Why the Chief of Naval Operations drafts the Navy's Standard Organization and Regulations

Who writes the rule book for a Navy that spans oceans and aircraft carriers? In the world of seamanship and fleet-wide procedures, that essential responsibility belongs to a single, steady hand: the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO). When you’re sorting out who does what in a ship’s structure—who assigns duties, who sets the standards, who keeps everyone rowing in the same direction—the CNO is the one with the pen.

Let’s unpack what that means in real life, so you can see why this matters from deck-to-deck and port-to-port.

The backbone of how the Navy organizes itself

Think of the Standard Organization and Regulations of the U.S. Navy as the playbook for how a ship, a squadron, or a fleet should be arranged and run. It spells out roles, responsibilities, and expected conduct. It’s the reference that helps sailors know who does what, who signs off on tasks, and how operations proceed without stepping on each other’s toes. It’s not just about who commands a watch; it’s about the predictable, safe, and effective functioning of the whole machine.

The Chief of Naval Operations is the steward of that framework. The CNO oversees its development and dissemination, ensuring that every flag officer and every sailor—from a petty officer standing a watch to a captain in a carrier group—operates under the same set of rules. In other words, the CNO keeps the rules current and accessible, so a ship doesn’t drift into confusion when the weather turns rough or the mission changes.

Who else shows up in the big picture—and what they’re not responsible for

If you’re studying for something like PMK-EE E4 seamanship topics, you’ll hear about a few other important roles that come up often in discussions of Navy governance. It’s helpful to know who does what, even if these roles don’t carry the title of “the promulgator.”

• Secretary of the Navy: This is the civilian leader who oversees policy direction and resource decisions for the Navy and Marine Corps. They set broad priorities and provide the funding and policy framework, but they don’t publish the Standard Organization and Regulations themselves. Think of the Secretary as the person who says, “Here’s the mission, here’s the money,” while the CNO passes down the exact, day-to-day rules that keep the crew marching in step.

• Naval Inspector General: The IG’s job is oversight—investigations, audits, and ensuring compliance with regulations. They’re the internal watchdogs, not the authors of the regulatory playbook. Their work helps catch issues and improve practices, but they don’t issue the foundational organization rules.

• Commander of Naval Forces: This title can refer to the senior leader in a given geographic or functional command. Their duties center on readiness, operations, and mission execution in their space. They don’t promulgate the standard rules that govern all Navy units; they enforce and adapt the rules to their area of responsibility, always within the framework the CNO maintains.

So, the key takeaway is simple: the rulebook for how the Navy is organized and how its people act is authored by the Chief of Naval Operations. The other roles support, supervise, or implement, but they don’t set the foundational regulations.

Why this setup matters on a ship and in a squadron

You might wonder, why should I care who writes the rules? Here’s the practical reason: consistency. When a crew moves from one duty section to another, or when a ship joins a carrier strike group, everyone needs to understand the same structure, same reporting lines, and same standards of conduct. Without a central author, different units could be operating under slightly different interpretations. That ambiguity can slow decisions, cause confusion during critical moments, and, frankly, raise safety risks.

The Standard Organization and Regulations are designed to be clear, stable, and universal enough to cover routine tasks—like who signs for a crane operation—while still flexible enough for unique situations, from underway replenishment to a combat information center sprint. They’re the quiet backbone that lets a GySgt, a Petty Officer, or a senior commander trust that the person next to them knows what to do and when to do it.

A quick peek at how these rules show up in daily life

Let me explain with a few concrete, everyday touchpoints you might have encountered or will encounter in your time in a Navy setting:

• Chain of command and duty assignments: The rules define who can authorize a repair, who approves a material requisition, and who signs off on operational plans. That clarity keeps ships moving rather than stalling on bureaucratic questions.

• Conduct and ethics: The standards spell out expected behavior, uniform regulations, and professional interactions. In tight spaces and high-stress moments, knowing what’s appropriate keeps morale intact and tensions low.

• Battle and safety procedures: When the sea turns rough, the same regulations guide who gives the order, who confirms it, and how the team executes. It’s less drama and more discipline—precision born of shared understanding.

• Training and qualification pathways: The rules outline what a sailor must know to advance, what certifications are required, and how competency is demonstrated. Consistency here matters not just for a promotion, but for mission readiness.

A practical way to connect the dots

If you’ve spent any time around ships or naval bases, you’ve already seen the rhythm of this system in action. A captain doesn’t just tell the crew to “get it done.” They rely on a framework that tells everyone exactly how things get done, who’s in charge of what, and what standards govern every action. That transparency doesn’t bottleneck innovation; it channels it—ensuring good ideas can be implemented without chaos.

And yes, there’s a human element too. Rules aren’t just lines on a page; they reflect years of experience, lessons learned, and the hard-won wisdom of sailors who’ve kept ships afloat through storms and tension. The CNO’s role isn’t about dry bureaucracy—it’s about creating a reliable environment where people can perform at their best, even when the weather is against them.

How to think about this for your study and your career

If you’re absorbing PMK-EE E4 seamanship topics, here are a few practical angles to keep in mind:

• The authority chain matters. Knowing that the CNO holds the responsibility for promulgating core regulations helps you understand why certain procedures exist and how they’re intended to be applied across the fleet.

• The goal is unity, not rigidity. The regulations provide a common language and a shared standard, but they’re designed to accommodate the fleet’s diverse missions and environments. You’ll see this balance in how we standardize routine tasks while still allowing for mission-specific adaptations.

• The everyday impact is real. When you’re on watch, when you’re learning to lead a division, or when you’re coordinating a repair in a congested space, the rules you’ve studied become automatic. That fluency is what keeps people safe and ships rolling.

A final thought

The Navy’s regulatory framework isn’t flashy. It’s practical, persistent, and crucial to every operation at sea. The Chief of Naval Operations stands at the center of that framework, ensuring that the organization remains coherent and capable no matter where the fleet sails. If you imagine the Navy as a complex orchestra, the CNO is the conductor—keeping tempo, cueing sections, and guiding the performance so that every melodious part contributes to the whole.

So next time you think about how a ship stays orderly from the moment it casts off, remember this: a single, steady hand—the Chief of Naval Operations—keeps the ship’s rules aligned, and the crew aligned with them. In the long run, that alignment is what turns individual skill into collective strength. And that, more than anything, is what makes the Navy capable of facing whatever the sea throws its way.