TITLE 10 - US CODE - CHAPTER 505 - OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS

10 USC 5031 - Office of the Chief of Naval Operations: function; composition

(a) There is in the executive part of the Department of the Navy an Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. The function of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations is to assist the Secretary of the Navy in carrying out his responsibilities.
(b) The Office of the Chief of Naval Operations is composed of the following:
(1) The Chief of Naval Operations.
(2) The Vice Chief of Naval Operations.
(3) The Deputy Chiefs of Naval Operations.
(4) The Assistant Chiefs of Naval Operations.
(5) The Surgeon General of the Navy.
(6) The Chief of Naval Personnel.
(7) The Chief of Chaplains of the Navy.
(8) Other members of the Navy and Marine Corps assigned or detailed to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.
(9) Civilian employees in the Department of the Navy assigned or detailed to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.
(c) Except as otherwise specifically prescribed by law, the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations shall be organized in such manner, and its members shall perform such duties and have such titles, as the Secretary may prescribe.

10 USC 5032 - Office of the Chief of Naval Operations: general duties

(a) The Office of the Chief of Naval Operations shall furnish professional assistance to the Secretary, the Under Secretary, and the Assistant Secretaries of the Navy and to the Chief of Naval Operations.
(b) Under the authority, direction, and control of the Secretary of the Navy, the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations shall
(1) subject to subsections (c) and (d) of section 5014 of this title, prepare for such employment of the Navy, and for such recruiting, organizing, supplying, equipping (including those aspects of research and development assigned by the Secretary of the Navy), training, servicing, mobilizing, demobilizing, administering, and maintaining of the Navy, as will assist in the execution of any power, duty, or function of the Secretary or the Chief of Naval Operations;
(2) investigate and report upon the efficiency of the Navy and its preparation to support military operations by combatant commands;
(3) prepare detailed instructions for the execution of approved plans and supervise the execution of those plans and instructions;
(4) as directed by the Secretary or the Chief of Naval Operations, coordinate the action of organizations of the Navy; and
(5) perform such other duties, not otherwise assigned by law, as may be prescribed by the Secretary.

10 USC 5033 - Chief of Naval Operations

(a) 
(1) There is a Chief of Naval Operations, appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Chief of Naval Operations shall be appointed for a term of four years, from the flag officers of the Navy. He serves at the pleasure of the President. In time of war or during a national emergency declared by Congress, he may be reappointed for a term of not more than four years.
(2) The President may appoint an officer as the Chief of Naval Operations only if
(A) the officer has had significant experience in joint duty assignments; and
(B) such experience includes at least one full tour of duty in a joint duty assignment (as defined in section 664 (f) of this title) as a flag officer.
(3) The President may waive paragraph (2) in the case of an officer if the President determines such action is necessary in the national interest.
(b) The Chief of Naval Operations, while so serving, has the grade of admiral without vacating his permanent grade. In the performance of his duties within the Department of the Navy, the Chief of Naval Operations takes precedence above all other officers of the naval service.
(c) Except as otherwise prescribed by law and subject to section 5013 (f) of this title, the Chief of Naval Operations performs his duties under the authority, direction, and control of the Secretary of the Navy and is directly responsible to the Secretary.
(d) Subject to the authority, direction, and control of the Secretary of the Navy, the Chief of Naval Operations shall
(1) preside over the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations;
(2) transmit the plans and recommendations of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations to the Secretary and advise the Secretary with regard to such plans and recommendations;
(3) after approval of the plans or recommendations of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations by the Secretary, act as the agent of the Secretary in carrying them into effect;
(4) exercise supervision, consistent with the authority assigned to commanders of unified or specified combatant commands under chapter 6 of this title, over such of the members and organizations of the Navy and the Marine Corps as the Secretary determines;
(5) perform the duties prescribed for him by section 171 of this title and other provisions of law; and
(6) perform such other military duties, not otherwise assigned by law, as are assigned to him by the President, the Secretary of Defense, or the Secretary of the Navy.
(e) 
(1) The Chief of Naval Operations shall also perform the duties prescribed for him as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under section 151 of this title.
(2) To the extent that such action does not impair the independence of the Chief of Naval Operations in the performance of his duties as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Chief of Naval Operations shall inform the Secretary regarding military advice rendered by members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on matters affecting the Department of the Navy.
(3) Subject to the authority, direction, and control of the Secretary of Defense, the Chief of Naval Operations shall keep the Secretary of the Navy fully informed of significant military operations affecting the duties and responsibilities of the Secretary.

10 USC 5034 - Repealed. Pub. L. 104106, div. A, title V, 502(c), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 293]

Section, added Pub. L. 99–433, title V, § 512(b), Oct. 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 1050; amended Pub. L. 102–190, div. A, title V, 505(a), Dec. 5, 1991, 105 Stat. 1358, related to retirement of Chief of Naval Operations. A prior section 5034, acts Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 279; Aug. 6, 1958, Pub. L. 85–599, § 8(b)(1), 72 Stat. 519; Dec. 1, 1967, Pub. L. 90–168, § 2(13), (14), 81 Stat. 523; Nov. 9, 1979, Pub. L. 96–107, title VIII, § 820(c), 93 Stat. 819; Sept. 24, 1983, Pub. L. 98–94, title XII, § 1212(c)(2), 97 Stat. 687, related to appointment and duties of Assistant Secretaries of the Navy, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 99–433, § 511(e). See section 5016 of this title.

10 USC 5035 - Vice Chief of Naval Operations

(a) There is a Vice Chief of Naval Operations, appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, from officers on the active-duty list in the line of the Navy serving in grades above captain and eligible to command at sea.
(b) The Vice Chief of Naval Operations, while so serving, has the grade of admiral without vacating his permanent grade.
(c) The Vice Chief of Naval Operations has such authority and duties with respect to the Department of the Navy as the Chief of Naval Operations, with the approval of the Secretary of the Navy, may delegate to or prescribe for him. Orders issued by the Vice Chief of Naval Operations in performing such duties have the same effect as those issued by the Chief of Naval Operations.
(d) When there is a vacancy in the office of Chief of Naval Operations or during the absence or disability of the Chief of Naval Operations
(1) the Vice Chief of Naval Operations shall perform the duties of the Chief of Naval Operations until a successor is appointed or the absence or disability ceases; or
(2) if there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice Chief of Naval Operations or the Vice Chief of Naval Operations is absent or disabled, unless the President directs otherwise, the most senior officer of the Navy in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations who is not absent or disabled and who is not restricted in performance of duty shall perform the duties of the Chief of Naval Operations until a successor to the Chief of Naval Operations or the Vice Chief of Naval Operations is appointed or until the absence or disability of the Chief of Naval Operations or Vice Chief of Naval Operations ceases, whichever occurs first.

10 USC 5036 - Deputy Chiefs of Naval Operations

(a) There are Deputy Chiefs of Naval Operations in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, detailed by the Secretary of the Navy from officers on the active-duty list of the Navy serving in grades above captain. The Secretary of the Navy shall prescribe the number of Deputy Chiefs of Naval Operations under this section and Assistant Chiefs of Naval Operations under section 5037 of this title, for a total of not more than eight positions.
(b) The Deputy Chiefs of Naval Operations are charged, under the direction of the Chief of Naval Operations, with the execution of the functions of their respective divisions. Orders issued by the Deputy Chiefs of Naval Operations in performing the duties assigned them are considered as coming from the Chief of Naval Operations.

10 USC 5037 - Assistant Chiefs of Naval Operations

(a) There are Assistant Chiefs of Naval Operations in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, detailed by the Secretary of the Navy from officers on the active-duty list of the Navy and officers on the active-duty list of the Marine Corps. The Secretary of the Navy shall prescribe the number of Assistant Chiefs of Naval Operations in accordance with section 5036 (a) of this title.
(b) The Assistant Chiefs of Naval Operations shall perform such duties as the Secretary of the Navy prescribes.

10 USC 5038 - Director for Expeditionary Warfare

(a) One of the Directors within the office of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations with responsibility for warfare requirements and programs shall be the Director for Expeditionary Warfare who shall be detailed from officers on the active-duty list of the Marine Corps.
(b) An officer assigned to the position of Director for Expeditionary Warfare, while so serving, has the grade of major general.
(c) The principal duty of the Director for Expeditionary Warfare shall be to supervise the performance of all staff responsibilities of the Chief of Naval Operations regarding expeditionary warfare, including responsibilities regarding amphibious lift, mine warfare, naval fire support, and other missions essential to supporting expeditionary warfare.
(d) The Chief of Naval Operations shall transfer duties, responsibilities, and staff from other personnel within the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations as necessary to fully support the Director for Expeditionary Warfare.