Chief of Naval Research

Chief of Naval Research
Seal of the Office of Naval Research
Flag of a Navy rear admiral
Incumbent
Rear Admiral Kurt J. Rothenhaus
since June 16, 2023
Department of the Navy
Reports toAssistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development, and Acquisition)
SeatArlington County, Virginia, US
AppointerThe President
with Senate advice and consent
Constituting instrument10 U.S.C. § 5022
DeputyVice Chief of Naval Research
WebsiteOffice of Naval Research

The Chief of Naval Research is the senior military officer in charge of scientific research in the United States Navy. The Chief of Naval Research has a rank of Rear Admiral, and is in charge of the Office of Naval Research.[1]

The Chief of Naval Research has responsibility for basic research, applied research, and advanced technology development components of the Navy's research and development programs (the first three of the seven categories used in the Department of Defense research and development budget, often referred to as 6.1, 6.2, and 6.3, respectively), as well as the Navy's intellectual property policy. The Chief of Naval Research also coordinates with other research and development agencies within the Department of the Navy, such as the Naval Warfare Centers of the Naval Systems Commands.[1]

Other positions in the Office of Naval Research leadership include the Vice Chief of Naval Research (a one-star Marine Corps brigadier general), the Assistant Chief of Naval Research and Commanding Officer of ONR Global (both captains), and the Executive Director and Assistant Vice Chief of Naval Research (both civilians).[2] The Chief of Naval Research reports directly to the civilian Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development, and Acquisition), and is thus not organizationally subordinate to the Chief of Naval Operations, the senior military officer in the entire Navy.[3][4][5]

  1. ^ a b 10 U.S.C. § 5022
  2. ^ "Leadership". U.S. Office of Naval Research. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  3. ^ "Navy Organization: The Secretary of the Navy". U.S. Navy. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  4. ^ "ASN(RDA) Overall Structure". Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition). Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Sapolsky2014 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).