United States Department of the Navy

The United States Department of the Navy is one of the three military departments within the Department of Defense of the United States of America. The Department of the Navy was established by an Act of Congress on April 30, 1798 to provide an organizational structure to the United States Navy, the United States Marine Corps, and, at times, the United States Coast Guard.

The Department of the Navy includes:

• all field activities, headquarters, forces, bases, installations, activities, and functions under control or supervision of the Secretary of the Navy
• The Coast Guard, when operating as a service in the Navy Department
• Headquarters Marine Corps
• Office of the Chief of Naval Operations
• Office of the Secretary of the Navy
• The Operating forces of the Navy, including naval aviation, and the Marine Corps, including active and reserve components

The Secretary of the Navy is a civilian official appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate and is the highest authority in the United States Department of the Navy, subject to the authority of the Secretary of Defense and the President. The Honorable Kenneth J. Braithwaite was appointed as the 77th Secretary of the Navy on May 29, 2020 after previously serving as the 31st United States Ambassador to the Kingdom of Norway.