Starting at the top we have SECNAV, which is Navy speak for Secretary or the Navy. Like I had said before sailors like to shorten things. He is the top person in the Navy and is a civilian.

The position had been a cabinet position until 1947. At this time the position was placed under the newly created Secretary of Defense, or SECDEF. The secretary is responsible for two uniformed services, the USN and USMC. He has the authority under Title 10 of the United States Code, to conduct all the affairs of the Department of the Navy, including: recruiting, organizing, supplying, equipping, training, mobilizing, and demobilizing.

Benjamin Stoddard was the first SECNAV serving under John Adams. The progressive thinking Josephus Daniels was responsible for forbidding alcohol from warships. He is also said to be the source for calling coffee “Joe”. Other notable past secretaries include, Charles F. Adams, William Franklin Knox, James Vincent Forrestal, and Thomas S. Gates. All of these had ships or classes of ships after them.