In the administrative chain of command, who is at the top?

The President of the United States holds the highest position in the administrative chain of command within the context of the U.S. military. As the Commander-in-Chief, the President has ultimate authority over the armed forces and is responsible for making key military decisions and strategic policies. This role encompasses not only oversight of naval operations but also decisions regarding the broader military, fiscal priorities, and national defense strategy.

While the Chief of Naval Operations, Secretary of the Navy, and Secretary of Defense play crucial roles in managing and organizing naval forces and military strategies, they operate under the authority of the President. Their functions include providing expert advice and executing military policies, but they ultimately report up the chain to the Commander-in-Chief. Hence, the President is rightly positioned at the top of the administrative command structure.