SOTH CONG., 2 D SESS.-CH. 98---MA . 5 1948 67 activities, and the personnel who man them-and the naval agencies necessary to support and maintain the naval forces and to administer the Navy as a whole; the Marine Corps, and in time of war or when the President shall so direct, the Coast Guard, are parts of the Naval Establishment. (b) The term "Navy Department" means the executive part of "Navy Depart- the establishment at the seat of the Government. (c) The term "operating forces" means the several fleets, sea-going "operatig forces." forces, sea-frontier forces, district forces, and such of the shore establishment of the Navy and other forces and activities as may be assigned to the operating forces by the President or the Secretary of the Navy. CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS SEC. 2. (a) There shall be a Chief of Naval Operations who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, for a term of not more than four years, from among the officers of the active list of the line of the Navy who are eligible for the exercise of command at sea and not below the grade of rear admiral. The Chief of Naval Operations shall take rank above all other officers of the naval service. (b) It shall be his duty to command the operating forces and be Duties. responsible to the Secretary of the Navy for their use, including, but not limited to, their training, readiness, and preparation for war, and plans therefor. In addition, the Chief of Naval Operations shall be 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 of the Navy on the conduct of the activities of the Naval Establishment. VICE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS SEC. 3 . A flag officer of the active list of the line of the Navy, eligible for the exercise of command at sea, shall be appointed by the Presi- dent, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to be Vice Chief of Naval Operations. The Vice Chief of Naval Operations shall exer- cise such executive authority with respect to the Naval Establishment as the Chief of Naval Operations may, with the approval of the Secre- tary of the Navy, delegate to him, and in case of the death, resigna- tion, absence, or sickness of the Chief of Naval Operations shall, until otherwise directed by the President as provided by section 179 of the Revised Statutes, perform the duties of the Chief of Naval Operations 6us.S. . 6- until his successor is appointed or such absence or sickness shall cease. All orders issued by the Vice Chief of Naval Operations in performing duties assigned him shall be considered as emanating from the Chief of Naval Operations and shall have full force and effect as such. DEPUTY CHIEFS OF NAVAL OPERATIONS SEC. 4. There shall be in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations not more than six Deputy Chiefs of Naval Operations, who shall be detailed by the Secretary of the Navy from among the flag officers of the active list of the line of the Navy. The Deputy Chiefs of Naval Operations shall be charged, under the direction of the Chief of Naval Operations, with the execution of the functions of their respective divisions. All orders issued by the Deputy Chiefs of Naval Opera- tions in performing duties assigned them shall be considered as emanating from the Chief of Naval Operations and shall have full force and effect as such. 62 STAT.]
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