View source for United States Secretary of the Navy

{{short description|Statutory office and the head of the U.S. Department of the Navy}}
{{Distinguish|Chief of Naval Operations}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = United States Secretary
| body = the Navy
| insignia = United States Department of the Navy Seal.svg
| insigniacaption = Seal of the Department of the Navy
| insigniaalt = 
| flag = Flag of the United States Secretary of the Navy.svg
| flagalt = 
| flagborder = 
| flagcaption = Flag of the secretary
| image = Secretary of Navy John Phelan.png
| imagesize = 
| alt = 
| incumbent = [[John Phelan (businessman)|John Phelan]]
| acting = no
| incumbentsince = 25 March 2025
| department = [[United States Department of the Navy|Department of the Navy]]
| style = Mister Secretary<br/>The Honorable (formally)
| type = 
| status = 
| abbreviation = SECNAV
| member_of = 
| reports_to = [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]]<br/>[[United States Deputy Secretary of Defense|Deputy Secretary of Defense]]
| seat = 
| nominator = 
| appointer = The [[President of the United States|president]]
| appointer_qualified = with [[United States Senate|Senate]] [[advice and consent]]
| termlength = 
| termlength_qualified = 
| constituting_instrument = {{USC|10|8013}}
| precursor = 
| formation = {{Start date and age|18 June 1798}}
| first = [[Benjamin Stoddert]]
| last = 
| abolished = 
| succession = [[United States Secretary of Defense#Succession|3rd in SecDef succession]]
| unofficial_names = 
| deputy = [[Under Secretary of the Navy|Under Secretary]]<br/>(Principal Civilian Deputy)<br/>[[Chief of Naval Operations]]<br/>(Navy Advisor and Deputy)<br/>[[Commandant of the United States Marine Corps|Commandant]]<br/>(Marine Corps Advisor and Deputy)
| salary = [[Executive Schedule|Executive Schedule, level II]]
| website = {{url|https://www.secnav.navy.mil/}}
| footnotes = 
}}
The '''secretary of the Navy''' ('''SECNAV''') is a statutory officer ({{UnitedStatesCode|10|8013}}) and the head ([[chief executive officer]]) of the [[United States Department of the Navy|Department of the Navy]], a military department within the [[United States Department of Defense]]. On March 25, 2025, [[John Phelan (businessman)|John Phelan]] was confirmed as Secretary of the Navy.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 25, 2025 |title=Honorable John Phelan Sworn in as 79th Secretary of the Navy at National Archives |url=https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/Article/4135039/honorable-john-phelan-sworn-in-as-79th-secretary-of-the-navy-at-national-archiv/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250328092454/https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/Article/4135039/honorable-john-phelan-sworn-in-as-79th-secretary-of-the-navy-at-national-archiv/ |archive-date=March 28, 2025 |access-date=March 26, 2025 |website=[[United States Navy]]}}</ref>

By law, the secretary of the Navy must [[civilian control of the military|be a civilian]] at least seven years removed from active military service ({{UnitedStatesCode|10|8013}}). The secretary is appointed by the [[President of the United States|president]] and requires confirmation by the [[United States Senate|Senate]].

== History ==
The position of Secretary of the Navy was created in 1798. It was a member of the president's [[United States Cabinet|Cabinet]] until 1949, when the secretary of the Navy (and the secretaries of the [[United States Secretary of the Army|Army]] and [[United States Secretary of the Air Force|Air Force]]) were by amendments to the [[National Security Act of 1947]] made subordinate to the [[United States Secretary of Defense|secretary of defense]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Guide to Federal Records – General Records of the Department of the Navy, 1798–1947 |url=https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/080.html#80.1 |access-date=2007-09-23 |archive-date=17 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917031651/https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/080.html#80.1 |url-status=live }}</ref>

From 2001 to 2019, proposals to rename the Department of the Navy to the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps, which would have also renamed the secretary of the Navy to the '''secretary of the Navy and Marine Corps''', were introduced with wide support in the [[United States Congress]], but failed due to the opposition of Senator and retired U.S. Navy officer [[John McCain]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2016/05/02/congressman-i-ll-keep-fighting-like-a-bulldog-to-rename-the-navy-department-for-marines/ |first1=Lance M. |last1=Bacon |title=Congressman: I'll 'keep fighting like a bulldog' to rename the Navy Department for Marines |publisher=Marine Corps Times |date=2016-05-02 |access-date=2022-03-16 |archive-date=13 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220213202243/https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2016/05/02/congressman-i-ll-keep-fighting-like-a-bulldog-to-rename-the-navy-department-for-marines/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Responsibilities==
The Department of the Navy (DoN) consists of two [[Uniformed services of the United States|uniformed services]]: the [[United States Navy]] and the [[United States Marine Corps]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Responsibilities |website=The US Navy |url=http://www.navy.mil/navydata/leadership/secnav_resp.asp |access-date=2007-09-23 |archive-date=17 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217101424/http://www.navy.mil/navydata/leadership/secnav_resp.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref> The secretary of the Navy is responsible for, and has statutory authority ({{UnitedStatesCode|10|8013}}) to "conduct all the affairs of the Department of the Navy", i.e. as its chief executive officer, subject to the limits of the law, and the directions of the president and the secretary of defense. In effect, all authority within the Navy and Marine Corps, unless specifically exempted by law, is derivative of the authority vested in the secretary of the Navy.

Specifically enumerated responsibilities of the SECNAV in the aforementioned section are: recruiting, organizing, supplying, equipping, training, mobilizing, and demobilizing. The secretary also oversees the construction, outfitting, and repair of naval ships, equipment, and facilities. SECNAV is responsible for the formulation and implementation of policies and programs that are consistent with the national security policies and objectives established by the president or the secretary of defense.<ref>{{cite web |title=10 U.S. Code § 8013 – Secretary of the Navy |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/8013 |website=LII |access-date=2022-12-13 |archive-date=28 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028005118/https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/8013 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |work=U.S. Navy Biographies |title= The Honorable Donald C. Winter |url=http://www.navy.mil/navydata/bios/bio.asp?bioID=325 |date=3 January 2006  |access-date=2007-09-23 |archive-date=12 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070912145321/https://www.navy.mil/navydata/bios/bio.asp?bioID=325 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The secretary of the Navy is a member of the [[Defense Acquisition Board]] (DAB), chaired by the [[Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment|under secretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics]]. Furthermore, the secretary has several statutory responsibilities under the [[Uniform Code of Military Justice]] (UCMJ) with respect to the administration of the military justice system for the Navy & the Marine Corps, including the authority to convene general courts-martial and to commute sentences.

The principal military advisers to the SECNAV are the two service chiefs of the naval services: for matters regarding the Navy the [[Chief of Naval Operations|chief of naval operations]] (CNO), and for matters regarding the Marine Corps the [[Commandant of the United States Marine Corps|commandant of the Marine Corps]] (CMC). The CNO and the Commandant act as the principal executive agents of the SECNAV within their respective services to implement the orders of the secretary.

===Navy regulations===
The [[United States Navy Regulations]] is the principal regulatory document of the Department of the Navy, and all changes to it must be approved by the secretary of the Navy.

===U.S. Coast Guard===
Whenever the [[United States Coast Guard]] operates as a service within the Department of the Navy, the secretary of the Navy has the same powers and duties with respect to the Coast Guard as the [[United States Secretary of Homeland Security|secretary of homeland security]] when the Coast Guard is not operating as a service in the Department of the Navy.<ref>{{cite web |title=10 U.S. Code § 8013a – Secretary of the Navy: powers with respect to Coast Guard |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/8013a |access-date=2022-12-13 |archive-date=13 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213082751/https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/8013a |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Navy Secretariat==
The '''Office of the Secretary of the Navy''', also known within DoD as the ''Navy Secretariat'' or simply just as the ''Secretariat'' in a DoN setting, is the immediate headquarters staff that supports the secretary in discharging his duties. The principal officials of the Secretariat include the [[United States Under Secretary of the Navy|Under Secretary of the Navy]] (the secretary's principal civilian deputy), the [[Assistant Secretary of the Navy|assistant secretaries of the Navy]] (ASN), the [[General Counsel of the Navy|general counsel of the Navy]], the [[Judge Advocate General of the Navy|judge advocate general of the Navy]] (JAG), the [[Naval Inspector General|Naval inspector general]] (NIG), the [[Office of Legislative Affairs (United States Navy)|chief of Legislative Affairs]], and the [[Chief of Naval Research|chief of naval research]]. The Office of the Secretary of the Navy has sole responsibility within the Department of the Navy for acquisition, auditing, financial and information management, legislative affairs, and public affairs.<ref>{{cite web |title=10 U.S. Code § 8014 – Office of the Secretary of the Navy |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/8014 |access-date=2022-12-13 |archive-date=13 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213082753/https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/8014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Pursuant to SecNavInst 5090.5F, the Department of the Navy ''Environmental Programs Manual'', the secretary of the Navy and chief of naval operations recognize a number of commands annually for achievements in such areas as [[environmental quality]], [[Environmental remediation|environmental cleanup]], [[Conservation in the United States|natural resources conservation]], [[cultural resources management]], [[Pollution prevention in the US|pollution prevention]], and [[recycling]].<ref name="usn">{{Cite web |url=http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/navy/docs/surftraman1.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=4 December 2022 |archive-date=1 April 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030401081118/http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/navy/docs/surftraman1.pdf |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref> 

The chief of naval operations and the commandant of the Marine Corps have their own separate staffs, the ''[[Office of the Chief of Naval Operations]]'' (also known by its acronym OPNAV) and ''[[Headquarters Marine Corps]]''.

==Secretaries of the Navy==
{{legend|#E6E6AA|Denotes [[acting (law)|acting]] secretaries|border=black}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Department of the Navy, Office of the General Counsel (DON-OGC) – OGC History |url=http://ogc.navy.mil/ogchistory.asp |access-date=2007-09-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070724110938/http://ogc.navy.mil/ogchistory.asp |archive-date=2007-07-24}}</ref>

===Continental Congress===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Position
!Portrait
!Name
!Term of office
|-
|Chairman of the Marine Committee
|[[File:Gilbert Stuart, John Adams, c. 1800-1815, NGA 42933.jpg|90x90px]]
|[[John Adams]]
|13 October 1775 – 1779
|-
|Member of the Marine Committee
|[[File:John langdon.jpg|75px]]
|[[John Langdon (politician)|John Langdon]]
|13 October 1775–?
|-
|Member of the Marine Committee
|[[File:Silas Deane - Du Simitier and B.L. Prevost.jpg|75px]]
|[[Silas Deane]]
|13 October 1775–?
|-
|Member of the Marine Committee 
|[[File:Joseph Hewes.png|101x101px]]
|[[Joseph Hewes]]
|1775<ref>[http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/j4/joseph_hewes.htm Joseph Hewes]{{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510095026/http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/j4/joseph_hewes.htm |date=10 May 2013 }}. Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval Historical and Heritage Command.</ref>
|-
|Continental Navy Board<br>(under Marine Committee)
|
|
|6 November 1776 – 28 October 1779
|-
|Chairman of the Continental Board of Admiralty
|[[File:Francis Lewis.jpg|75px]]
|[[Francis Lewis]]
|December 1779 – 1780
|-
|Secretary of Marine
|[[File:AlexanderMcdougall.jpg|75px]]
|[[Alexander McDougall]]
|7 February 1781 – 29 August 1781
|-
|Agent of Marine<br>(devolved onto [[Superintendent of Finance of the United States|Superintendent of Finance]]) 
|[[File:Robert Morris by Charles Willson Peale, c. 1782 (New Orleans Mus of Art 78.2) - wide crop.jpg|91x91px]]
|[[Robert Morris (financier)|Robert Morris]]
|29 August 1781 – 1784<ref>Benson J. Lossing. [http://www.publicbookshelf.com/public_html/Our_Country_vol_2/continenta_bce.html Household History for All Readers] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630023603/http://www.publicbookshelf.com/public_html/Our_Country_vol_2/continenta_bce.html |date=30 June 2016 }}. 1877. Republished in Our Country vol. 2</ref>
|}
 
''(Post of Secretary of Marine created but remained vacant)''

===Executive Department, 1798–1949===
<small>{{legend|#E6E6AA|Denotes an [[acting (law)|Acting]] United States Secretary of the Navy|border=black}}</small>

{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!No.
!class=unsortable |Portrait
!Name
!State
!Start
!End
!colspan=2 |President(s)
|-
|rowspan=2 |1
|rowspan=2 |[[File:Benjamin Stoddert SecNavy.jpg|75px]]
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Benjamin|Stoddert}}
|rowspan=2 |[[Maryland]]
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|18 June 1798}}
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|31 March 1801}}
|style="background: {{party color|Federalist Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|John|Adams}}<br>(1797–1801)
|-
|rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Democratic-Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Thomas|Jefferson}}<br>(1801–1809)
|-
|2
|[[File:Secretary of the Navy, Robert Smith.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Robert|Smith|dab=Cabinet member}}
|Maryland
|{{dts|27 July 1801}}
|{{dts|4 March 1809}}
|-
|3
|[[File:SECNAVY Paul Hamilton.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Paul|Hamilton|dab=politician}}
|[[South Carolina]]
|{{dts|15 May 1809}}
|{{dts|31 December 1812}}
|rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Democratic-Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|James|Madison}}<br>(1809–1817)
|-
|4
|[[File:Secratary of the Navy, William Jones.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|William|Jones|dab=statesman}}
|[[Pennsylvania]]
|{{dts|19 January 1813}}
|{{dts|1 December 1814}}
|-
|rowspan=2 |5
|rowspan=2 |[[File:BenjaminWilliamsCrowninshield.jpg|75px]]
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Benjamin|Crowninshield|Benjamin Williams Crowninshield}}
|rowspan=2 |[[Massachusetts]]
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|16 January 1815}}
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|30 September 1818}}
|-
|rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Democratic-Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|James|Monroe}}<br>(1817–1825)
|-
|6
|[[File:Secretary of the Navy, Smith Thompson.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Smith|Thompson}}
|[[New York (state)|New York]]
|{{dts|1 January 1819}}
|{{dts|31 August 1823}}
|-
|rowspan=2 |7
|rowspan=2 |[[File:Samuel L. Southard.jpg|75px]]
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Samuel L.|Southard}}
|rowspan=2 |[[New Jersey]]
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|16 September 1823}}
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|4 March 1829}}
|-
|style="background: {{party color|Democratic-Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|John Quincy|Adams}}<br>(1825–1829)
|-
|8
|[[File:John Branch.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|John|Branch}}
|[[North Carolina]]
|{{dts|9 March 1829}}
|{{dts|12 May 1831}}
|rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|Andrew|Jackson}}<br>(1829–1837)
|-
|9
|[[File:Secretary of the Navy, Levi Woodbury.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Levi|Woodbury}}
|[[New Hampshire]]
|{{dts|23 May 1831}}
|{{dts|30 June 1834}}
|-
|rowspan=2 |10
|rowspan=2 |[[File:Secretary of the Navy, Mahlon Dickerson.jpg|75px]]
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Mahlon|Dickerson}}
|rowspan=2 |New Jersey
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|1 July 1834}}
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|30 June 1838}}
|-
|rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Martin|Van Buren}}<br>(1837–1841)
|-
|11
|[[File:James K. Paulding.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|James K.|Paulding}}
|New York
|{{dts|1 July 1838}}
|{{dts|4 March 1841}}
|-
|rowspan=2 |12
|rowspan=2 |[[File:Secretary of the Navy, George E. Badger.jpg|95x95px]]
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|George E.|Badger}}
|rowspan=2 |North Carolina
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|6 March 1841}}
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|11 September 1841}}
|style="background: {{party color|Whig Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|William Henry|Harrison}}<br>(1841)
|-
|rowspan=5 style="background: {{party color|Whig Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=5 |{{sortname|John|Tyler}}<br>(1841–1845)
|-
|13
|[[File:Abel P. Upshur.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Abel P.|Upshur}}
|[[Virginia]]
|{{dts|11 October 1841}}
|{{dts|23 July 1843}}
|-
|14
|[[File:David Henshaw.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|David|Henshaw|dab=American politician}}
|Massachusetts
|{{dts|24 July 1843}}
|{{dts|18 February 1844}}
|-
|15
|[[File:Thomas W. Gilmer.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Thomas W.|Gilmer}}
|Virginia
|{{dts|19 February 1844}}
|{{dts|28 February 1844}}
|-
|16
|[[File:JYMason.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|John Y.|Mason}}
|Virginia
|{{dts|26 March 1844}}
|{{dts|4 March 1845}}
|-
|17
|[[File:George Bancroft United States Secretary of Navy c. 1860.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|George|Bancroft}}
|Massachusetts
|{{dts|11 March 1845}}
|{{dts|9 September 1846}}
|rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|James K.|Polk}}<br>(1845–1849)
|-
|18
|[[File:JYMason.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|John Y.|Mason}}
|Virginia
|{{dts|10 September 1846}}
|{{dts|4 March 1849}}
|-
|19
|[[File:WmBdPreston.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|William B.|Preston}}
|Virginia
|{{dts|8 March 1849}}
|{{dts|22 July 1850}}
|style="background: {{party color|Whig Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Zachary|Taylor}}<br>(1849–1850)
|-
|20
|[[File:William Alexander Graham - Brady-Handy.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|William|Graham|William Alexander Graham}}
|North Carolina
|{{dts|2 August 1850}}
|{{dts|25 July 1852}}
|rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Whig Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Millard|Fillmore}}<br>(1850–1853)
|-
|21
|[[File:John Pendleton Kennedy Smithosonian 1.jpg|88x88px]]
|{{sortname|John P.|Kennedy}}
|Maryland
|{{dts|26 July 1852}}
|{{dts|4 March 1853}}
|-
|22
|[[File:James Cochran Dobbin, attributed to John Cranch, c. 1845, oil on canvas, from the National Portrait Gallery - NPG-9300792A.jpg|92x92px]]
|{{sortname|James C.|Dobbin}}
|North Carolina
|{{dts|8 March 1853}}
|{{dts|4 March 1857}}
|style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Franklin|Pierce}}<br>(1853–1857)
|-
|23
|[[File:Isaac Toucey - Brady-Handy.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Isaac|Toucey}}
|[[Connecticut]]
|{{dts|7 March 1857}}
|{{dts|4 March 1861}}
|style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|James|Buchanan}}<br>(1857–1861)
|-
|rowspan=2 |24
|rowspan=2 |[[File:Gideon Welles cph.3b20114.jpg|100x100px]]
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Gideon|Welles}}
|rowspan=2 |Connecticut
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|7 March 1861}}
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|4 March 1869}}
|style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Abraham|Lincoln}}<br>(1861–1865)
|-
|style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Andrew|Johnson}}<br>(1865–1869)
|-
|25
|[[File:Adolph Borie, Brady-Handy bw photo portrait, ca1860-1875.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Adolph E.|Borie}}
|Pennsylvania
|{{dts|9 March 1869}}
|{{dts|25 June 1869}}
|rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Ulysses S.|Grant}}<br>(1869–1877)
|-
|26
|[[File:George Robeson 1865 1880.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|George M.|Robeson}}
|New Jersey
|{{dts|26 June 1869}}
|{{dts|4 March 1877}}
|- 
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{small|Acting}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |[[File:William Faxon.jpg|103x103px]]
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|William|Faxon}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|4 March 1877}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|13 March 1877}}
|rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|Rutherford B.|Hayes}}<br>(1877–1881)
|-
|27
|[[File:RWThompson.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Richard W.|Thompson}}
|[[Indiana]]
|{{dts|13 March 1877}}
|{{dts|20 December 1880}}
|-
|28
|[[File:Nathan Goff, Jr. - Brady-Handy.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Nathan|Goff Jr.}}
|[[West Virginia]]
|{{dts|7 January 1881}}
|{{dts|4 March 1881}}
|-
|rowspan=2 |29
|rowspan=2 |[[File:William-Henry-Hunt.jpg|75px]]
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|William H.|Hunt}}
|rowspan=2 |[[Louisiana]]
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|7 March 1881}}
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|16 April 1882}}
|style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|James A.|Garfield}}<br>(1881)
|-
|rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Chester A.|Arthur}}<br>(1881–1885)
|-
|30
|[[File:Wm Eaton Chandler.jpg|100x100px]]
|{{sortname|William E.|Chandler}}
|New Hampshire
|{{dts|16 April 1882}}
|{{dts|4 March 1885}}
|-
|31
|[[File:William Collins Whitney by Charles Milton Bell c1892.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|William C.|Whitney}}
|New York
|{{dts|7 March 1885}}
|{{dts|4 March 1889}}
|style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Grover|Cleveland}}<br>(1885–1889)
|-
|32
|[[File:BFTracy.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Benjamin F.|Tracy}}
|New York
|{{dts|6 March 1889}}
|{{dts|4 March 1893}}
|style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Benjamin|Harrison}}<br>(1889–1893)
|-
|33
|[[File:Hilary A. Herbert.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Hilary A.|Herbert}}
|[[Alabama]]
|{{dts|7 March 1893}}
|{{dts|4 March 1897}}
|style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Grover|Cleveland}}<br>(1893–1897)
|-
|rowspan=2 |34
|rowspan=2 |[[File:JDLong.jpg|75px]]
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|John Davis|Long}}
|rowspan=2 |Massachusetts
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|6 March 1897}}
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|30 April 1902}}
|style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|William|McKinley}}<br>(1897–1901)
|-
|rowspan=6 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=6 |{{sortname|Theodore|Roosevelt}}<br>(1901–1909)
|-
|35
|[[File:WHMoody.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|William|Moody|William Henry Moody}}
|Massachusetts
|{{dts|1 May 1902}}
|{{dts|30 June 1904}}
|-
|36
|[[File:Paul Morton.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Paul|Morton|dab=politician}}
|[[Illinois]]
|{{dts|1 July 1904}}
|{{dts|30 June 1905}}
|-
|37
|[[File:CJBonaparte.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Charles|Bonaparte|Charles Joseph Bonaparte}}
|Maryland
|{{dts|1 July 1905}}
|{{dts|16 December 1906}}
|-
|38
|[[File:Victor H Metcalf 002.jpg|97x97px]]
|{{sortname|Victor H.|Metcalf}}
|[[California]]
|{{dts|17 December 1906}}
|{{dts|30 November 1908}}
|-
|39
|[[File:Truman Handy Newberry (cropped).jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Truman Handy|Newberry}}
|[[Michigan]]
|{{dts|1 December 1908}}
|{{dts|4 March 1909}}
|-
|40
|[[File:Portrait of George von Lengerke Meyer.jpg|113x113px]]
|{{sortname|George|von Lengerke Meyer}}
|Massachusetts
|{{dts|6 March 1909}}
|{{dts|4 March 1913}}
|style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|William Howard|Taft}}<br>(1909–1913)
|-
|41
|[[File:Josephus Daniels 1.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Josephus|Daniels}}
|North Carolina
|{{dts|5 March 1913}}
|{{dts|4 March 1921}}
|style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Woodrow|Wilson}}<br>(1913–1921)
|-
|rowspan=2 |42
|rowspan=2 |[[File:ECDenby.jpg|75px]]
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Edwin|Denby|dab=politician}}
|rowspan=2 |Michigan
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|6 March 1921}}
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|10 March 1924}}
|style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Warren G.|Harding}}<br>(1921–1923)
|-
|rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|Calvin|Coolidge}}<br>(1923–1929)
|- 
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{small|Acting}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |[[File:LC-DIG-ggbain-37582.jpg|97x97px]]
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|Theodore|Roosevelt Jr.}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|10 March 1924}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|19 March 1924}}
|-
|43
|[[File:Curtis D. Wilbur, (3-24-24) LOC npcc.10863 (cropped).jpg|107x107px]]
|{{sortname|Curtis D.|Wilbur}}
|California
|{{dts|19 March 1924}}
|{{dts|4 March 1929}}
|-
|44
|[[File:Charles Francis AdamsⅢ.jpg|94x94px]]
|{{sortname|Charles Francis|Adams III}}
|Massachusetts
|{{dts|5 March 1929}}
|{{dts|4 March 1933}}
|style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Herbert|Hoover}}<br>(1929–1933)
|-
|45
|[[File:SWANSON, CLAUDE. HONORABLE LCCN2016856629 (3x4a).jpg|100x100px]]
|{{sortname|Claude A.|Swanson}}
|Virginia
|{{dts|4 March 1933}}
|{{dts|7 July 1939}}
|rowspan=7 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=7 |{{sortname|Franklin D.|Roosevelt}}<br>(1933–1945)
|-
|rowspan=2 |46
|rowspan=2 |[[File:Charles Edison.jpg|75px]]
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Charles|Edison}}
|rowspan=2 |New Jersey
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|7 July 1939}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|2 January 1940}}
|-
|{{dts|2 January 1940}}
|{{dts|24 June 1940}}
|-
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{small|Acting}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |[[File:Lewis Compton (Assistant Secretary of the Navy).jpg|75px]]
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|Lewis|Compton}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|24 June 1940}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|11 July 1940}}
|-
|47
|[[File:Frank Knox 1940s portrait.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Frank|Knox}}
|Illinois
|{{dts|11 July 1940}}
|{{dts|28 April 1944}}
|-
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{small|Acting}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |[[File:Ralph A. Bard cph.3a40857.jpg|94x94px]]
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|Ralph Austin|Bard}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|28 April 1944}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|19 May 1944}}
|-
|rowspan=2 |48
|rowspan=2 |[[File:James Forrestal - SecOfDef.jpg|75px]]
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|James|Forrestal}}
|rowspan=2 |New York
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|19 May 1944}}
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|17 September 1947}}
|-
|rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|Harry S.|Truman}}<br>(1945–1953)
|-
|49
|[[File:John L Sullivan SecofNavy.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|John|Sullivan|John L. Sullivan (United States Navy)}}
|New Hampshire
|{{dts|18 September 1947}}
|{{dts|24 May 1949}}
|-
|50
|[[File:Francis P. Matthews.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Francis P.|Matthews}}
|[[Nebraska]]
|{{dts|25 May 1949}}
|{{dts|10 August 1949}}
|}

===Military Department (Department of Defense), 1949–present===
<small>{{legend|#E6E6AA|Denotes an [[acting (law)|Acting]] United States Secretary of the Navy|border=black}}</small>

{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!rowspan=2 |No.
!rowspan=2 |Portrait
!rowspan=2 |Name
!colspan=3 |Term of office
!rowspan=2 colspan=2 |[[President of the United States|President(s)]]
|-
!Start
!End
!Duration
|-
|50
|[[File:Francis P. Matthews.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Francis P.|Matthews}}
|{{dts|10 August 1949}}
|{{dts|31 July 1951}}
|{{age in days|1949|5|25|1951|7|31}}
|rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Harry S.|Truman}}<br>(1945–1953)
|-
|51
|[[File:DanAKimball.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Dan A.|Kimball}}
|{{dts|31 July 1951}}
|{{dts|20 January 1953}}
|{{age in days|1951|7|31|1953|1|20}}
|-
|52
|[[File:80-G-K-14927 Robert B. Anderson.jpg|95x95px]]
|{{sortname|Robert|Anderson|Robert B. Anderson (Texas politician)}}
|{{dts|4 February 1953}}
|{{dts|3 March 1954}}
|{{age in days|1953|2|4|1954|3|3}}
|rowspan=4 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=4 |{{sortname|Dwight D.|Eisenhower}}<br>(1953–1961)
|-
|53
|[[File:CharlesSThomas Cropped.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Charles|Thomas|dab=Secretary of the Navy}}
|{{dts|3 May 1954}}
|{{dts|1 April 1957}}
|{{age in days|1954|5|3|1957|4|1}}
|-
|54
|[[File:Thomas S Gates Jr..jpg|96x96px]]
|{{sortname|Thomas S.|Gates Jr.}}
|{{dts|1 April 1957}}
|{{dts|8 June 1959}}
|{{age in days|1957|4|1|1959|6|8}}
|-
|55
|[[File:K-19407 William B. Franke official portrait (cropped).jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|William B.|Franke}}
|{{dts|8 June 1959}}
|{{dts|19 January 1961}}
|{{age in days|1959|6|8|1961|1|19}}
|-
|56
|[[File:John Connally.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|John|Connally}}
|{{dts|25 January 1961}}
|{{dts|20 December 1961}}
|{{age in days|1961|1|25|1961|12|20}}
|rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|John F.|Kennedy}}<br>(1961–1963)
|-
|57
|[[File:FredKorth.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Fred|Korth}}
|{{dts|4 January 1962}}
|{{dts|1 November 1963}}
|{{age in days|1962|1|4|1963|11|1}}
|-
|rowspan=2 style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{small|Acting}}
|rowspan=2 style="background:#e6e6aa;" |[[File:PaulBFay.jpg|75px]]
|rowspan=2 style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|Paul B.|Fay}}
|rowspan=2 style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|2 November 1963}}
|rowspan=2 style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|28 November 1963}}
|rowspan=2 style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{age in days|1963|11|2|1963|11|28}}
|-
|rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|Lyndon B.|Johnson}}<br>(1963–1969)
|-
|58
|[[File:Nitze, Paul.jpg|95x95px]]
|{{sortname|Paul|Nitze}}
|{{dts|29 November 1963}}
|{{dts|30 June 1967}}
|{{age in days|1963|11|29|1967|6|30}}
|-
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{small|Acting}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|Charles F.|Baird}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|1 July 1967}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|31 August 1967}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{age in days|1967|7|1|1967|8|31}}
|-
|rowspan=2 |59
|rowspan=2 |[[File:Ignatius, Paul Robert.jpg|75px]]
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Paul|Ignatius}}
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|1 September 1967}}
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|24 January 1969}}
|rowspan=2 |{{age in days|1967|9|1|1969|1|24}}
|-
|rowspan=4 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=4 |{{sortname|Richard|Nixon}}<br>(1969–1974)
|-
|60
|[[File:J.L. 3814 John H. Chafee, 1969 (cropped)-2.jpg|94x94px]]
|{{sortname|John|Chafee}}
|{{dts|31 January 1969}}
|{{dts|4 May 1972}}
|{{age in days|1969|1|31|1972|5|4}}
|-
|61
|[[File:John W Warner Sec of Navy.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|John|Warner}}
|{{dts|4 May 1972}}
|{{dts|8 April 1974}}
|{{age in days|1972|5|4|1974|4|8}}
|-
|rowspan=2 |62
|rowspan=2 |[[File:John William Middendorf (1969).jpg|99x99px]]
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|J. William|Middendorf}}
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|8 April 1974}}
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|20 January 1977}}
|rowspan=2 |{{age in days|1974|4|8|1977|1|20}}
|-
|style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Gerald|Ford}}<br>(1974–1977)
|-
|63
|[[File:W. Graham Claytor 1984.jpg|75x75px]]
|{{sortname|W. Graham|Claytor Jr.}}
|{{dts|14 February 1977}}
|{{dts|24 August 1979}}
|{{age in days|1977|2|14|1979|8|24}}
|rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Jimmy|Carter}}<br>(1977–1981)
|-
|64
|[[File:I06944k.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Edward|Hidalgo}}
|{{dts|24 October 1979}}
|{{dts|20 January 1981}}
|{{age in days|1979|10|24|1981|1|20}}
|-
|65
|[[File:John Lehman, official photo as Secretary of the Navy, 1982.JPEG|75px]]
|{{sortname|John|Lehman}}
|{{dts|5 February 1981}}
|{{dts|10 April 1987}}
|{{age in days|1981|2|5|1987|4|10}}
|rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|Ronald|Reagan}}<br>(1981–1989)
|-
|66
|[[File:James Webb, Assistant Secretary of Defense, official photo.JPEG|75px]]
|{{sortname|Jim|Webb}}
|{{dts|1 May 1987}}
|{{dts|23 February 1988}}
|{{age in days|1987|5|1|1988|2|23}}
|-
|rowspan=2 |67
|rowspan=2 |[[File:Secretary of the Navy William Ball.jpg|75px]]
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|William L.|Ball}}
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|28 March 1988}}
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|15 May 1989}}
|rowspan=2 |{{age in days|1988|3|28|1989|5|15}}
|-
|rowspan=5 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=5 |{{sortname|George H. W.|Bush}}<br>(1989–1993)
|-
|68
|[[File:Henry Lawrence Garrett III, official Navy photo, 1987.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Henry L.|Garrett III}}
|{{dts|15 May 1989}}
|{{dts|26 June 1992}}
|{{age in days|1989|5|15|1992|6|26}}
|-
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{small|Acting}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |[[File:J. Daniel Howard, Under Secretary of the Navy (2).jpg|75px]]
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|Daniel|Howard|J. Daniel Howard}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|26 June 1992}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|7 July 1992}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{age in days|1992|6|26|1992|7|7}}
|-
|rowspan=2 |69
|rowspan=2 |[[File:Sean O'Keefe, official Navy photo, 1992.jpg|75px]]
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Sean|O'Keefe}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|7 July 1992}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|2 October 1992}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{age in days|1992|7|7|1992|10|2}}
|-
|{{dts|2 October 1992}}
|{{dts|20 January 1993}}
|{{age in days|1992|10|2|1993|1|20}}
|-
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{small|Acting}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |[[File:Admiral Frank Kelso, official military photo.JPEG|75px]]
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|Frank|Kelso}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|20 January 1993}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|21 July 1993}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{age in days|1993|1|20|1993|7|21}}
|rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|Bill|Clinton}}<br>(1993–2001)
|-
|70
|[[File:DaltonJohn.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|John H.|Dalton}}
|{{dts|22 July 1993}}
|{{dts|16 November 1998}}
|{{age in days|1993|7|22|1998|11|16}}
|-
|71
|[[File:Richard Danzig, official Navy photo.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Richard|Danzig}}
|{{dts|16 November 1998}}
|{{dts|20 January 2001}}
|{{age in days|1998|11|16|2001|1|20}}
|-
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{small|Acting}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |[[File:Robert Pirie, official photo portrait, circa 2001.jpg|75px]]
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|Robert B.|Pirie Jr.}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|20 January 2001}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|24 May 2001}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{age in days|2001|1|20|2001|5|24}}
|rowspan=7 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=7 |{{sortname|George W.|Bush}}<br>(2001–2009)
|-
|72<!-- Gordon R. England was sworn in as the 72nd and 73rd Secretary of the Navy -->
|[[File:Gordon England portrait.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Gordon R.|England}}
|{{dts|24 May 2001}}
|{{dts|30 January 2003}}
|{{age in days|2001|5|24|2003|1|30}}
|-
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{small|Acting}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |[[File:US Navy 030202-N-0000X-001 Under Secretary of the Navy.jpg|75px]]
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|Susan|Livingstone}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|30 January 2003}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|7 February 2003}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{age in days|2003|1|30|2003|2|7}}
|-
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{small|Acting}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |[[File:US Navy 030402-N-0000X-001 Secretary of the Navy Hansford T. Johnson (Acting).jpg|75px]]
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|Hansford T.|Johnson}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|7 February 2003}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|30 September 2003}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{age in days|2003|2|7|2003|9|30}}
|-
|73<!-- Gordon R. England was sworn in as the 72nd and 73rd Secretary of the Navy -->
|[[File:Gordon England portrait.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Gordon R.|England}}
|{{dts|1 October 2003}}
|{{dts|29 December 2005}}<ref name="aviles">{{cite web|author=Staff reporter|title=Acting Deputy Defense Secretary Relinquishes Top Navy Post|publisher=American Forces Press Service|date=29 December 2005|url=http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=18435|access-date=18 May 2009|quote=Navy Undersecretary Dionel M. Aviles will serve as acting Navy secretary effective today. Donald Winter, who was confirmed by the Senate last month, will be sworn in as the 74th secretary of the Navy on Jan. 3.|archive-date=27 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090527042630/http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=45422|url-status=live}}</ref>
|{{age in days|2003|10|1|2005|12|29}}
|-
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{small|Acting}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |[[File:AvilesDionel.jpg|75px]]
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|Dionel M.|Aviles}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|29 December 2005}}<ref name="aviles"/> 
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|3 January 2006}}<ref name="aviles"/>
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{age in days|2005|12|29|2006|1|3}}
|-
|rowspan=2 |74
|rowspan=2 |[[File:Donald Winter, official photo as Secretary of the Navy, 2006.jpg|75px]]
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Donald C.|Winter}}
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|3 January 2006}}<ref name="aviles"/> 
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|13 March 2009}}<ref name="resign">{{cite press release|title=Navy Secretary Departs Office|publisher=United States Department of Defense|date=13 March 2009|url=http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=12554|access-date=18 May 2009|quote=The 74th Secretary of the Navy, Donald C. Winter, resigned his office today as planned. Winter had agreed to remain in office until March 13, 2009, to ease the transition of the Department of Defense. [...] BJ Penn will be the acting Secretary of the Navy until the Senate confirms a nominee chosen by President Barack Obama.|archive-date=9 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090509020548/http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=12554|url-status=live}}</ref>
|rowspan=2 |{{age in days|2006|1|3|2009|3|13}}
|-
|rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|Barack|Obama}}<br>(2009–2017)
|-
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{small|Acting}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |[[File:PennBJ.jpg|75px]]
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|B. J.|Penn|dab=United States Navy}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|13 March 2009}}<ref name="resign"/> 
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|19 May 2009}}<ref name="ray">{{cite web|author=Staff reporter|title=Mabus Sworn in as New Navy Secretary|publisher=NNS|date=19 May 2005|url=http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=18435|access-date=20 May 2009|quote=Ray Mabus, former Mississippi governor and U.S. ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, was sworn in May 19 as the 75th secretary of the Navy.|archive-date=27 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090527042630/http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=45422|url-status=live}} (Archived by WebCite at [https://web.archive.org/web/20090527042630/http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=45422 WebCite])</ref>
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{age in days|2009|3|13|2009|5|19}}
|-
|75
|[[File:SECNAV-Mabus-OfficialPhoto2-2014.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Ray|Mabus}}
|{{dts|19 May 2009}}<ref name="resign"/> 
|{{dts|20 January 2017}}
|{{age in days|2009|5|19|2017|1|20}}
|-
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{small|Acting}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |[[File:Sean J. Stackley.jpg|75px]]
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|Sean|Stackley}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|20 January 2017}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|3 August 2017}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{age in days|2017|1|20|2017|8|3}}
|rowspan=7 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=7 |{{sortname|Donald|Trump}}<br>(2017–2021)
|-
|76
|[[File:Richard V. Spencer.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Richard V.|Spencer}}
|{{dts|3 August 2017}}
|{{dts|15 July 2019}}
|{{age in days|2017|8|3|2019|7|15}}
|-
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{small|Acting}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |[[File:Thomas B. Modly.jpg|75px]]
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|Thomas|Modly}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|15 July 2019}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|31 July 2019}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{age in days|2019|7|15|2019|7|31}}
|-
|76
|[[File:Richard V. Spencer.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Richard V.|Spencer}}
|{{dts|31 July 2019}}
|{{dts|24 November 2019}}
|{{age in days|2019|7|31|2019|11|24}}
|-
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{small|Acting}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |[[File:Thomas B. Modly.jpg|75px]]
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|Thomas|Modly}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|24 November 2019}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|7 April 2020}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{age in days|2019|11|24|2020|4|7}}
|-
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{small|Acting}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |[[File:James McPherson Acting Navy Secretary.jpg|75px]]
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|James E.|McPherson}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|7 April 2020}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|29 May 2020}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{age in days|2020|4|7|2020|5|29}}
|-
|77
|[[File:Kenneth J. Braithwaite II official photo.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Kenneth|Braithwaite}}
|{{dts|29 May 2020}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Kenneth Braithwaite Sworn in as Secretary of the Navy|url=https://news.usni.org/2020/05/29/kenneth-braithwaite-sworn-in-as-secretary-of-the-navy|date=2020-05-29|website=USNI News|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-30|archive-date=3 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603165808/https://news.usni.org/2020/05/29/kenneth-braithwaite-sworn-in-as-secretary-of-the-navy|url-status=live}}</ref>
|{{dts|20 January 2021}}
|{{age in days|2020|5|29|2021|1|20}}
|-
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{small|Acting}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |[[File:Thomas W. Harker official photo.jpg|75px]]
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|Thomas|Harker}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|20 January 2021}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|9 August 2021}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{age in days|2021|1|20|2021|8|9}}
|rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Joe|Biden}}<br>(2021–2025)
|-
|78
|[[File:Carlos Del Toro SECNAV portrait.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Carlos|Del Toro}}
|{{dts|9 August 2021}}
|{{dts|20 January 2025}}
|{{age in days|2021|8|9|2025|1|20}}
|-
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{small|Acting}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |[[File:Terence G. Emmert (2).jpg|75px]]
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|Terence|Emmert}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|20 January 2025}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|25 March 2025}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{age in days|2025|1|20|2025|3|25}}
|rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=2|{{sortname|Donald|Trump}}<br>(2025–present)
|-
|79
|[[File:Secretary of Navy John Phelan.png|75px]]
|{{sortname|John|Phelan|dab=businessman}}
|{{dts|25 March 2025}}
|Incumbent
|{{age in days|2025|3|25}}
|}

==See also==
* [[Military awards of the United States Department of the Navy]]
* [[Secretary of the Navy Council of Review Boards]]
* [[Stephen Mallory]], the only [[Confederate States Secretary of the Navy|Secretary of the Navy]] of the [[Confederate States of America]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|United States Secretaries of the Navy}}
* {{Official website|http://www.secnav.navy.mil}}

{{USSecNavy}}
{{Current US Department of Defense Secretaries}}
{{US Department of Defense Secretaries}}
{{US Cabinet leaders}}
{{US military navbox}}
{{US Navy navbox}}
{{US Marine Corps navbox}}
{{Government of the United States under the Articles of Confederation}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:United States Secretary Of The Navy}}

[[Category:Lists of members of the Cabinet of the United States|Navy]]
[[Category:Office of the Secretary of the Navy|*S]]
[[Category:United States Navy civilians|*Secretary of the Navy]]
[[Category:United States secretaries of the navy| ]]