Editing Chief of Naval Operations (section)

==Appointment, rank, and responsibilities==
[[File:US Navy 061205-N-0696M-018 Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Mike Mullen meets with former Navy Chiefs at a CNO Conference at the Pentagon.jpg|thumb|[[Michael Mullen]],  CNO in December 2006, with some of his predecessors: [[Vern Clark]], [[James D. Watkins]], [[Thomas B. Hayward]], and [[Jay L. Johnson]]]]
The chief of naval operations (CNO) is typically the highest-ranking officer on [[active duty]] in the U.S. Navy unless the [[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff|chairman]] and/or the [[Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff|vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]] are naval officers.<ref name="a"/> The CNO is nominated for appointment by the president, for a four-year term of office,<ref name="CNO" /> and must be confirmed by the [[United States Senate|Senate]].<ref name="CNO">{{cite web|title=10 USC 5033. Chief of Naval Operations|url= https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/5033-|access-date=24 September 2007}}</ref> A requirement for being Chief of Naval Operations is having significant experience in joint duty assignments, which includes at least one full tour of duty in a joint duty assignment as a flag officer.<ref name="CNO"/> However, the president may waive those requirements if he determines that appointing the officer is necessary for the national interest.<ref name="CNO"/> The chief can be reappointed to serve one additional term, but only during times of war or national emergency declared by Congress.<ref name="CNO" /> By statute, the CNO is appointed as a four-star [[Admiral (United States)|admiral]].<ref name="CNO"/>

As per {{UnitedStatesCode|10|8035}}, whenever there is a vacancy for the chief of naval operations or during the absence or disability of the chief of naval operations, and unless the president directs otherwise, the [[Vice Chief of Naval Operations|vice chief of naval operations]] performs the duties of the chief of naval operations until a successor is appointed or the absence or disability ceases.<ref>{{cite web |title=10 USC 5035. Vice Chief of Naval Operations |url= https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/5035 |access-date= 25 August 2018 |website=[[Legal Information Institute]] |publisher=Cornell University Law School}}</ref>

===Department of the Navy===
The CNO also performs all other functions prescribed under {{UnitedStatesCode|10|8033}}, such as presiding over the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV), exercising supervision of [[Structure of the United States Navy|Navy organizations]], and other duties assigned by the secretary or higher lawful authority, or the CNO delegates those duties and responsibilities to other officers in OPNAV or in organizations below.<ref name="a">{{cite web |publisher= United States Navy |title= Chief of Naval Operations |url= http://www.navy.mil/navydata/leadership/cno_resp.asp |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060402220158/https://www.navy.mil/navydata/leadership/cno_resp.asp |url-status= dead |archive-date= 2 April 2006 |access-date= 31 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="authority"/>

Acting for the secretary of the Navy, the CNO also designates naval personnel and naval forces available to the commanders of [[unified combatant command]]s, subject to the approval of the secretary of defense.<ref name="authority">{{cite web| url = https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/5013-#f| title = 10 USC 5013(f). Secretary of the Navy}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/165-| title = 10 USC 165. Combatant commands: administration and support}}</ref>

===Joint Chiefs of Staff===
The CNO is a member of the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]] as prescribed by {{UnitedStatesCode|10|151}} and {{UnitedStatesCode|10|8033}}. Like the other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the CNO is an administrative position, with no operational command authority over the United States Navy forces.

Members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, individually or collectively, in their capacity as military advisers, shall provide advice to the president, the [[National Security Council (United States)|National Security Council]] (NSC), or the secretary of defense (SECDEF) on a particular matter when the president, the NSC, or SECDEF requests such advice. Members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (other than the [[chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]]) may submit to the chairman advice or an opinion in disagreement with, or advice or an opinion in addition to, the advice presented by the chairman to the president, NSC, or SECDEF.

When performing her JCS duties, the CNO is responsible directly to the SECDEF, but keeps SECNAV fully informed of significant military operations affecting the duties and responsibilities of the SECNAV, unless SECDEF orders otherwise.<ref>{{cite web |title=10 USC 5033. Chief of Naval Operations |url= https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/5033 |access-date= 25 August 2018 |website=[[Legal Information Institute]] |publisher=Cornell University Law School}}</ref>