Assistant Secretary of the Navy (abbrev. "ASN") is the title given to certain senior officials in the U.S. Department of the Navy. They serve as chief assistants to the Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV). As of 2004, there are four Assistant Secretaries of the Navy:
The Assistant Secretaries report to the Under Secretary of the Navy, the Navy's number-two civilian officer.
The General Counsel of the Department of the Navy is on the same organizational level as the Assistant Secretaries, and also reports to the Under Secretary.
History
The Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy was established in 1861, to provide a senior deputy to the Secretary. The Assistant Secretary was responsible for the Navy's civilian personnel, as well as for administration of shore facilities (such as naval bases and shipyards). The office was disestablished in 1869, during Reconstruction, but was reestablished by Congress on July 11, 1890.
The Assistant Secretary was the Navy's number-two civilian until 1940, when Congress established the position of Under Secretary of the Navy , who was given oversight of the Assistant Secretary's activities. James V. Forrestal, later Secretary of Defense, was the first to serve as Under Secretary; he held the post until 1944, when he became Secretary of the Navy.
During the 20th century, the responsibilities of the Assistant Secretary were divided among several officials. During the 1920's, for example, to reflect the increasing importance of naval aviation, Congress established the position of Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Air.
Famous Assistant Secretaries of the Navy
See Also
Web Links
Last updated: 06-02-2005 05:58:18
Last updated: 08-16-2005 05:14:31
