What is the command structure in the navy?

Answer 1

Commanding Officer: Responsible for everything. Executive Officer: Second in command. Accountable to the commanding officer only. Department Heads, ie. Engineering , Admin Officer, Deck Officer, etc. Each department has junior officers that report to the department heads. It's called the chain of command. Orders travel down the chain from the CO and requests travel up the chain from the lowest man/woman.

Answer 2

The Command structure of the U.S. Navy is much like the other military services, except for rank naming convention vs. actual rank level (e.g., a Captain in the Navy is a Colonel in the Army, Captain in the Army is a Lieutenant in the Navy, etc.). The U.S. Coast Guard also follows Navy rank protocol, but with their own unique differences as well. Most other Navies of the world tend to follow Maritime ranking as opposed to land-based service ranking protocols.

Civilian Leaders:

President of the United States
|
Secretary of Defense
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Secretary of the Navy (head of the Department of the Navy)
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Chief of Naval Operations
(Full Admiral)
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Fleet Commanders
(CINC's - Pacific, Atlantic, etc)
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Warfare Type Commanders
(Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic (COMSUBLANT), etc.)
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Group Commanders for Warfare Specialties
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Squadron Commanders
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Unit Commanders

Unit Commands - Unit Commands are broken down from top to bottom in the traditional Navy ranking structure, as are all commands above them. The top boss is the CO, or Commanding Officer; his next in charge is the XO, Exec, or Executive Officer. The XO is the one responsible for getting things done. The structure is the same for any unit - however, the ranks are typically different for different type ships, submarines, and other smaller vessels. For example, most submarines are commanded by Navy Commanders, where an Aircraft Carrier is commanded by a Navy Captain, usual a decorated Naval Aviator with long experience in Carrier operations. Submarine Commanders are chosen from the Navy's Nuclear Engineering Program - you cannot be a modern submarine commander without first being a successful Engineer Officer aboard another boat.

Other examples are for smaller vessels, a Lieutenant or Lieutenant Commander may be the CO. Regardless of rank, the title of "Captain" is always given to the man (or woman) in charge as part of Naval tradition going back hundreds of years.

CURRENT RANK STRUCTURE

FLEET ADMIRAL (currently inactive and not used)
ADMIRAL - O-10
VICE ADMIRAL - O-9
REAR ADMIRAL - O-8
REAR ADMIRAL (Lower Half) - O-7
CAPTAIN - O-6
COMMANDER - O-5
LIEUTENANT COMMANDER - O-4
LIEUTENANT - O-3
LIEUTENANT (J.G.) (Junior Grade) - O-2
ENSIGN - O-1
CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER - 2,3,4,5 (5 being the highest)

MASTER CHIEF PETTY OFFICER of the NAVY
FORCE MASTER CHIEF PETTY OFFICER
COMMAND MASTER CHIEF PETTY OFFICER

MASTER CHIEF PETTY OFFICER - E-9
Note - though all Master Chief's are E9 by rank, their particular assignments to top leadership positions means that they outrank those below them. This is also the case for Command Chiefs, who aren't necessarily Master Chiefs - but typically are to alleviate any "rank rivalries", which is rare in today's Navy. For example, the Chief of the Boat on a submarine (the top enlisted CPO by designation, not rank) can be a Senior or Master Chief, but typically the CO will choose a Chief who is very close to attaining E-9 rank anyway.

SENIOR CHIEF PETTY OFFICER - E-8
CHIEF PETTY OFFICER - E-7
PETTY OFFICER FIRST CLASS - E-6
PETTY OFFICER SECOND CLASS - E-5
PETTY OFFICER THIRD CLASS - E-4
SEAMAN / FIREMAN / AIRMAN (The rank of E-3 varies with the specialty the crewman is assigned to. Firemen are assigned to Engineering rates - Airmen to Aviation commands. All others are denoted as Seamen)
SEAMAN / FIREMAN / AIRMAN APPRENTICE - E-2
SEAMAN / FIREMAN / AIRMAN RECRUIT - E-1

It is interesting to note that the Command Rank structures of most modern militaries follow the same "promotion structure" or rank structure as that of Martial Arts. Though the current belt ranking structure hasn't been in use that long, the basic promotion levels for underbelts is 10 steps, and the same is true after you achieve 1st Dan, or 1st Level Black. This was always the case in ancient times, but it was never visually denoted until modern times.

Additionally, it is also important to note that Rank Structure is based not just on actual Rank, but time in that Rank. An Admiral with 20 years is senior to one with only 19 years and 11 months. The same goes for the Command Structure as well - like any other job on the planet, you've got to pay your dues and put your time in to get promoted.

Though an independent service branch, in times of War, the Coast Guard, under orders from the President, can be assigned to the Navy Department, and as such becomes subject to the orders of Navy Commanders. This of course is done with cooperation from CG Commanders, but the Navy has overall authority.