Editing Chief of Naval Operations (section)

====Achievements====

Among the organizational efforts initiated or recommended by Benson included an advisory council to coordinate high-level staff activities,{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=31}} composed of himself, the SECNAV and the bureau chiefs which "worked out to the great satisfaction" of Daniels and Benson;{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=31}} the reestablishment of the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff#Joint Board|Joint Army and Navy Board]] in 1918 with Benson as its Navy member;<ref>the final form of which was agreed by Daniels and the [[United States Secretary of War|secretary of war]], [[Newton D. Baker]]</ref>{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=31}} and the consolidation of all matters of [[naval aviation]] under the authority of the CNO.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=31}}

Benson also revamped the structure of the [[United States naval districts|naval districts]],{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=31}} transferring authority for them from SECNAV to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations under the Operations, Plans, Naval Districts division.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=33}} This enabled closer cooperation between naval district commanders and the uniformed leadership, who could more easily handle communications between the former and the Navy's fleet commanders.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=33}}

In the waning years of his tenure, Benson set regulations for officers on shore duty to have temporary assignments with the [[Structure of the United States Navy|Office of the Chief of Naval Operations]] to maintain cohesion between the higher-level staff and the fleet.{{sfn|Hone|Utz|p=47}}