative Affairs, and the chief of naval research. The Office of the Secretary of the Navy has sole responsibility within the Department of the Navy for acquisition, auditing, financial and information management, legislative affairs, and public affairs.<ref>{{cite web |title=10 U.S. Code § 8014 – Office of the Secretary of the Navy |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/8014 |access-date=2022-12-13 |archive-date=13 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213082753/https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/8014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Pursuant to SecNavInst 5090.5F, the Department of the Navy ''Environmental Programs Manual'', the secretary of the Navy and chief of naval operations recognize a number of commands annually for achievements in such areas as environmental quality, environmental cleanup, natural resources conservation, cultural resources management, pollution prevention, and recycling.<ref name="usn">{{Cite web |url=http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/navy/docs/surftraman1.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=4 December 2022 |archive-date=1 April 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030401081118/http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/navy/docs/surftraman1.pdf |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref>

The chief of naval operations and the commandant of the Marine Corps have their own separate staffs, the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (also known by its acronym OPNAV) and Headquarters Marine Corps, respectively.

== Line of Succession == If the Secretary of the Navy dies, resigns, is removed from office, is absent, or is disabled the people in the follow order serve as Acting Secretary<ref>{{Cite web |title=10 U.S. Code § 8017 - Secretary of the Navy: successors to duties |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/8017 |access-date=2026-05-05 |website=LII / Legal Information Institute |language=en}}</ref>: {| class="wikitable" !# !Office |- |1 |Under Secretary of the Navy |- |2* |Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition) Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs) Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller) Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Energy, Installations and Environment) |- |3 |General Counsel of the Department of the Navy |- |4 |Chief of Naval Operations |- |5 |Commandant of the Marine Corps |- | |*Order of Succession is determined by the Secretary of Defense |}

==Secretaries of the Navy== {{legend|#E6E6AA|Denotes acting secretaries|border=black}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Department of the Navy, Office of the General Counsel (DON-OGC) – OGC History |url=http://ogc.navy.mil/ogchistory.asp |access-date=2007-09-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070724110938/http://ogc.navy.mil/ogchistory.asp |archive-date=2007-07-24}}</ref>

===Continental Congress=== {| class="wikitable" |- !Position !Portrait !Name !Term of office |- |Chairman of the Marine Committee |90x90px |John Adams |13 October 1775 – 1779 |- |Member of the Marine Committee |75px |John Langdon |13 October 1775–? |- |Member of the Marine Committee |75px |Silas Deane |13 October 1775–? |- |Member of the Marine Committee |101x101px |Joseph Hewes |1775<ref>[http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/j4/joseph_hewes.htm Joseph Hewes]{{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510095026/http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/j4/joseph_hewes.htm |date=10 May 2013 }}. Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval Historical and Heritage Command.</ref> |- |Continental Navy Board (under Marine Committee) | | |6 November 1776 – 28 October 1779 |- |Chairman of the Continental Board of Admiralty |75px |Francis Lewis |December 1779 – 1780 |- |Secretary of Marine |75px |Alexander McDougall |7 February 1781 – 29 August 1781 |- |Agent of Marine (devolved onto Superintendent of Finance) |91x91px |Robert Morris |29 August 1781 – 1784<ref>Benson J. Lossing. [http://www.publicbookshelf.com/public_html/Our_Country_vol_2/continenta_bce.html Household History for All Readers] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630023603/http://www.publicbookshelf.com/public_html/Our_Country_vol_2/continenta_bce.html |date=30 June 2016 }}. 1877. Republished in Our Country vol. 2</ref> |} ''(Post of Secretary of Marine created but remained vacant)''

===Executive Department, 1798–1949=== {{legend|#E6E6AA|Denotes an Acting United States Secretary of the Navy|border=black}}

{|class="wikitable sortable" |- !No. !class=unsortable |Portrait !Name !State !Start !End !colspan=2 |President(s) |- |rowspan=2 |1 |rowspan=2 |75px |rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Benjamin|Stoddert}} |rowspan=2 |Maryland |rowspan=2 |{{dts|18 June 1798}} |rowspan=2 |{{dts|31 March 1801}} |style="background: {{party color|Federalist Party (United States)}};" | |{{sortname|John|Adams}} (1797–1801) |- |rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Democratic-Republican Party (United States)}};" | |rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Thomas|Jefferson}} (1801–1809) |- |2 |75px |{{sortname|Robert|Smith|dab=Cabinet member}} |Maryland |{{dts|27 July 1801}} |{{dts|4 March 1809}} |- |3 |75px |{{sortname|Paul|Hamilton|dab=politician}} |South Carolina |{{dts|15 May 1809}} |{{dts|31 December 1812}} |rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Democratic-Republican Party (United States)}};" | |rowspan=3 |{{sortname|James|Madison}} (1809–1817) |- |4 |75px |{{sortname|William|Jones|dab=statesman}} |Pennsylvania |{{dts|19 January 1813}} |{{dts|1 December 1814}} |- |rowspan=2 |5 |rowspan=2 |75px |rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Benjamin|Crowninshield|Benjamin Williams Crowninshield}} |rowspan=2 |Massachusetts |rowspan=2 |{{dts|16 January 1815}} |rowspan=2 |{{dts|30 September 1818}} |- |rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Democratic-Republican Party (United States)}};" | |rowspan=3 |{{sortname|James|Monroe}} (1817–1825) |- |6 |75px |{{sortname|Smith|Thompson}} |New York |{{dts|1 January 1819}} |{{dts|31 August 1823}} |- |rowspan=2 |7 |rowspan=2 |75px |rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Samuel L.|Southard}} |rowspan=2 |New Jersey |rowspan=2 |{{dts|16 September 1823}} |rowspan=2 |{{dts|4 March 1829}} |- |style="background: {{party color|Democratic-Republican Party (United States)}};" | |{{sortname|John Quincy|Adams}} (1825–1829) |- |8 |75px |{{sortname|John|Branch}} |North Carolina |{{dts|9 March 1829}} |{{dts|12 May 1831}} |rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" | |rowspan=3 |{{sortname|Andrew|Jackson}} (1829–1837) |- |9 |75px |{{sortname|Levi|Woodbury}} |New Hampshire |{{dts|23 May 1831}} |{{dts|30 June 1834}} |- |rowspan=2 |10 |rowspan=2 |75px |rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Mahlon|Dickerson}} |rowspan=2 |New Jersey |rowspan=2 |{{dts|1 July 1834}} |rowspan=2 |{{dts|30 June 1838}} |- |rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" | |rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Martin|Van Buren}} (1837–1841) |- |11 |75px |{{sortname|James K.|Paulding}} |New York |{{dts|1 July 1838}} |{{dts|4 March 1841}} |- |rowspan=2 |12 |rowspan=2 |95x95px |rowspan=2 |{{sortname|George E.|Badger}} |rowspan=2 |North Carolina |rowspan=2 |{{dts|6 March 1841}} |rowspan=2 |{{dts|11 September 1841}} |style="background: {{party color|Whig Party (United States)}};" | |{{sortname|William Henry|Harrison}} (1841) |- |rowspan=5 style="background: {{party color|Whig Party (United States)}};" | |rowspan=5 |{{sortname|John|Tyler}} (1841–1845) |- |13 |75px |{{sortname|Abel P.|Upshur}} |Virginia |{{dts|11 October 1841}} |{{dts|23 July 1843}} |- |14 |75px |{{sortname|David|Henshaw|dab=American politician}} |Massachusetts |{{dts|24 July 1843}} |{{dts|18 February 1844}} |- |15 |75px |{{sortname|Thomas W.|Gilmer}} |Virginia |{{dts|19 February 1844}} |{{dts|28 February 1844}} |- |16 |75px |{{sortname|John Y.|Mason}} |Virginia |{{dts|26 March 1844}} |{{dts|4 March 1845}} |- |17 |75px |{{sortname|George|Bancroft}} |Massachusetts |{{dts|11 March 1845}} |{{dts|9 September 1846}} |rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" | |rowspan=2 |{{sortname|James K.|Polk}} (1845–1849) |- |18 |75px |{{sortname|John Y.|Mason}} |Virginia |{{dts|10 September 1846}} |{{dts|4 March 1849}} |- |19 |75px |{{sortname|William B.|Preston}} |Virginia |{{dts|8 March 1849}} |{{dts|22 July 1850}} |style="background: {{party color|Whig Party (United States)}};" | |{{sortname|Zachary|Taylor}} (1849–1850) |- |20 |75px |{{sortname|William|Graham|William Alexander Graham}} |North Carolina |{{dts|2 August 1850}} |{{dts|25 July 1852}} |rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Whig Party (United States)}};" | |rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Millard|Fillmore}} (1850–1853) |- |21 |88x88px |{{sortname|John P.|Kennedy}} |Maryland |{{dts|26 July 1852}} |{{dts|4 March 1853}} |- |22 |92x92px |{{sortname|James C.|Dobbin}} |North Carolina |{{dts|8 March 1853}} |{{dts|4 March 1857}} |style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" | |{{sortname|Franklin|Pierce}} (1853–1857) |- |23 |75px |{{sortname|Isaac|Toucey}} |Connecticut |{{dts|7 March 1857}} |{{dts|4 March 1861}} |style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" | |{{sortname|James|Buchanan}} (1857–1861) |- |rowspan=2 |24 |rowspan=2 |100x100px |rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Gideon|Welles}} |rowspan=2 |Connecticut |rowspan=2 |{{dts|7 March 1861}} |rowspan=2 |{{dts|4 March 1869}} |style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | |{{sortname|Abraham|Lincoln}} (1861–1865) |- |style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" | |{{sortname|Andrew|Johnson}} (1865–1869) |- |25 |75px |{{sortname|Adolph E.|Borie}} |Pennsylvania |{{dts|9 March 1869}} |{{dts|25 June 1869}} |rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | |rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Ulysses S.|Grant}} (1869–1877) |- |26 |75px |{{sortname|George M.|Robeson}} |New Jersey |{{dts|26 June 1869}} |{{dts|4 March 1877}} |- |style="background:#e6e6aa;" data-sort-value="26.5" |{{small|Acting}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |103x103px |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|William|Faxon}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" | |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|4 March 1877}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|13 March 1877}} |rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | |rowspan=3 |{{sortname|Rutherford B.|Hayes}} (1877–1881) |- |27 |75px |{{sortname|Richard W.|Thompson}} |Indiana |{{dts|13 March 1877}} |{{dts|20 December 1880}} |- |28 |75px |{{sortname|Nathan|Goff Jr.}} |West Virginia |{{dts|7 January 1881}} |{{dts|4 March 1881}} |- |rowspan=2 |29 |rowspan=2 |75px |rowspan=2 |{{sortname|William H.|Hunt}} |rowspan=2 |Louisiana |rowspan=2 |{{dts|7 March 1881}} |rowspan=2 |{{dts|16 April 1882}} |style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | |{{sortname|James A.|Garfield}} (1881) |- |rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | |rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Chester A.|Arthur}} (1881–1885) |- |30 |100x100px |{{sortname|William E.|Chandler}} |New Hampshire |{{dts|16 April 1882}} |{{dts|4 March 1885}} |- |31 |75px |{{sortname|William C.|Whitney}} |New York |{{dts|7 March 1885}} |{{dts|4 March 1889}} |style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" | |{{sortname|Grover|Cleveland}} (1885–1889) |- |32 |75px |{{sortname|Benjamin F.|Tracy}} |New York |{{dts|6 March 1889}} |{{dts|4 March 1893}} |style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | |{{sortname|Benjamin|Harrison}} (1889–1893) |- |33 |75px |{{sortname|Hilary A.|Herbert}} |Alabama |{{dts|7 March 1893}} |{{dts|4 March 1897}} |style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" | |{{sortname|Grover|Cleveland}} (1893–1897) |- |rowspan=2 |34 |rowspan=2 |75px |rowspan=2 |{{sortname|John Davis|Long}} |rowspan=2 |Massachusetts |rowspan=2 |{{dts|6 March 1897}} |rowspan=2 |{{dts|30 April 1902}} |style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | |{{sortname|William|McKinley}} (1897–1901) |- |rowspan=6 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | |rowspan=6 |{{sortname|Theodore|Roosevelt}} (1901–1909) |- |35 |75px |{{sortname|William|Moody|William Henry Moody}} |Massachusetts |{{dts|1 May 1902}} |{{dts|30 June 1904}} |- |36 |75px |{{sortname|Paul|Morton|dab=politician}} |Illinois |{{dts|1 July 1904}} |{{dts|30 June 1905}} |- |37 |75px |{{sortname|Charles|Bonaparte|Charles Joseph Bonaparte}} |Maryland |{{dts|1 July 1905}} |{{dts|16 December 1906}} |- |38 |97x97px |{{sortname|Victor H.|Metcalf}} |California |{{dts|17 December 1906}} |{{dts|30 November 1908}} |- |39 |75px |{{sortname|Truman Handy|Newberry}} |Michigan |{{dts|1 December 1908}} |{{dts|4 March 1909}} |- |40 |113x113px |{{sortname|George von Lengerke|Meyer}} |Massachusetts |{{dts|6 March 1909}} |{{dts|4 March 1913}} |style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | |{{sortname|William Howard|Taft}} (1909–1913) |- |41 |75px |{{sortname|Josephus|Daniels}} |North Carolina |{{dts|5 March 1913}} |{{dts|4 March 1921}} |style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" | |{{sortname|Woodrow|Wilson}} (1913–1921) |- |rowspan=2 |42 |rowspan=2 |75px |rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Edwin|Denby|dab=politician}} |rowspan=2 |Michigan |rowspan=2 |{{dts|6 March 1921}} |rowspan=2 |{{dts|10 March 1924}} |style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | |{{sortname|Warren G.|Harding}} (1921–1923) |- |rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | |rowspan=3 |{{sortname|Calvin|Coolidge}} (1923–1929) |- |style="background:#e6e6aa;" data-sort-value="42.5" |{{small|Acting}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |97x97px |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|Theodore|Roosevelt Jr.}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" | |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|10 March 1924}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|19 March 1924}} |- |43 |107x107px |{{sortname|Curtis D.|Wilbur}} |California |{{dts|19 March 1924}} |{{dts|4 March 1929}} |- |44 |94x94px |{{sortname|Charles Francis|Adams III}} |Massachusetts |{{dts|5 March 1929}} |{{dts|4 March 1933}} |style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | |{{sortname|Herbert|Hoover}} (1929–1933) |- |45 |100x100px |{{sortname|Claude A.|Swanson}} |Virginia |{{dts|4 March 1933}} |{{dts|7 July 1939}} |rowspan=7 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" | |rowspan=7 |{{sortname|Franklin D.|Roosevelt}} (1933–1945) |- |rowspan=2 |46 |rowspan=2 |75px |rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Charles|Edison}} |rowspan=2 |New Jersey |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|7 July 1939}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|2 January 1940}} |- |{{dts|2 January 1940}} |{{dts|24 June 1940}} |- |style="background:#e6e6aa;" data-sort-value="46.5" |{{small|Acting}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |75px |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|Lewis|Compton}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" | |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|24 June 1940}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|11 July 1940}} |- |47 |75px |{{sortname|Frank|Knox}} |Illinois |{{dts|11 July 1940}} |{{dts|28 April 1944}} |- |style="background:#e6e6aa;" data-sort-value="47.5" |{{small|Acting}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |94x94px |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|Ralph Austin|Bard}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" | |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|28 April 1944}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|19 May 1944}} |- |rowspan=2 |48 |rowspan=2 |75px |rowspan=2 |{{sortname|James|Forrestal}} |rowspan=2 |New York |rowspan=2 |{{dts|19 May 1944}} |rowspan=2 |{{dts|17 September 1947}} |- |rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" | |rowspan=3 |{{sortname|Harry S.|Truman}} (1945–1953) |- |49 |75px |{{sortname|John|Sullivan|John L. Sullivan (United States Navy)}} |New Hampshire |{{dts|18 September 1947}} |{{dts|24 May 1949}} |- |50 |75px |{{sortname|Francis P.|Matthews}} |Nebraska |{{dts|25 May 1949}} |{{dts|10 August 1949}} |}

===Military Department (Department of Defense), 1949–present=== {{legend|#E6E6AA|Denotes an Acting United States Secretary of the Navy|border=black}}

{|class="wikitable sortable" |- !rowspan=2 |No. !rowspan=2 class="unsortable" |Portrait !rowspan=2 |Name !colspan=3 |Term of office !rowspan=2 colspan=2 |President(s) |- !Start !End !Duration (Days) |- |50 |75px |{{sortname|Francis P.|Matthews}} |{{dts|10 August 1949}} |{{dts|31 July 1951}} |{{age in days|1949|5|25|1951|7|31}} |rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" | |rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Harry S.|Truman}} (1945–1953) |- |51 |75px |{{sortname|Dan A.|Kimball}} |{{dts|31 July 1951}} |{{dts|20 January 1953}} |{{age in days|1951|7|31|1953|1|20}} |- |52 |95x95px |{{sortname|Robert|Anderson|Robert B. Anderson (Texas politician)}} |{{dts|4 February 1953}} |{{dts|3 March 1954}} |{{age in days|1953|2|4|1954|3|3}} |rowspan=4 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | |rowspan=4 |{{sortname|Dwight D.|Eisenhower}} (1953–1961) |- |53 |75px |{{sortname|Charles|Thomas|dab=Secretary of the Navy}} |{{dts|3 May 1954}} |{{dts|1 April 1957}} |{{age in days|1954|5|3|1957|4|1}} |- |54 |96x96px |{{sortname|Thomas S.|Gates Jr.}} |{{dts|1 April 1957}} |{{dts|8 June 1959}} |{{age in days|1957|4|1|1959|6|8}} |- |55 |75px |{{sortname|William B.|Franke}} |{{dts|8 June 1959}} |{{dts|19 January 1961}} |{{age in days|1959|6|8|1961|1|19}} |- |56 |75px |{{sortname|John|Connally}} |{{dts|25 January 1961}} |{{dts|20 December 1961}} |{{age in days|1961|1|25|1961|12|20}} |rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" | |rowspan=3 |{{sortname|John F.|Kennedy}} (1961–1963) |- |57 |75px |{{sortname|Fred|Korth}} |{{dts|4 January 1962}} |{{dts|1 November 1963}} |{{age in days|1962|1|4|1963|11|1}} |- |rowspan=2 style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{small|Acting}} |rowspan=2 style="background:#e6e6aa;" |75px |rowspan=2 style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|Paul B.|Fay}} |rowspan=2 style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|2 November 1963}} |rowspan=2 style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|28 November 1963}} |rowspan=2 style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{age in days|1963|11|2|1963|11|28}} |- |rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" | |rowspan=3 |{{sortname|Lyndon B.|Johnson}} (1963–1969) |- |58 |95x95px |{{sortname|Paul|Nitze}} |{{dts|29 November 1963}} |{{dts|30 June 1967}} |{{age in days|1963|11|29|1967|6|30}} |- |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{small|Acting}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" | |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|Charles F.|Baird}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|1 July 1967}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|31 August 1967}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{age in days|1967|7|1|1967|8|31}} |- |rowspan=2 |59 |rowspan=2 |75px |rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Paul|Ignatius}} |rowspan=2 |{{dts|1 September 1967}} |rowspan=2 |{{dts|24 January 1969}} |rowspan=2 |{{age in days|1967|9|1|1969|1|24}} |- |rowspan=4 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | |rowspan=4 |{{sortname|Richard|Nixon}} (1969–1974) |- |60 |94x94px |{{sortname|John|Chafee}} |{{dts|31 January 1969}} |{{dts|4 May 1972}} |{{age in days|1969|1|31|1972|5|4}} |- |61 |75px |{{sortname|John|Warner}} |{{dts|4 May 1972}} |{{dts|8 April 1974}} |{{age in days|1972|5|4|1974|4|8}} |- |rowspan=2 |62 |rowspan=2 |99x99px |rowspan=2 |{{sortname|J. William|Middendorf}} |rowspan=2 |{{dts|8 April 1974}} |rowspan=2 |{{dts|20 January 1977}} |rowspan=2 |{{age in days|1974|4|8|1977|1|20}} |- |style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | |{{sortname|Gerald|Ford}} (1974–1977) |- |63 |75x75px |{{sortname|W. Graham|Claytor Jr.}} |{{dts|14 February 1977}} |{{dts|24 August 1979}} |{{age in days|1977|2|14|1979|8|24}} |rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" | |rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Jimmy|Carter}} (1977–1981) |- |64 |75px |{{sortname|Edward|Hidalgo}} |{{dts|24 October 1979}} |{{dts|20 January 1981}} |{{age in days|1979|10|24|1981|1|20}} |- |65 |75px |{{sortname|John|Lehman}} |{{dts|5 February 1981}} |{{dts|10 April 1987}} |{{age in days|1981|2|5|1987|4|10}} |rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | |rowspan=3 |{{sortname|Ronald|Reagan}} (1981–1989) |- |66 |75px |{{sortname|Jim|Webb}} |{{dts|1 May 1987}} |{{dts|23 February 1988}} |{{age in days|1987|5|1|1988|2|23}} |- |rowspan=2 |67 |rowspan=2 |75px |rowspan=2 |{{sortname|William L.|Ball}} |rowspan=2 |{{dts|28 March 1988}} |rowspan=2 |{{dts|15 May 1989}} |rowspan=2 |{{age in days|1988|3|28|1989|5|15}} |- |rowspan=5 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | |rowspan=5 |{{sortname|George H. W.|Bush}} (1989–1993) |- |68 |75px |{{sortname|Henry L.|Garrett III}} |{{dts|15 May 1989}} |{{dts|26 June 1992}} |{{age in days|1989|5|15|1992|6|26}} |- |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{small|Acting}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |75px |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|Daniel|Howard|J. Daniel Howard}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|26 June 1992}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|7 July 1992}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{age in days|1992|6|26|1992|7|7}} |- |rowspan=2 |69 |rowspan=2 |75px |rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Sean|O'Keefe}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|7 July 1992}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|2 October 1992}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{age in days|1992|7|7|1992|10|2}} |- |{{dts|2 October 1992}} |{{dts|20 January 1993}} |{{age in days|1992|10|2|1993|1|20}} |- |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{small|Acting}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |75px |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|Frank|Kelso}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|20 January 1993}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|21 July 1993}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{age in days|1993|1|20|1993|7|21}} |rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" | |rowspan=3 |{{sortname|Bill|Clinton}} (1993–2001) |- |70 |75px |{{sortname|John H.|Dalton}} |{{dts|22 July 1993}} |{{dts|16 November 1998}} |{{age in days|1993|7|22|1998|11|16}} |- |71 |75px |{{sortname|Richard|Danzig}} |{{dts|16 November 1998}} |{{dts|20 January 2001}} |{{age in days|1998|11|16|2001|1|20}} |- |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{small|Acting}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |75px |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|Robert B.|Pirie Jr.}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|20 January 2001}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|24 May 2001}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{age in days|2001|1|20|2001|5|24}} |rowspan=7 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | |rowspan=7 |{{sortname|George W.|Bush}} (2001–2009) |- |72 |75px |{{sortname|Gordon R.|England}} |{{dts|24 May 2001}} |{{dts|30 January 2003}} |{{age in days|2001|5|24|2003|1|30}} |- |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{small|Acting}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |75px |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|Susan|Livingstone}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|30 January 2003}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|7 February 2003}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{age in days|2003|1|30|2003|2|7}} |- |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{small|Acting}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |75px |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|Hansford T.|Johnson}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|7 February 2003}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|30 September 2003}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{age in days|2003|2|7|2003|9|30}} |- |73 |75px |{{sortname|Gordon R.|England}} |{{dts|1 October 2003}} |{{dts|29 December 2005}}<ref name="aviles">{{cite web|author=Staff reporter|title=Acting Deputy Defense Secretary Relinquishes Top Navy Post|publisher=American Forces Press Service|date=29 December 2005|url=http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=18435|access-date=18 May 2009|quote=Navy Undersecretary Dionel M. Aviles will serve as acting Navy secretary effective today. Donald Winter, who was confirmed by the Senate last month, will be sworn in as the 74th secretary of the Navy on Jan. 3.|archive-date=27 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090527042630/http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=45422|url-status=dead}}</ref> |{{age in days|2003|10|1|2005|12|29}} |- |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{small|Acting}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |75px |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|Dionel M.|Aviles}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|29 December 2005}}<ref name="aviles"/> |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|3 January 2006}}<ref name="aviles"/> |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{age in days|2005|12|29|2006|1|3}} |- |rowspan=2 |74 |rowspan=2 |75px |rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Donald C.|Winter}} |rowspan=2 |{{dts|3 January 2006}}<ref name="aviles"/> |rowspan=2 |{{dts|13 March 2009}}<ref name="resign">{{cite press release|title=Navy Secretary Departs Office|publisher=United States Department of Defense|date=13 March 2009|url=http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=12554|access-date=18 May 2009|quote=The 74th Secretary of the Navy, Donald C. Winter, resigned his office today as planned. Winter had agreed to remain in office until March 13, 2009, to ease the transition of the Department of Defense. [...] BJ Penn will be the acting Secretary of the Navy until the Senate confirms a nominee chosen by President Barack Obama.|archive-date=9 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090509020548/http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=12554|url-status=dead}}</ref> |rowspan=2 |{{age in days|2006|1|3|2009|3|13}} |- |rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" | |rowspan=3 |{{sortname|Barack|Obama}} (2009–2017) |- |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{small|Acting}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |75px |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|B. J.|Penn|dab=United States Navy}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|13 March 2009}}<ref name="resign"/> |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|19 May 2009}}<ref name="ray">{{cite web|author=Staff reporter|title=Mabus Sworn in as New Navy Secretary|publisher=NNS|date=19 May 2005|url=http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=18435|access-date=20 May 2009|quote=Ray Mabus, former Mississippi governor and U.S. ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, was sworn in May 19 as the 75th secretary of the Navy.|archive-date=27 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090527042630/http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=45422|url-status=dead}} (Archived by WebCite at [https://web.archive.org/web/20090527042630/http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=45422 WebCite])</ref> |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{age in days|2009|3|13|2009|5|19}} |- |75 |75px |{{sortname|Ray|Mabus}} |{{dts|19 May 2009}}<ref name="resign"/> |{{dts|20 January 2017}} |{{age in days|2009|5|19|2017|1|20}} |- |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{small|Acting}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |75px |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|Sean|Stackley}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|20 January 2017}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|3 August 2017}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{age in days|2017|1|20|2017|8|3}} |rowspan=7 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | |rowspan=7 |{{sortname|Donald|Trump}} (2017–2021) |- |76 |75px |{{sortname|Richard V.|Spencer}} |{{dts|3 August 2017}} |{{dts|15 July 2019}} |{{age in days|2017|8|3|2019|7|15}} |- |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{small|Acting}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |75px |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|Thomas|Modly}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|15 July 2019}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|31 July 2019}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{age in days|2019|7|15|2019|7|31}} |- |76 |75px |{{sortname|Richard V.|Spencer}} |{{dts|31 July 2019}} |{{dts|24 November 2019}} |{{age in days|2019|7|31|2019|11|24}} |- |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{small|Acting}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |75px |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|Thomas|Modly}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|24 November 2019}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|7 April 2020}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{age in days|2019|11|24|2020|4|7}} |- |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{small|Acting}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |75px |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|James E.|McPherson}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|7 April 2020}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|29 May 2020}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{age in days|2020|4|7|2020|5|29}} |- |77 |75px |{{sortname|Kenneth|Braithwaite}} |{{dts|29 May 2020}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Kenneth Braithwaite Sworn in as Secretary of the Navy|url=https://news.usni.org/2020/05/29/kenneth-braithwaite-sworn-in-as-secretary-of-the-navy|date=2020-05-29|website=USNI News|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-30|archive-date=3 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603165808/https://news.usni.org/2020/05/29/kenneth-braithwaite-sworn-in-as-secretary-of-the-navy|url-status=live}}</ref> |{{dts|20 January 2021}} |{{age in days|2020|5|29|2021|1|20}} |- |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{small|Acting}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |75px |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|Thomas|Harker}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|20 January 2021}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|9 August 2021}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{age in days|2021|1|20|2021|8|9}} |rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" | |rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Joe|Biden}} (2021–2025) |- |78 |75px |{{sortname|Carlos|Del Toro}} |{{dts|9 August 2021}} |{{dts|20 January 2025}} |{{age in days|2021|8|9|2025|1|20}} |- |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{small|Acting}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |75px |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|Terence|Emmert}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|20 January 2025}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|25 March 2025}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{age in days|2025|1|20|2025|3|25}} |rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | |rowspan=3|{{sortname|Donald|Trump}} (2025–present) |- |79 |75px |{{sortname|John|Phelan|John C. Phelan}} |{{dts|25 March 2025}} |{{dts|22 April 2026}} |{{age in days|2025|3|25|2026|4|22}} |- |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{small|Acting}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |75px |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|Hung|Cao}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|22 April 2026}} |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |Incumbent |style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{age in days|2026|4|22}} |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category|United States Secretaries of the Navy}} * {{Official website|http://www.secnav.navy.mil}}

{{USSecNavy}}{{United States Military}}{{Current US Department of Defense Secretaries}} {{US Department of Defense Secretaries}} {{US Cabinet leaders}} {{US military navbox}} {{US Navy navbox}} {{US Marine Corps navbox}} {{Government of the United States under the Articles of Confederation}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:United States Secretary Of The Navy}}

Navy *S *Secretary of the Navy Category:United States secretaries of the navy