. The Office of the General Counsel of the Navy provides legal advice to the Secretary, the
and the various Assistant Secretaries of the Navy and their staffs. The General Counsel of the Navy is the third highest-ranking civilian office in the Department of the Navy, behind the Secretary and Under Secretary of the Navy. The General Counsel maintains a close working relationship with the
The General Counsel manages nearly 650 attorneys worldwide, helps to oversee the
officials on litigation, acquisition, contractual, fiscal, environmental, property, personnel, legislative, ethics, and intelligence law issues.
The first General Counsel of the Navy was appointed in 1941. From 1862 to 1941, essentially the same function was provided by the
| Name |
Assumed Office |
Left Office |
President The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Appointed By |
SecretaryThe Secretary of the Navy of the United States of America is the head of the Department of the Navy, a component organization of the Department of Defense...
Served Under |
| H. Struve Hensel Herman Struve Hensel was an American international lawyer who served in several senior positions in the Department of the Navy and the Department of Defense from 1941 to 1946 and from 1952 to 1955.-Biography:...
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July 10, 1941 |
January 30, 1945 |
Franklin D. RooseveltFranklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
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Frank Knox -External links:...
, James ForrestalJames Vincent Forrestal was the last Cabinet-level United States Secretary of the Navy and the first United States Secretary of Defense....
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| W. John Kenney William John Kenney was United States Assistant Secretary of the Navy 1945-46, Under Secretary of the Navy 1947-49, and the operating chief of the Marshall Plan 1950-52.-Early life and career:...
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February 5, 1945 |
April 2, 1945 |
Franklin D. RooseveltFranklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
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James ForrestalJames Vincent Forrestal was the last Cabinet-level United States Secretary of the Navy and the first United States Secretary of Defense....
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| Patrick H. Hodgson Patrick H. Hodgson was a United States lawyer who served as General Counsel of the Navy from April 3, 1945 through October 31, 1945....
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April 3, 1945 |
October 31, 1945 |
Franklin D. RooseveltFranklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
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James ForrestalJames Vincent Forrestal was the last Cabinet-level United States Secretary of the Navy and the first United States Secretary of Defense....
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| J. Henry Neale -Biography:J. Henry Neale was educated at Amherst College and Harvard Law School.In 1945, President of the United States Harry Truman named Neale General Counsel of the Navy, a post Neale held from November 1, 1945 until July 26, 1946...
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November 1, 1945 |
July 26, 1946 |
Harry S. TrumanHarry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
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James ForrestalJames Vincent Forrestal was the last Cabinet-level United States Secretary of the Navy and the first United States Secretary of Defense....
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| William Wemple William Wemple was a United States lawyer.-Biography:Wemple was born in New York City on November 3, 1912. He attended the Wardlaw School 1924-28, and then the Loomis School, graduating in 1930. He then attended Harvard College, receiving his A.B. in 1934. During his time in college, he was...
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July 27, 1946 |
August 23, 1946 |
Harry S. TrumanHarry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
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James ForrestalJames Vincent Forrestal was the last Cabinet-level United States Secretary of the Navy and the first United States Secretary of Defense....
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| James T. Hill, Jr. James T. Hill, Jr. was a lawyer with the United States Department of the Navy and the United States Department of the Air Force.Hill joined the Department of the Navy's Office of General Counsel in 1944. From August 24, 1946 until May 15, 1947, he was General Counsel of the Navy.In 1950,...
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August 24, 1946 |
May 15, 1947 |
Harry S. TrumanHarry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
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James ForrestalJames Vincent Forrestal was the last Cabinet-level United States Secretary of the Navy and the first United States Secretary of Defense....
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| Hudson B. Cox Hudson B. Cox was a United States lawyer who served as General Counsel of the Navy from May 16, 1947 until April 29, 1949....
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May 16, 1947 |
April 29, 1949 |
Harry S. TrumanHarry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
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James ForrestalJames Vincent Forrestal was the last Cabinet-level United States Secretary of the Navy and the first United States Secretary of Defense....
, John L. SullivanJohn Lawrence Sullivan was Assistant Secretary of the Navy 1946-47 and the first Department of Defense Secretary of the Navy in the Truman Administration 1947-49. He was appointed to that position upon Secretary Forrestal's installation as the first Secretary of Defense. He resigned in protest...
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| Harold B. Gross Harold B. Gross was a United States lawyer who served as General Counsel of the Navy from April 30, 1949 until August 30, 1953....
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April 30, 1949 |
August 30, 1953 |
Harry S. TrumanHarry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
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Francis P. Matthews Francis Patrick Matthews served as 49th United States Secretary of the Navy, during the administration of President Harry Truman. Matthews served during most of Truman's second term, from May 25, 1949 to July 31, 1951...
, Dan A. KimballDan Able Kimball was the 50th U.S. Secretary of the Navy.-Biography:Kimball was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on March 1, 1896. He was an Army Air Service pilot during the First World War and maintained an intense interest in aviation thereafter...
, Robert B. Anderson |
| F. Trowbridge vom Baur Francis Trowbridge vom Baur was a United States lawyer who was General Counsel of the Navy from 1953 to 1960.-Biography:...
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December 15, 1953 |
April 30, 1960 |
Dwight D. EisenhowerDwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
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Robert B. Anderson, Charles Thomas Charles S. Thomas was a U.S. administrator. He served as Secretary of the Navy between May 3, 1954 and April 1, 1957.Thomas was born in Independence, Missouri, attended the University of California and Cornell...
, Thomas S. Gates, Jr., William B. FrankeWilliam Birrell Franke was United States Secretary of the Navy from 1959 to 1961 under Dwight D. Eisenhower. Franke was born in Troy, New York and attended Pace College...
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| Meritt H. Steger Meritt H. Steger was a United States lawyer who served as General Counsel of the Navy from May 2, 1960 until May 31, 1971....
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May 2, 1960 |
May 31, 1971 |
Dwight D. EisenhowerDwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
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William B. Franke William Birrell Franke was United States Secretary of the Navy from 1959 to 1961 under Dwight D. Eisenhower. Franke was born in Troy, New York and attended Pace College...
, John ConnallyJohn Bowden Connally, Jr. , was an influential American politician, serving as the 39th governor of Texas, Secretary of the Navy under President John F. Kennedy, and as Secretary of the Treasury under President Richard M. Nixon. While he was Governor in 1963, Connally was a passenger in the car in...
, Fred KorthFred Korth served as Secretary of the Navy during 1962-63; he was also Assistant Secretary of the Army in 1952-53....
, Paul NitzePaul Henry Nitze was a high-ranking United States government official who helped shape Cold War defense policy over the course of numerous presidential administrations.-Early life, education, and family:...
, Paul Robert IgnatiusPaul Robert Ignatius is an American former administrator. He served as Secretary of the Navy between 1967 and 1969 and was the Assistant Secretary of Defense under the Johnson administration.-Life and career:...
, John ChafeeJohn Lester Hubbard Chafee was an American politician. He served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps, as the 66th Governor of Rhode Island, as the Secretary of the Navy, and as a United States Senator.-Early life and family:...
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| Hart T. Mankin Hart T. Mankin was a United States lawyer and judge who served as General Counsel of the Navy from 1971 to 1973.-Biography:Hart T. Mankin was born in Cleveland. Mankin was educated at Sewanee: The University of the South, graduating in 1954. Upon graduation, he joined the United States Air Force...
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June 7, 1971 |
July 21, 1973 |
Richard NixonRichard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
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John ChafeeJohn Lester Hubbard Chafee was an American politician. He served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps, as the 66th Governor of Rhode Island, as the Secretary of the Navy, and as a United States Senator.-Early life and family:...
, John WarnerJohn William Warner, KBE is an American Republican politician who served as Secretary of the Navy from 1972 to 1974 and as a five-term United States Senator from Virginia from January 2, 1979, to January 3, 2009...
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| E. Grey Lewis E. Grey Lewis was a United States lawyer who served as General Counsel of the Navy from 1973 to 1977.-Biography:E. Grey Lewis was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey and educated at the Peddie School where he was student body president. Lewis attended Princeton University, receiving a B.A. in...
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August 1, 1973 |
April 21, 1977 |
Richard NixonRichard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
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John WarnerJohn William Warner, KBE is an American Republican politician who served as Secretary of the Navy from 1972 to 1974 and as a five-term United States Senator from Virginia from January 2, 1979, to January 3, 2009...
, J. William MiddendorfJohn William Middendorf II was a Republican United States diplomat.-Biography:Middendorf received a Bachelor of Naval Science from College of the Holy Cross in 1945. He served in the Navy just at the end of World War II as engineer officer and navigator of USS LCS 53, being mustered out in 1946...
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Togo D. West, Jr.Togo Dennis West, Jr. is an American attorney and public official who was the third person to occupy the post of Secretary of Veterans Affairs. He was nominated by President Bill Clinton on January 27, 1998, during Clinton's second term, and was confirmed by the Senate on May 5, 1998. He had...
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April 22, 1977 |
January 13, 1979 |
Jimmy CarterJames Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
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W. Graham Claytor, Jr. |
| Coleman Hicks Coleman Selby Hicks was a United States lawyer who served as General Counsel of the Navy from 1979 to 1981.-Biography:Coleman Hicks was born in Columbus, Ohio and raised in Mason City, Iowa. Hicks was educated at Princeton University, receiving his B.A. in 1965...
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May 25, 1979 |
January 13, 1981 |
Jimmy CarterJames Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
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Edward Hidalgo Edward Hidalgo served as the United States Secretary of the Navy in the Carter administration from October 24, 1979 to January 20, 1981...
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| Walter T. Skallerup, Jr. Walter T. Skallerup, Jr. was a United States lawyer who served in various roles at the United States Department of Defense, most notably as General Counsel of the Navy from 1981 until his death in 1987.-Biography:...
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August 24, 1981 |
July 29, 1987 |
Ronald ReaganRonald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
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John Lehman John F. Lehman, Jr. is an American investment banker and writer who served as Secretary of the Navy in the Reagan administration and in 2003–04 was a member of the 9/11 Commission....
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| Harvey J. Wilcox (Deputy GC) |
July 29, 1987 |
November 21, 1988 |
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Jim WebbJames Henry "Jim" Webb, Jr. is the senior United States Senator from Virginia. He is also an author and a former Secretary of the Navy. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
, William L. BallWilliam L. Ball III is an American former government service worker and political appointee. He held senior posts in the Reagan Administration, beginning as an Assistant Secretary of State under George Shultz in 1985 . He moved to the White House staff in 1986 as President Reagan’s chief lobbyist...
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| Lawrence L. Lamade Lawrence L. Lamade is a United States lawyer who was General Counsel of the Navy from 1988 to 1989.-Biography:Lawrence L. Lamade attended the Landon School, followed by Princeton University, receiving his B.A. in 1969. He then served as an officer in the United States Navy from 1969 to 1972. Upon...
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November 22, 1988 |
November 21, 1989 |
Ronald ReaganRonald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
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William L. BallWilliam L. Ball III is an American former government service worker and political appointee. He held senior posts in the Reagan Administration, beginning as an Assistant Secretary of State under George Shultz in 1985 . He moved to the White House staff in 1986 as President Reagan’s chief lobbyist...
, Henry L. Garrett IIIHenry Lawrence Garrett, III served as the 68th Secretary of the Navy from May 15, 1989 to June 26, 1992 in the administration of George H. W. Bush.-References:...
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| Craig S. King Craig S. King is a United States lawyer who was General Counsel of the Navy from 1989 to 1993.-Biography:Craig S. King was born in American Fork, Utah on February 4, 1953. He attended Brigham Young University, graduating with a B.A. in 1977. He then attended the Georgetown University Law Center,...
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November 22, 1989 |
January 20, 1993 |
George H. W. BushGeorge Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
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Henry L. Garrett IIIHenry Lawrence Garrett, III served as the 68th Secretary of the Navy from May 15, 1989 to June 26, 1992 in the administration of George H. W. Bush.-References:...
, Sean O'KeefeSean O'Keefe is the CEO of EADS North America, a subsidiary of the European aerospace firm EADS, a former Administrator of NASA, and former chancellor of Louisiana State University . O'Keefe is also a former member of the board of directors of DuPont...
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| Steven S. Honigman Steven S. Honigman is a United States lawyer who served as General Counsel of the Navy from 1993 to 1998.-Biography:Steven S. Honigman was educated at New York University, from which he received a B.A. and at Yale Law School, from which he received a J.D...
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June 1, 1993 |
March 15, 1998 |
Bill ClintonWilliam Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
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John Howard Dalton John Howard Dalton is a U.S. administrator and banker. Dalton was Secretary of the Navy from July 22, 1993 to November 16, 1998.-Education and Navy service:...
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| Eugene Angrist (Deputy GC) |
March 15, 1998 |
September 28, 1998 |
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John Howard Dalton John Howard Dalton is a U.S. administrator and banker. Dalton was Secretary of the Navy from July 22, 1993 to November 16, 1998.-Education and Navy service:...
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| Stephen W. Preston Stephen W. Preston is a United States lawyer who served as General Counsel of the Navy from 1998 to 2000 and in 2009 was nominated by Barack Obama as General Counsel of the Central Intelligence Agency.-Biography:...
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September 28, 1998 |
November 17, 2000 |
Bill ClintonWilliam Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
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Richard Danzig Richard Jeffrey Danzig is an American lawyer who served as the 71st Secretary of the Navy under President Bill Clinton...
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| John E. Sparks (Acting) |
November 17, 2000 |
December 12, 2000 |
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Richard Danzig Richard Jeffrey Danzig is an American lawyer who served as the 71st Secretary of the Navy under President Bill Clinton...
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| William Molzahn (Deputy GC) |
December 12, 2000 |
July 25, 2001 |
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Richard Danzig Richard Jeffrey Danzig is an American lawyer who served as the 71st Secretary of the Navy under President Bill Clinton...
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| Alberto J. Mora Alberto J. Mora is a former General Counsel of the Navy. He led an effort within the Defense Department to oppose the legal theories of John Yoo and to try to end coercive interrogation tactics at Guantanamo Bay, which he argued are unlawful....
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July 25, 2001 |
January 1, 2006 |
George W. BushGeorge Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
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Gordon R. EnglandGordon Richard England is an American businessman who served as the United States Deputy Secretary of Defense and twice as United States Secretary of the Navy in the administration of U.S. President George W...
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| Paul C. Ney, Jr. Paul C. Ney, Jr. is a United States lawyer who served as Acting General Counsel of the Navy in 2006.-Biography:Paul C. Ney, Jr. attended Cornell University, receiving a B.S. in Biology in 1980. Ney next enrolled in the joint J.D. / M.B.A. program at Vanderbilt University, graduating in 1984. He...
(Acting) |
January 2, 2006 |
September 25, 2006 |
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Donald C. WinterDonald Charles Winter is an American businessman who served as United States Secretary of the Navy. A former top executive of Northrop Grumman, he was nominated in 2005 by President George W. Bush, confirmed by the United States Senate, and took the oath of office on January 3, 2006...
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Frank JimenezFrank R. Jimenez became the 21st General Counsel of the U.S. Department of the Navy on September 25, 2006, following his nomination by George W. Bush and confirmation by the United States Senate...
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September 25, 2006 |
April 30, 2009 |
George W. BushGeorge Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
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Donald C. WinterDonald Charles Winter is an American businessman who served as United States Secretary of the Navy. A former top executive of Northrop Grumman, he was nominated in 2005 by President George W. Bush, confirmed by the United States Senate, and took the oath of office on January 3, 2006...
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| Anne M. Brennan Anne M. Brennan was the acting United States General Counsel of the Navy in 2009.-Biography:Anne M. Brennan attended Wellesley College, receiving a B.A., and Suffolk University Law School, receiving a J.D....
(Acting) |
April 30, 2009 |
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Ray MabusRaymond Edwin "Ray" Mabus, Jr. is the 75th United States Secretary of the Navy. Mabus served as the 60th Governor of the U.S...
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| Paul L. Oostburg Sanz Paul L. Oostburg Sanz is the current United States General Counsel of the Navy.-Biography:Paul L. Oostburg Sanz received a B.A. from the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, an M.P.A. from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton...
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March 12, 2010 |
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Barack ObamaBarack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
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Ray MabusRaymond Edwin "Ray" Mabus, Jr. is the 75th United States Secretary of the Navy. Mabus served as the 60th Governor of the U.S...
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