Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Navy Department, United States

NAVY DEPARTMENT, UNITED STATES. At the head of the Navy Department is the Secretary of the Navy, a civilian, with an Assistant Secretary, also a civilian. The military features of naval administration are in theory directed by a Naval Officer with the rank of Admiral, under the title "Chief of Naval Operations." The administrative details are handled by Bureaus, each of which is presided over by a "Chief of Bureau" with the rank of Rear-Admiral. The Bureaus are those of Navigation, Ordnance, Construction and Repair, Steam Engineering, Supply, Medicine and Surgery, and Yards and Docks. The titles of these Bureaus are in general descriptive of the matters coming under their cognizance, except in the case of the Bureau of Navigation, which as a matter of fact has nothing to do with navigation, its duties being connected exclusively with naval personnel.