United States Secretary of the Navy

United States Secretary of the Navy
United States Secretary of the Navy
	Seal of the Department of the Navy
	Flag of the secretary
	Incumbent; John Phelan; since 25 March 2025
	Department of the Navy
Style	Mister Secretary; The Honorable (formally)
Abbreviation	SECNAV
Reports to	Secretary of Defense; Deputy Secretary of Defense
Appointer	The President,; with Senate advice and consent
Constituting instrument	10 U.S.C. § 8013
Formation	18 June 1798; 227 years ago
First holder	Benjamin Stoddert
Succession	3rd in SecDef succession
Deputy	The Under Secretary; (Principal Civilian Deputy); Chief of Naval Operations; (Navy Advisor and Deputy); The Commandant; (Marine Corps Advisor and Deputy)
Salary	Executive Schedule, level II
Website	www.secnav.navy.mil

The United States Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) is the civilian head of the Department of the Navy. The position was a member of the President's Cabinet until 1947, when the Navy, Army, and newly created Air Force were placed in the Department of Defense and the Secretary of the Navy was placed under the Secretary of Defense.

Secretaries of the Navy

Denotes acting secretaries^[1]

Continental Congress

Position	Name	Term of office
Chairman of the Marine Committee	John Adams	13 October 1775 – 1779
Member of the Marine Committee	John Langdon	13 October 1775–?
Member of the Marine Committee	Silas Deane	13 October 1775–?
Member of the Marine Committee	Joseph Hewes	1775^[2]
Continental Navy Board (under Marine Committee)		6 November 1776 – 28 October 1779
Chairman of the Continental Board of Admiralty	Francis Lewis	December 1779 – 1780
Secretary of Marine	Alexander McDougall	7 February 1781 – 29 August 1781
Agent of Marine (devolved onto Superintendent of Finance)	Robert Morris	29 August 1781 – 1784^[3]

(Post of Secretary of Marine created but remained vacant)

Executive Department, 1798–1949

Denotes an Acting United States Secretary of the Navy

No.	Name	State	Start	End
1	Stoddert, BenjaminBenjamin Stoddert	Maryland	18 June 1798	31 March 1801	Adams, JohnJohn Adams (1797–1801)
1	Stoddert, BenjaminBenjamin Stoddert	Maryland	18 June 1798	31 March 1801	Jefferson, ThomasThomas Jefferson (1801–1809)
2	Smith, RobertRobert Smith	Maryland	27 July 1801	4 March 1809	Jefferson, ThomasThomas Jefferson (1801–1809)
3	Hamilton, PaulPaul Hamilton	South Carolina	15 May 1809	31 December 1812	Madison, JamesJames Madison (1809–1817)
4	Jones, WilliamWilliam Jones	Pennsylvania	19 January 1813	1 December 1814
5	Crowninshield, BenjaminBenjamin Crowninshield	Massachusetts	16 January 1815	30 September 1818
5	Crowninshield, BenjaminBenjamin Crowninshield	Massachusetts	16 January 1815	30 September 1818	Monroe, JamesJames Monroe (1817–1825)
6	Thompson, SmithSmith Thompson	New York	1 January 1819	31 August 1823
7	Southard, Samuel L.Samuel L. Southard	New Jersey	16 September 1823	4 March 1829
7	Southard, Samuel L.Samuel L. Southard	New Jersey	16 September 1823	4 March 1829	Adams, John QuincyJohn Quincy Adams (1825–1829)
8	Branch, JohnJohn Branch	North Carolina	9 March 1829	12 May 1831	Jackson, AndrewAndrew Jackson (1829–1837)
9	Woodbury, LeviLevi Woodbury	New Hampshire	23 May 1831	30 June 1834
10	Dickerson, MahlonMahlon Dickerson	New Jersey	1 July 1834	30 June 1838
10	Dickerson, MahlonMahlon Dickerson	New Jersey	1 July 1834	30 June 1838	Van Buren, MartinMartin Van Buren (1837–1841)
11	Paulding, James K.James K. Paulding	New York	1 July 1838	4 March 1841	Van Buren, MartinMartin Van Buren (1837–1841)
12	Badger, George E.George E. Badger	North Carolina	6 March 1841	11 September 1841	Harrison, William HenryWilliam Henry Harrison (1841)
12	Badger, George E.George E. Badger	North Carolina	6 March 1841	11 September 1841	Tyler, JohnJohn Tyler (1841–1845)
13	Upshur, Abel P.Abel P. Upshur	Virginia	11 October 1841	23 July 1843
14	Henshaw, DavidDavid Henshaw	Massachusetts	24 July 1843	18 February 1844
15	Gilmer, Thomas W.Thomas W. Gilmer	Virginia	19 February 1844	28 February 1844
16	Mason, John Y.John Y. Mason	Virginia	26 March 1844	4 March 1845
17	Bancroft, GeorgeGeorge Bancroft	Massachusetts	11 March 1845	9 September 1846	Polk, James K.James K. Polk (1845–1849)
18	Mason, John Y.John Y. Mason	Virginia	10 September 1846	4 March 1849	Polk, James K.James K. Polk (1845–1849)
19	Preston, William B.William B. Preston	Virginia	8 March 1849	22 July 1850	Taylor, ZacharyZachary Taylor (1849–1850)
20	Graham, WilliamWilliam Graham	North Carolina	2 August 1850	25 July 1852	Fillmore, MillardMillard Fillmore (1850–1853)
21	Kennedy, John P.John P. Kennedy	Maryland	26 July 1852	4 March 1853	Fillmore, MillardMillard Fillmore (1850–1853)
22	Dobbin, James C.James C. Dobbin	North Carolina	8 March 1853	4 March 1857	Pierce, FranklinFranklin Pierce (1853–1857)
23	Toucey, IsaacIsaac Toucey	Connecticut	7 March 1857	4 March 1861	Buchanan, JamesJames Buchanan (1857–1861)
24	Welles, GideonGideon Welles	Connecticut	7 March 1861	4 March 1869	Lincoln, AbrahamAbraham Lincoln (1861–1865)
24	Welles, GideonGideon Welles	Connecticut	7 March 1861	4 March 1869	Johnson, AndrewAndrew Johnson (1865–1869)
25	Borie, Adolph E.Adolph E. Borie	Pennsylvania	9 March 1869	25 June 1869	Grant, Ulysses S.Ulysses S. Grant (1869–1877)
26	Robeson, George M.George M. Robeson	New Jersey	26 June 1869	4 March 1877	Grant, Ulysses S.Ulysses S. Grant (1869–1877)
Acting	Faxon, WilliamWilliam Faxon		4 March 1877	13 March 1877	Hayes, Rutherford B.Rutherford B. Hayes (1877–1881)
27	Thompson, Richard W.Richard W. Thompson	Indiana	13 March 1877	20 December 1880
28	Goff Jr., NathanNathan Goff Jr.	West Virginia	7 January 1881	4 March 1881
29	Hunt, William H.William H. Hunt	Louisiana	7 March 1881	16 April 1882	Garfield, James A.James A. Garfield (1881)
29	Hunt, William H.William H. Hunt	Louisiana	7 March 1881	16 April 1882	Arthur, Chester A.Chester A. Arthur (1881–1885)
30	Chandler, William E.William E. Chandler	New Hampshire	16 April 1882	4 March 1885	Arthur, Chester A.Chester A. Arthur (1881–1885)
31	Whitney, William C.William C. Whitney	New York	7 March 1885	4 March 1889	Cleveland, GroverGrover Cleveland (1885–1889)
32	Tracy, Benjamin F.Benjamin F. Tracy	New York	6 March 1889	4 March 1893	Harrison, BenjaminBenjamin Harrison (1889–1893)
33	Herbert, Hilary A.Hilary A. Herbert	Alabama	7 March 1893	4 March 1897	Cleveland, GroverGrover Cleveland (1893–1897)
34	Long, John DavisJohn Davis Long	Massachusetts	6 March 1897	30 April 1902	McKinley, WilliamWilliam McKinley (1897–1901)
34	Long, John DavisJohn Davis Long	Massachusetts	6 March 1897	30 April 1902	Roosevelt, TheodoreTheodore Roosevelt (1901–1909)
35	Moody, WilliamWilliam Moody	Massachusetts	1 May 1902	30 June 1904
36	Morton, PaulPaul Morton	Illinois	1 July 1904	30 June 1905
37	Bonaparte, CharlesCharles Bonaparte	Maryland	1 July 1905	16 December 1906
38	Metcalf, Victor H.Victor H. Metcalf	California	17 December 1906	30 November 1908
39	Newberry, Truman HandyTruman Handy Newberry	Michigan	1 December 1908	4 March 1909
40	von Lengerke Meyer, GeorgeGeorge von Lengerke Meyer	Massachusetts	6 March 1909	4 March 1913	Taft, William HowardWilliam Howard Taft (1909–1913)
41	Daniels, JosephusJosephus Daniels	North Carolina	5 March 1913	4 March 1921	Wilson, WoodrowWoodrow Wilson (1913–1921)
42	Denby, EdwinEdwin Denby	Michigan	6 March 1921	10 March 1924	Harding, Warren G.Warren G. Harding (1921–1923)
42	Denby, EdwinEdwin Denby	Michigan	6 March 1921	10 March 1924	Coolidge, CalvinCalvin Coolidge (1923–1929)
Acting	Roosevelt Jr., TheodoreTheodore Roosevelt Jr.		10 March 1924	19 March 1924
43	Wilbur, Curtis D.Curtis D. Wilbur	California	19 March 1924	4 March 1929
44	Adams III, Charles FrancisCharles Francis Adams III	Massachusetts	5 March 1929	4 March 1933	Hoover, HerbertHerbert Hoover (1929–1933)
45	Swanson, Claude A.Claude A. Swanson	Virginia	4 March 1933	7 July 1939	Roosevelt, Franklin D.Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933–1945)
46	Edison, CharlesCharles Edison	New Jersey	7 July 1939	2 January 1940
46	Edison, CharlesCharles Edison	New Jersey	2 January 1940	24 June 1940
Acting	Compton, LewisLewis Compton		24 June 1940	11 July 1940
47	Knox, FrankFrank Knox	Illinois	11 July 1940	28 April 1944
Acting	Bard, Ralph AustinRalph Austin Bard		28 April 1944	19 May 1944
48	Forrestal, JamesJames Forrestal	New York	19 May 1944	17 September 1947
48	Forrestal, JamesJames Forrestal	New York	19 May 1944	17 September 1947	Truman, Harry S.Harry S. Truman (1945–1953)
49	Sullivan, JohnJohn Sullivan	New Hampshire	18 September 1947	24 May 1949
50	Matthews, Francis P.Francis P. Matthews	Nebraska	25 May 1949	10 August 1949

Military Department (Department of Defense), 1949–present

Denotes an Acting United States Secretary of the Navy

No.	Portrait	Name	Term of office			President(s)
No.	Portrait	Name	Start	End	Duration	President(s)
50		Matthews, Francis P.Francis P. Matthews	10 August 1949	31 July 1951	797		Truman, Harry S.Harry S. Truman (1945–1953)
51		Kimball, Dan A.Dan A. Kimball	31 July 1951	20 January 1953	539		Truman, Harry S.Harry S. Truman (1945–1953)
52		Anderson, RobertRobert Anderson	4 February 1953	3 March 1954	392		Eisenhower, Dwight D.Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953–1961)
53		Thomas, CharlesCharles Thomas	3 May 1954	1 April 1957	1064
54		Gates Jr., Thomas S.Thomas S. Gates Jr.	1 April 1957	8 June 1959	798
55		Franke, William B.William B. Franke	8 June 1959	19 January 1961	591
56		Connally, JohnJohn Connally	25 January 1961	20 December 1961	329		Kennedy, John F.John F. Kennedy (1961–1963)
57		Korth, FredFred Korth	4 January 1962	1 November 1963	666		Kennedy, John F.John F. Kennedy (1961–1963)
Acting		Fay, Paul B.Paul B. Fay	2 November 1963	28 November 1963	26
Acting		Fay, Paul B.Paul B. Fay	2 November 1963	28 November 1963	26		Johnson, Lyndon B.Lyndon B. Johnson (1963–1969)
58		Nitze, PaulPaul Nitze	29 November 1963	30 June 1967	1309
Acting		Baird, Charles F.Charles F. Baird	1 July 1967	31 August 1967	61
59		Ignatius, PaulPaul Ignatius	1 September 1967	24 January 1969	511
59		Ignatius, PaulPaul Ignatius	1 September 1967	24 January 1969	511		Nixon, RichardRichard Nixon (1969–1974)
60		Chafee, JohnJohn Chafee	31 January 1969	4 May 1972	1189
61		Warner, JohnJohn Warner	4 May 1972	8 April 1974	704
62		Middendorf, J. WilliamJ. William Middendorf	8 April 1974	20 January 1977	1018
62		Middendorf, J. WilliamJ. William Middendorf	8 April 1974	20 January 1977	1018		Ford, GeraldGerald Ford (1974–1977)
63		Claytor Jr., W. GrahamW. Graham Claytor Jr.	14 February 1977	24 August 1979	921		Carter, JimmyJimmy Carter (1977–1981)
64		Hidalgo, EdwardEdward Hidalgo	24 October 1979	20 January 1981	454		Carter, JimmyJimmy Carter (1977–1981)
65		Lehman, JohnJohn Lehman	5 February 1981	10 April 1987	2255		Reagan, RonaldRonald Reagan (1981–1989)
66		Webb, JimJim Webb	1 May 1987	23 February 1988	298
67		Ball, William L.William L. Ball	28 March 1988	15 May 1989	413
67		Ball, William L.William L. Ball	28 March 1988	15 May 1989	413		Bush, George H. W.George H. W. Bush (1989–1993)
68		Garrett III, Henry L.Henry L. Garrett III	15 May 1989	26 June 1992	1138
Acting		Howard, DanielDaniel Howard	26 June 1992	7 July 1992	11
69		O'Keefe, SeanSean O'Keefe	7 July 1992	2 October 1992	87
69		O'Keefe, SeanSean O'Keefe	2 October 1992	20 January 1993	110
Acting		Kelso, FrankFrank Kelso	20 January 1993	21 July 1993	182		Clinton, BillBill Clinton (1993–2001)
70		Dalton, John H.John H. Dalton	22 July 1993	16 November 1998	1943
71		Danzig, RichardRichard Danzig	16 November 1998	20 January 2001	796
Acting		Pirie Jr., Robert B.Robert B. Pirie Jr.	20 January 2001	24 May 2001	124		Bush, George W.George W. Bush (2001–2009)
72		England, Gordon R.Gordon R. England	24 May 2001	30 January 2003	616
Acting		Livingstone, SusanSusan Livingstone	30 January 2003	7 February 2003	8
Acting		Johnson, Hansford T.Hansford T. Johnson	7 February 2003	30 September 2003	235
73		England, Gordon R.Gordon R. England	1 October 2003	29 December 2005^[4]	820
Acting		Aviles, Dionel M.Dionel M. Aviles	29 December 2005^[4]	3 January 2006^[4]	5
74		Winter, Donald C.Donald C. Winter	3 January 2006^[4]	13 March 2009^[5]	1165
74		Winter, Donald C.Donald C. Winter	3 January 2006^[4]	13 March 2009^[5]	1165		Obama, BarackBarack Obama (2009–2017)
Acting		Penn, B. J.B. J. Penn	13 March 2009^[5]	19 May 2009^[6]	67
75		Mabus, RayRay Mabus	19 May 2009^[5]	20 January 2017	2803
Acting		Stackley, SeanSean Stackley	20 January 2017	3 August 2017	195		Trump, DonaldDonald Trump (2017–2021)
76		Spencer, Richard V.Richard V. Spencer	3 August 2017	15 July 2019	711
Acting		Modly, ThomasThomas Modly	15 July 2019	31 July 2019	16
76		Spencer, Richard V.Richard V. Spencer	31 July 2019	24 November 2019	116
Acting		Modly, ThomasThomas Modly	24 November 2019	7 April 2020	135
Acting		McPherson, James E.James E. McPherson	7 April 2020	29 May 2020	52
77		Braithwaite, KennethKenneth Braithwaite	29 May 2020^[7]	20 January 2021	236
Acting		Harker, ThomasThomas Harker	20 January 2021	9 August 2021	201		Biden, JoeJoe Biden (2021–2025)
78		Del Toro, CarlosCarlos Del Toro	9 August 2021	20 January 2025	1260		Biden, JoeJoe Biden (2021–2025)
Acting		Emmert, TerenceTerence Emmert	20 January 2025	25 March 2025	64		Trump, DonaldDonald Trump (2025–present)
79		Phelan, JohnJohn Phelan	25 March 2025	Incumbent	273		Trump, DonaldDonald Trump (2025–present)

United States Secretary Of The Navy Media

Secretary of the Navy, Robert Smith
Secretary of the Navy, Paul Hamilton.

References

""Department of the Navy, Office of the General Counsel (DON-OGC) - OGC History"". Archived from the original on July 24, 2007. Retrieved September 23, 2007.

↑ "Department of the Navy, Office of the General Counsel (DON-OGC) – OGC History". Archived from the original on 2007-07-24. Retrieved 2007-09-23.
↑ Joseph Hewes Archived 10 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval Historical and Heritage Command.
↑ Benson J. Lossing. Household History for All Readers Archived 30 June 2016 at the Wayback Machine. 1877. Republished in Our Country vol. 2
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 ^4.2 ^4.3 Staff reporter (29 December 2005). "Acting Deputy Defense Secretary Relinquishes Top Navy Post". American Forces Press Service. Archived from the original on 27 May 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2009. 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.
↑ ^5.0 ^5.1 ^5.2 United States Department of Defense (13 March 2009). "Navy Secretary Departs Office". Press release. http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=12554. Retrieved 18 May 2009. "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."
↑ Staff reporter (19 May 2005). "Mabus Sworn in as New Navy Secretary". NNS. Archived from the original on 27 May 2009. Retrieved 20 May 2009. 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. (Archived by WebCite at WebCite)
↑ "Kenneth Braithwaite Sworn in as Secretary of the Navy". USNI News. 2020-05-29. Archived from the original on 3 June 2020. Retrieved 2020-05-30.

[1] "Department of the Navy, Office of the General Counsel (DON-OGC) – OGC History". Archived from the original on 2007-07-24. Retrieved 2007-09-23.

[2] Joseph Hewes Archived 10 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval Historical and Heritage Command.

[3] Benson J. Lossing. Household History for All Readers Archived 30 June 2016 at the Wayback Machine. 1877. Republished in Our Country vol. 2

[aviles-4] 4.0 ^4.1 ^4.2 ^4.3 Staff reporter (29 December 2005). "Acting Deputy Defense Secretary Relinquishes Top Navy Post". American Forces Press Service. Archived from the original on 27 May 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2009. 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.

[resign-5] 5.0 ^5.1 ^5.2 United States Department of Defense (13 March 2009). "Navy Secretary Departs Office". Press release. http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=12554. Retrieved 18 May 2009. "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."

[ray-6] Staff reporter (19 May 2005). "Mabus Sworn in as New Navy Secretary". NNS. Archived from the original on 27 May 2009. Retrieved 20 May 2009. 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. (Archived by WebCite at WebCite)

[7] "Kenneth Braithwaite Sworn in as Secretary of the Navy". USNI News. 2020-05-29. Archived from the original on 3 June 2020. Retrieved 2020-05-30.

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United States Secretary of the Navy
Seal of the Department of the Navy
Flag of the secretary
Incumbent John Phelan since 25 March 2025
Department of the Navy
Style	Mister Secretary The Honorable (formally)
Abbreviation	SECNAV
Reports to	Secretary of Defense Deputy Secretary of Defense
Appointer	The President, with Senate advice and consent
Constituting instrument	10 U.S.C. § 8013
Formation	18 June 1798; 227 years ago (18 June 1798)
First holder	Benjamin Stoddert
Succession	3rd in SecDef succession
Deputy	The Under Secretary (Principal Civilian Deputy) Chief of Naval Operations (Navy Advisor and Deputy) The Commandant (Marine Corps Advisor and Deputy)
Salary	Executive Schedule, level II
Website	www.secnav.navy.mil