(a)
(1) There is a Secretary of the Navy, appointed from civilian life by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Secretary shall, to the greatest extent practicable, be appointed from among persons most highly qualified for the position by reason of background and experience, including persons with appropriate management or leadership experience. The Secretary is the head of the Department of the Navy.
(2) A person may not be appointed as Secretary of the Navy within five years after relief from active duty as a commissioned officer of a regular component of an armed force.
(b) Subject to the authority, direction, and control of the Secretary of Defense and subject to the provisions of chapter 6 of this title, the Secretary of the Navy is responsible for, and has the authority necessary to conduct, all affairs of the Department of the Navy, including the following functions:
(1) Recruiting.
(2) Organizing.
(3) Supplying.
(4) Equipping (including research and development).
(5) Training.
(6) Servicing.
(7) Mobilizing.
(8) Demobilizing.
(9) Administering (including the morale and welfare of personnel).
(10) Maintaining.
(11) The construction, outfitting, and repair of military equipment.
(12) The construction, maintenance, and repair of buildings, structures, and utilities and the acquisition of real property and interests in real property necessary to carry out the responsibilities specified in this section.
(c) Subject to the authority, direction, and control of the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Navy is also responsible to the Secretary of Defense for—
(1) the functioning and efficiency of the Department of the Navy;
(2) the formulation of policies and programs by the Department of the Navy that are fully consistent with national security objectives and policies established by the President or the Secretary of Defense;
(3) the effective and timely implementation of policy, program, and budget decisions and instructions of the President or the Secretary of Defense relating to the functions of the Department of the Navy;
(4) carrying out the functions of the Department of the Navy so as to fulfill the current and future operational requirements of the unified and specified combatant commands;
(5) effective cooperation and coordination between the Department of the Navy and the other military departments and agencies of the Department of Defense to provide for more effective, efficient, and economical administration and to eliminate duplication;
(6) the presentation and justification of the positions of the Department of the Navy on the plans, programs, and policies of the Department of Defense; and
(7) the effective supervision and control of the intelligence activities of the Department of the Navy.
(d) The Secretary of the Navy is also responsible for such other activities as may be prescribed by law or by the President or Secretary of Defense.
(e) After first informing the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Navy may make such recommendations to Congress relating to the Department of Defense as he considers appropriate.
(f) The Secretary of the Navy may assign such of his functions, powers, and duties as he considers appropriate to the Under Secretary of the Navy and to the Assistant Secretaries of the Navy. Officers of the Navy and the Marine Corps shall, as directed by the Secretary, report on any matter to the Secretary, the Under Secretary, or any Assistant Secretary.
(g) The Secretary of the Navy may—
(1) assign, detail, and prescribe the duties of members of the Navy and Marine Corps and civilian personnel of the Department of the Navy;
(2) change the title of any officer or activity of the Department of the Navy not prescribed by law; and
(3) prescribe regulations to carry out his functions, powers, and duties under this title.
Prior Provisions
Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 5031 of this title prior to enactment of Pub. L. 99–433.
A prior section 8013 was renumbered section 9013 of this title.
Another prior section 8013, acts Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 488, §8012; Sept. 2, 1958, Pub. L. 85–861, §1(152), 72 Stat. 1513; Sept. 7, 1962, Pub. L. 87–651, title II, §211, 76 Stat. 524; Aug. 14, 1964, Pub. L. 88–426, title III, §§305(7), 306(j)(7), 78 Stat. 423, 432; renumbered §8013, Oct. 1, 1986, Pub. L. 99–433, title V, §521(a)(1), 100 Stat. 1055, related to Secretary of the Air Force, powers and duties, and delegations, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 99–433, §521(a)(3).
Another prior section 8013 was renumbered section 8014 of this title and subsequently repealed.
Amendments
2018—Pub. L. 115–232 renumbered section 5013 of this title as this section.
2016—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 114–328 inserted "The Secretary shall, to the greatest extent practicable, be appointed from among persons most highly qualified for the position by reason of background and experience, including persons with appropriate management or leadership experience." after first sentence.
2003—Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 108–136 struck out "(to the maximum extent practicable)" after "fulfill".
1986—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 99–661 substituted "five years" for "10 years".
Effective Date of 2018 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 115–232 effective Feb. 1, 2019, with provision for the coordination of amendments and special rule for certain redesignations, see section 800 of Pub. L. 115–232, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.
Notifications on Manning of Afloat Naval Forces
Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title V, §597(a)–(e), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1418, 1419, provided that:
"(a)
"(1) The manning fit for such ship was less than 87 percent for more than 14 days during such fiscal year quarter.
"(2) The manning fill for such ship was less than 90 percent for more than 14 days during such fiscal year quarter.
"(b)
"(1) The name and hull number of the ship.
"(2) The homeport location of the ship.
"(3) The current manning fit and fill of the ship.
"(4) If the lowest level of manning fit or manning fill for the ship occurred during the fiscal year quarter concerned, the level concerned and the date on which such level occurred.
"(5) If the lowest level of manning fit or manning fill for the ship is projected to occur after the fiscal year quarter concerned, the projected level and the date on which such level is projected to occur.
"(6) If not achieved as of the date of the notification the projected date on which the Navy will achieve a manning fit and fill at least 87 percent and 90 percent, respectively, for the ship.
"(7) If not achieved as of the date of the notification, the projected date on which the Navy will achieve a manning fit and fill of at least 92 percent and 95 percent, respectively, for the ship.
"(8) A description of the reasons the Navy has not achieved, or will not achieve, as applicable, manning fit and fill of at least 87 percent and 90 percent, respectively, for the ship, including a detailed description of the specific ratings or skillset areas that must be manned to achieve those percentages.
"(9) A description of corrective actions the Navy is taking to improve manning fit or manning fill on the ship.
"(c)
"(d)
"(1)
"(2)
"(3)
"(e)
Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title V, §525, Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1757, which provided that the Secretary of the Navy was to notify the Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives, in writing, not later than 15 days after the manning fit for a commissioned battle force ship was less than 87 percent or the manning fill for such ship was less than 90 percent, was repealed by Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title V, §597(f), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1419. See note above.
Formal Training for Shipboard System Programs of Record
Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title X, §1036, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1583, provided that:
"(a)
"(b)
"(1)
"(2)
Limitation on Modifications to Navy Facilities Sustainment, Restoration, and Modernization Structure and Mechanism
Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title III, §328, Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1723, provided that: "The Secretary of the Navy may not make any modification to the existing Navy Facilities Sustainment, Restoration, and Modernization structure or mechanism that would modify duty relationships or significantly alter the existing structure until 90 days after providing notice of the proposed modification to the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives]."
Navy Watchstander Records
Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title V, §526, Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1758, provided that:
"(a)
"(b)
"(1) Officer of the Deck.
"(2) Engineering Officer of the Watch.
"(3) Conning Officer or Piloting Officer.
"(4) Any other officer specified by the Secretary for purposes of this section.
"(c)
"(1)
"(2)
Reversionary Interests in Real Property Used by Closed or Realigned Naval Stations
Pub. L. 109–148, div. B, title I, §702, Dec. 30, 2005, 119 Stat. 2773, provided that: "For any real property expressly granted to the United States since January 1, 1980 for use as or in connection with a Navy homeport subject to a reversionary interest retained by the grantor and serving as the site of or being used by a naval station subsequently closed or realigned pursuant to the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 [part A of title XXIX of div. B of Pub. L. 101–510, set out as a note under section 2687 of this title] as amended, the right of the United States to any consideration or repayment for the fair market value of the real property as improved shall be released, relinquished, waived, or otherwise permanently extinguished. The Secretary shall execute such written agreements as may be needed to facilitate the reversion and transfer all right, title, and interest of the United States in any real property described in this section, including the improvements thereon, for no consideration to the reversionary interest holder as soon as practicable after the naval station is closed or realigned. This agreement shall not require the reversionary interest holder to assume any environmental liabilities of the United States or relieve the United States from any responsibilities for environmental remediation that it may have incurred as a result of federal ownership or use of the real property."
Elimination of Reversionary Interests Clouding United States Title to Property Used as Navy Homeports
Pub. L. 108–375, div. B, title XXVIII, §2823, Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 2132, provided that:
"(a)
"(b)
"(2) In determining the type and value of any in-kind consideration to be provided for the acquisition of a reversionary interest under subsection (a), the Secretary shall take into account the nature of the reversionary interest, including whether it would require the holder of the reversionary interest to pay for any improvements acquired by the holder as part of the reversion of the real property, and the long-term use and ultimate disposition of the real property if the United States were to acquire all right, title, and interest in and to the real property subject to the reversionary interest.
"(c)
Multi-Trades Demonstration Project
Pub. L. 108–136, div. A, title III, §338, Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1447, as amended by Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title III, §329, Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 67; Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title III, §321, Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1694; Pub. L. 113–66, div. A, title X, §1091(d), Dec. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 876; Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title III, §321, Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1352, provided that:
"(a)
"(b)
"(1) that, on the basis of the results of analysis of work processes, demonstrate that process improvements would result from the trade combinations proposed to be implemented under the demonstration project; and
"(2) that describes the improvements in cost, quality, or schedule of work that are anticipated to result from the participation in the demonstration project.
"(c)
"(2) Job descriptions and competency-based training plans must be developed for each worker while in training under the demonstration project and once certified as a multi-trade worker. A certified multi-trade worker who receives a pay grade promotion under the demonstration project must use each new skill during at least 25 percent of the worker's work year.
"(d)
"(e)
"(f) GAO
Use of Naval Installations for Employment Training of Nonviolent Offenders in State Penal Systems
Pub. L. 103–160, div. A, title XIII, §1374, Nov. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 1821, as amended by Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title X, §1064, Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2848, provided that:
"(a)
"(b)
"(c)
"(d)
"(e)
"(A) be liable for any loss or damage to Federal Government property that may result from, or in connection with, the provision of prerelease employment training by the organization under the demonstration project; and
"(B) hold harmless and indemnify the United States from and against any suit, claim, demand, action, or liability arising out of any claim for personal injury or property damage that may result from or in connection with the demonstration project.
"(2) The Secretary may not enter into an agreement under subsection (b) with the State concerned for the provision of prerelease employment training directly by the Secretary unless the agreement with the State concerned includes provisions that the State shall—
"(A) be liable for any loss or damage to Federal Government property that may result from, or in connection with, the provision of the training except to the extent that the loss or damage results from a wrongful act or omission of Federal Government personnel; and
"(B) hold harmless and indemnify the United States from and against any suit, claim, demand, action, or liability arising out of any claim for personal injury or property damage that may result from, or in connection with, the provision of the training except to the extent that the personal injury or property damage results from a wrongful act or omission of Federal Government personnel.
"(f)
Order of Succession
For order of succession in event of death, permanent disability, or resignation of Secretary of the Navy, see Ex. Ord. No. 12879, Nov. 8, 1993, 58 F.R. 59929, listed in a table under section 3345 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.