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Chain of Command

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The chain of command is the hierarchy of persons to which a crewmember is directly responsible to or directly responsible for. Technically, each sailor is indirectly responsible to every more senior person in the command and indirectly responsible for every more junior person in the command, but these responsibilities are limited in their scope.

Navy chain of command from the President down to the deck plate sailor

  • President of the United States (POTUS). The President is the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces as mandated by the Constitution. The President is responsible for initiating military action in support of our national interests and may submit to Congress the intent to declare war which Congress must approve it to actually wage war.
  • Secretary of Defense (SECDEF). The SECDEF is a principal defense advisor to President that formulates general defense policy and policy related to the Department of Defense (DOD).
  • Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV). The SECNAV formulates policies for the Department of the Navy (DON) and controls DON organization, administration, operation, and efficiency.
  • Chief of Naval Operations (CNO). The CNO represents the Navy as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). The CNO keeps the SECNAV informed of JCS activities and is responsible to the POTUS and the SECDEF for external DON duties.
    • Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON). The MCPON is the Navy's senior enlisted member who serves as the senior enlisted adviser to the CNO in all matters pertaining to enlisted personnel and their families.
  • Fleet Commander In Charge (CINC). Commanders of each of the fleet operating forces, such as the Atlantic Fleet and the Pacific Fleet, that are composed of ships and crafts that are classified and organized into command by type.
    • Fleet Master Chief. The principal enlisted advisor to a Fleet CINC.
  • Type Commander (TYCOM). Commanders who are responsible for the ships that make up the operational numbered fleets, such as Cruiser-Destroyer Group Three.
    • Force Master Chief. The principal enlisted advisor to a Force TYCOM.