The Under Secretary of the Navy is the second-highest ranking civilian official in the United States Department of the Navy

United States Department of the Navy

The Department of the Navy of the United States of America was established by an Act of Congress on 30 April 1798, to provide a government organizational structure to the United States Navy and, from 1834 onwards, for the United States Marine Corps, and when directed by the President, of the...

. The Under Secretary, called the "Under" in Pentagon

The Pentagon

The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...

 slang, reports to the Secretary of the Navy

United States Secretary of the Navy

The 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...

 (SECNAV).

The four Assistant Secretaries of the Navy

Assistant Secretary of the Navy

Assistant Secretary of the Navy is the title given to certain civilian senior officials in the United States Department of the Navy....

 (for Research, Development and Acquisition

Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisitions)

The Assistant Secretary of the Navy is a civilian office of the United States Department of the Navy...

; Manpower and Reserve Affairs

Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs)

The Assistant Secretary of the Navy is a civilian office in the United States Department of the Navy...

; Financial Management and Comptroller

Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller)

The Assistant Secretary of the Navy is a civilian office of the United States Department of the Navy...

; and Installations and Environment

Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Installations and Environment)

The Assistant Secretary of the Navy is a civilian office in the United States Navy established in 1990...

) report to the Under Secretary, along with the General Counsel of the Department of the Navy, the Chief of Naval Operations

Chief of Naval Operations

The Chief of Naval Operations is a statutory office held by a four-star admiral in the United States Navy, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Navy. The office is a military adviser and deputy to the Secretary of the Navy...

, the Commandant of the Marine Corps

Commandant of the Marine Corps

The Commandant of the Marine Corps is normally the highest ranking officer in the United States Marine Corps and is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff...

, the Chief of Legislative Affairs, the Auditor General of the Navy, the Assistant for Administration, and the Director of the Office of Small Business Programs.

Robert Work is the current Under Secretary.

Under Secretaries of the Navy, 1940—Present

Name	Assumed Office	Left Office	President President of the United States 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	Secretary United States Secretary of the Navy The 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
James V. Forrestal	August 22, 1940	May 16, 1944	Franklin D. Roosevelt Franklin D. Roosevelt Franklin 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...	Frank Knox Frank Knox -External links:...
Ralph A. Bard Ralph Austin Bard Ralph Austin Bard was a Chicago financier who served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, 1941–1944, and as Under Secretary, 1944–1945. He is noted for a memorandum he wrote to Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson in 1945 urging that Japan be given a warning before the use of the atomic...	June 24, 1944	June 30, 1945	Franklin D. Roosevelt Franklin D. Roosevelt Franklin 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...	James Forrestal James Forrestal James Vincent Forrestal was the last Cabinet-level United States Secretary of the Navy and the first United States Secretary of Defense....
Artemus Gates Artemus Gates Artemus Lamb Gates was an American businessman, naval aviator, and Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Air in charge of naval aviation efforts in World War II . He also was briefly Undersecretary of the Navy...	July 3, 1945	December 31, 1945	Harry S. Truman Harry S. Truman Harry 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...	James Forrestal James Forrestal James Vincent Forrestal was the last Cabinet-level United States Secretary of the Navy and the first United States Secretary of Defense....
John L. Sullivan	June 17, 1946	September 18, 1947	Harry S. Truman Harry S. Truman Harry 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...	James Forrestal James Forrestal James Vincent Forrestal was the last Cabinet-level United States Secretary of the Navy and the first United States Secretary of Defense....
W. John Kenney 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:...	September 19, 1947	September 24, 1949	Harry S. Truman Harry S. Truman Harry 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...	John L. Sullivan John L. Sullivan (Navy) John 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...
Dan A. Kimball Dan A. Kimball Dan 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...	May 25, 1949	July 31, 1951	Harry S. Truman Harry S. Truman Harry 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...	Francis P. Matthews 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...
Francis P. Whitehair Francis P. Whitehair Francis Preston Whitehair was an American politician and statesman most notable for having served as Under Secretary of the Navy as part of the Truman Administration.-Biography:...	August 7, 1951	January 29, 1953	Harry S. Truman Harry S. Truman Harry 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...	Dan A. Kimball Dan A. Kimball Dan 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...
Charles S. Thomas Charles Thomas (Secretary of the Navy) 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...	February 9, 1953	August 5, 1953	Dwight D. Eisenhower Dwight D. Eisenhower Dwight 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...	Robert B. Anderson
Thomas S. Gates, Jr.	October 7, 1953	April 1, 1957	Dwight D. Eisenhower Dwight D. Eisenhower Dwight 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...	Robert B. Anderson, Charles Thomas Charles Thomas (Secretary of the Navy) 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...
William B. Franke 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...	April 17, 1957	June 7, 1959	Dwight D. Eisenhower Dwight D. Eisenhower Dwight 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...	Thomas S. Gates, Jr.
Fred A. Bantz Fred A. Bantz Fred A. Bantz was an official in the United States Department of the Navy during the administration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower.-Biography:...	June 8, 1959	January 20, 1961	Dwight D. Eisenhower Dwight D. Eisenhower Dwight 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...	William B. Franke 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...
Paul B. Fay, Jr.	February 16, 1961	January 15, 1965	John F. Kennedy John F. Kennedy John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....	John Connally John Connally John 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 Korth Fred Korth Fred Korth served as Secretary of the Navy during 1962-63; he was also Assistant Secretary of the Army in 1952-53.... , Paul Nitze Paul Nitze Paul 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:...
Kenneth E. BeLieu Kenneth E. BeLieu Kenneth E. BeLieu was the United States Assistant Secretary of the Navy 1961-65, Under Secretary of the Navy in 1965; Under Secretary of the Army 1971-73; and then director of the National Petroleum Council in the late 1970s.-Early Life:Kenneth E. BeLieu was born in Portland, Oregon on February...	February 26, 1965	July 1965	Lyndon B. Johnson Lyndon B. Johnson Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...	Paul Nitze Paul Nitze Paul 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:...
Robert H. B. Baldwin Robert H. B. Baldwin Robert H.B. Baldwin was the Chairman of Morgan Stanley when the bank was taken public in the 1970s. He is noted for significantly expanding the wealth of the firm during his tenure there. He was also appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson to be the Undersecretary of the United States Navy during...	July 2, 1965	July 31, 1967	Lyndon B. Johnson Lyndon B. Johnson Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...	Paul Nitze Paul Nitze Paul 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:...
Charles F. Baird Charles F. Baird Charles F. Baird was United States Assistant Secretary of the Navy 1966-67; Under Secretary of the Navy 1967-69; and Chief Executive Officer of Inco Ltd. 1977-87.-Biography:...	August 1, 1967	January 20, 1969	Lyndon B. Johnson Lyndon B. Johnson Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...	Paul Robert Ignatius Paul Robert Ignatius Paul 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 Warner John Warner John 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...	February 11, 1969	May 4, 1972	Richard Nixon Richard Nixon Richard 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...	John Chafee John Chafee John 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:...
Frank P. Sanders Frank P. Sanders Frank P. Sanders was United States Assistant Secretary of the Navy 1971-72 and Under Secretary of the Navy 1972-73.-Biography:...	May 5, 1972	June 29, 1973	Richard Nixon Richard Nixon Richard 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...	John Warner John Warner John 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 Middendorf J. William Middendorf John 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...	August 3, 1973	June 20, 1974	Richard Nixon Richard Nixon Richard 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...	John Warner John Warner John 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...
David S. Potter David S. Potter David S. Potter was United States Assistant Secretary of the Navy from 1973 to 1974 and Under Secretary of the Navy from 1974 to 1976. After he left public service, Potter was a long-time executive at General Motors.-Biography:David S. Potter was educated at Yale University, receiving a B.S...	August 28, 1974	April 1, 1976	Gerald Ford Gerald Ford Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...	J. William Middendorf J. William Middendorf John 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...
David R. Macdonald David R. Macdonald David Robert Macdonald was United States Assistant Secretary of the Treasury from 1974 to 1976; as Under Secretary of the Navy from 1976 to 1977; and as Deputy U.S. Trade Representative from 1981 to 1983....	September 14, 1976	February 4, 1977	Gerald Ford Gerald Ford Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...	J. William Middendorf J. William Middendorf John 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...
R. James Woolsey, Jr. R. James Woolsey, Jr. Robert James Woolsey Jr. is a foreign policy specialist and former Director of Central Intelligence and head of the Central Intelligence Agency .-Early life:...	March 9, 1977	December 7, 1979	Jimmy Carter Jimmy Carter James 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...	W. Graham Claytor, Jr.
Robert J. Murray Robert J. Murray -Biography:Robert J. Murray was born on August 30, 1934 in Marlborough, Massachusetts. He was educated at Suffolk University, receiving a B.S. in 1961. He then attended Harvard University, receiving an M.P.A...	February 7, 1980	September 29, 1981	Jimmy Carter Jimmy Carter James 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...	Edward Hidalgo 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... , John Lehman 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....
James F. Goodrich James F. Goodrich James F. Goodrich was the United States Under Secretary of the Navy from 1981 to 1987.-Biography:Goodrich was born on January 24, 1913, in Fennville, Michigan and educated in Jackson, Michigan. After high school, he attended the Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering at the...	September 29, 1981	August 6, 1987	Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan Ronald 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....	John Lehman 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....
Henry L. Garrett III Henry L. Garrett III Henry 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:...	August 6, 1987	May 15, 1989	Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan Ronald 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....	Jim Webb Jim Webb James 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. Ball William L. Ball William 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...
J. Daniel Howard J. Daniel Howard J. Daniel Howard was Special Assistant to President of the United States Ronald Reagan from July 1986 to February 1988, United States Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs from February 1988 to May 1989 and Under Secretary of the Navy from 1989 to 1993.-Early years, 1943—1974:J. Daniel...	August 7, 1989	January 20, 1993	George H. W. Bush George H. W. Bush George 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...	Henry L. Garrett III Henry L. Garrett III Henry 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'Keefe Sean O'Keefe Sean 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...
Richard J. Danzig	November 29, 1993	May 30, 1997	Bill Clinton Bill Clinton William 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...	John Howard Dalton 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:...
Jerry MacArthur Hultin	November 13, 1997	July 14, 2000	Bill Clinton Bill Clinton William 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...	John Howard Dalton 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:... , Richard Danzig Richard Danzig Richard Jeffrey Danzig is an American lawyer who served as the 71st Secretary of the Navy under President Bill Clinton...
Robert B. Pirie, Jr. Robert B. Pirie, Jr. Robert B. Pirie, Jr. is a retired United States Navy officer and politician. Early in 2001, Pirie served as Acting Secretary of the Navy until the nomination and confirmation of an appointee by President George W. Bush.-Biography:...	October 12, 2000	June 6, 2001	Bill Clinton Bill Clinton William 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...	Richard Danzig Richard Danzig Richard Jeffrey Danzig is an American lawyer who served as the 71st Secretary of the Navy under President Bill Clinton...
Susan M. Livingstone	July 26, 2001	February 28, 2003	George W. Bush George W. Bush George 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....	Gordon R. England Gordon R. England Gordon 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...
Dionel M. Aviles Dionel M. Aviles Dionel M. Aviles was the United States Under Secretary of the Navy from October 8, 2004 to May 19, 2009.-Biography:A native of Bryan, Texas, Dionel M. Aviles graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering in 1983...	October 8, 2004	May 19, 2009	George W. Bush George W. Bush George 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....	Gordon R. England Gordon R. England Gordon 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... , Donald C. Winter Donald C. Winter Donald 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...
Robert O. Work Robert O. Work Robert Orton Work is the current United States Under Secretary of the Navy.-Biography:Work attended the University of Illinois and earned a B.S. in Biology. Work would later earn an M.S. in Systems Management from the University of Southern California; an M.S...	May 19, 2009	incumbent	Barack Obama Barack Obama Barack 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...	Ray Mabus Ray Mabus Raymond Edwin "Ray" Mabus, Jr. is the 75th United States Secretary of the Navy. Mabus served as the 60th Governor of the U.S...