---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 8017"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "8017"
heading: "Secretary of the Navy: successors to duties"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/8017"
units:
  - "Subtitle C — Navy and Marine Corps"
  - "Part I — Organization"
  - "Chapter 803 — Department of the Navy"
---

# §8017. Secretary of the Navy: successors to duties


If the [Secretary](/usc/10/8720.md?p=4) of the [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1) dies, resigns, is removed from office, is absent, or is disabled, the person who is highest on the following list, and who is not absent or disabled, shall perform the duties of the [Secretary](/usc/10/8720.md?p=4) until the President, under section 3347[^1] of title 5, directs another person to perform those duties or until the absence or disability ceases:

- (1) The Under [Secretary](/usc/10/8720.md?p=4) of the [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1).
- (2) The Assistant [Secretaries](/usc/10/8720.md?p=4) of the [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1), in the order prescribed by the [Secretary](/usc/10/8720.md?p=4) of the [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1) and approved by the [Secretary](/usc/10/8720.md?p=4) of Defense.
- (3) The General Counsel of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of the [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1).
- (4) The Chief of Naval Operations.
- (5) The Commandant of the [Marine Corps](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-2).

## Footnotes

[^1]: See References in Text note below.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 99–433, title V, § 511(c)(4), Oct. 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 1047, § 5017; amended Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title IX, § 902(b), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2823; renumbered § 8017, Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 807(a)(1), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1834.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Section 3347 of title 5, referred to in text, was repealed and a new section 3347 was enacted by Pub. L. 105–277, div. C, title I, § 151(b), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–611, and, as so enacted, no longer contains provisions authorizing the President to direct temporary successors to duties. See section 3345 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

### Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 5036 of this title prior to enactment of Pub. L. 99–433.

A prior section 8017 was renumbered section 9017 of this title.

### Amendments

2018—Pub. L. 115–232 renumbered section 5017 of this title as this section.

1994—Pars. (3) to (5). Pub. L. 103–337 added par. (3) and redesignated former pars. (3) and (4) as (4) and (5), respectively.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2018 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 115–232 effective Feb. 1, 2019, with provision for the coordination of amendments and special rule for certain redesignations, see section 800 of Pub. L. 115–232, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.

### Order of Succession

For order of succession in event of death, permanent disability, or resignation of Secretary of the Navy, see Ex. Ord. No. 12879, Nov. 8, 1993, 58 F.R. 59929, listed in a table under section 3345 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.