Chief of Naval Operations: appointment; term of office; powers; duties

§ 5081. Chief of Naval Operations: appointment; term of office; powers; duties (a) There is a Chief of Naval Operations, appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, for a term of not more than four years, from officers on the active list in the line of the Navy eligible to command at sea and not below the grade of rear admiral. (b) The Chief of Naval Operations, while so serving, has the rank of admiral. He takes precedence above all other officers of the naval 282 service, except an officer of the naval service who is serving as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. (c) The Chief of Naval Operations commands the operating forces and is responsible to the Secretary of the Navy for their use, including their training, readiness, and preparation for war, and plans therefor. Orders issued by the Chief of Naval Operations in performing the duties assigned him shall be performed under the authority of the Secretary and are considered as coming from the Secretary. (d) The Chief of Naval Operations is the principal naval adviser to the President and to the Secretary of the Navy on the conduct of war, and the principal naval adviser and naval executive to the Secretary on the conduct of the activities of the Department of the Navy. (e) The term “operating forces” as used in this section and section 5082 of this title means the several fleets, sea-going forces, sea-frontier forces, district forces, and such of the shore establishment of the Navy and other forces and activities as may be assigned thereto by the President or the Secretary of the Navy.