Who holds the highest position in the military chain of command for the Navy?

The President of the United States holds the highest position in the military chain of command for the Navy, as well as the entire armed forces. This role is established by the Constitution, which designates the President as the Commander-in-Chief of the military. In this capacity, the President has the authority to make decisions regarding military strategy, deployment of forces, and overall defense policy.

This position underscores the principle of civilian control of the military, which is a foundational element of American democracy. While other positions, such as the Secretary of Defense and the Chief of Naval Operations, are highly influential and play critical roles in military operations and policy, they ultimately serve under the authority of the President. The Secretary of the Navy also supports the President but is specifically focused on matters pertaining to the Navy.