General Counsel of the Navy

General Counsel of the Department of the Navy
Seal of the Office of the General Counsel
Flag of the General Counsel and the Assistant Secretaries of the Navy
Incumbent Garrett L. Ressing (Acting) since March 7, 2019
Department of the Navy Office of the Secretary
Style	The Honorable
Reports to	Secretary of the Navy Under Secretary of the Navy
Seat	The Pentagon, Arlington County, Virginia, United States
Appointer	The President with Senate advice and consent
Term length	No fixed term
Constituting instrument	10 U.S.C. § 5019
Precursor	Solicitor General of the Navy
Formation	1941
First holder	H. Struve Hensel
Deputy	Principal Deputy General Counsel
Salary	Executive Schedule, level IV[1]
Website	ogc.navy.mil

The General Counsel of the Department of the Navy is the senior civilian lawyer in the U.S. Department of the Navy and is the senior legal adviser to the Secretary of the Navy. The Office of the General Counsel of the Navy provides legal advice to the Secretary, the Under Secretary of the Navy and the various Assistant Secretaries of the Navy and their staffs. The General Counsel of the Navy is the third highest-ranking civilian office in the Department of the Navy, behind the Secretary and Under Secretary of the Navy.

The General Counsel maintains a close working relationship with the Judge Advocate General of the Navy, the senior uniformed lawyer in the Department of the Navy who performs statutory duties under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

The General Counsel manages nearly 650 attorneys worldwide, helps to oversee the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and advises senior Navy and Marine Corps officials on litigation, acquisition, contractual, fiscal, environmental, property, personnel, legislative, ethics, and intelligence law issues.

Contents

• 
  1 General Counsels of the Navy, 1941—Present
  


• 
  2 See also
  


• 
  3 References
  


• 
  4 External links
  

General Counsels of the Navy, 1941—Present

The first General Counsel of the Navy was appointed in 1941. From 1862 to 1941, essentially the same function was provided by the Solicitor General of the Navy.^[2]

Name	Assumed Office	Left Office	President Appointed By	Secretary Served Under
H. Struve Hensel	July 10, 1941	January 30, 1945	Franklin D. Roosevelt	Frank Knox, James Forrestal
W. John Kenney	February 5, 1945	April 2, 1945	Franklin D. Roosevelt	James Forrestal
Patrick H. Hodgson	April 3, 1945	October 31, 1945	Franklin D. Roosevelt	James Forrestal
J. Henry Neale	November 1, 1945	July 26, 1946	Harry S. Truman	James Forrestal
William Wemple	July 27, 1946	August 23, 1946	Harry S. Truman	James Forrestal
James T. Hill, Jr.		August 24, 1946	May 15, 1947	Harry S. Truman	James Forrestal
Hudson B. Cox	May 16, 1947	April 29, 1949	Harry S. Truman	James Forrestal, John L. Sullivan
Harold B. Gross	April 30, 1949	August 30, 1953	Harry S. Truman	Francis P. Matthews, Dan A. Kimball, Robert B. Anderson
F. Trowbridge vom Baur	December 15, 1953	April 30, 1960	Dwight D. Eisenhower	Robert B. Anderson, Charles Thomas, Thomas S. Gates, Jr., William B. Franke
Meritt H. Steger		May 2, 1960	May 31, 1971	Dwight D. Eisenhower	William B. Franke, John Connally, Fred Korth, Paul Nitze, Paul Robert Ignatius, John Chafee
Hart T. Mankin		June 7, 1971	July 21, 1973	Richard Nixon	John Chafee, John Warner
E. Grey Lewis		August 1, 1973	April 21, 1977	Richard Nixon	John Warner, J. William Middendorf
Togo D. West, Jr.		April 22, 1977	January 13, 1979	Jimmy Carter	W. Graham Claytor, Jr.
Coleman Hicks		May 25, 1979	January 13, 1981	Jimmy Carter	Edward Hidalgo
Hugh O'Neill (Acting)	June, 1981	August 24, 1981	Ronald Reagan	John Lehman
Walter T. Skallerup, Jr.		August 24, 1981	1987	Ronald Reagan	John Lehman
Harvey J. Wilcox (Deputy GC)	July 29, 1987	November 21, 1988		Jim Webb, William L. Ball
Lawrence L. Lamade	November 22, 1988	November 21, 1989	Ronald Reagan	William L. Ball, Henry L. Garrett III
Craig S. King		November 22, 1989	January 20, 1993	George H. W. Bush	Henry L. Garrett III, Sean O'Keefe
Steven S. Honigman	June 1, 1993	March 15, 1998	Bill Clinton	John Howard Dalton
Eugene Angrist (Deputy GC)	March 15, 1998	September 28, 1998		John Howard Dalton
Stephen W. Preston	September 28, 1998	November 17, 2000	Bill Clinton	Richard Danzig
John E. Sparks (Acting)	November 17, 2000	December 12, 2000		Richard Danzig
William Molzahn (Deputy GC)	December 12, 2000	July 25, 2001		Richard Danzig
Alberto J. Mora	July 25, 2001	January 1, 2006	George W. Bush	Gordon R. England
Paul C. Ney, Jr. (Acting)	January 2, 2006	September 25, 2006		Donald C. Winter
Frank Jimenez	September 25, 2006	April 30, 2009	George W. Bush	Donald C. Winter
Anne M. Brennan (Acting)	April 30, 2009	March 11, 2010		Ray Mabus
Paul L. Oostburg Sanz	March 12, 2010	January 20, 2017	Barack Obama	Ray Mabus
Anne M. Brennan (Acting)	January 21, 2017	March 6, 2019		Richard V. Spencer
Garrett L. Ressing (Acting)	March 7, 2019			Richard V. Spencer

See also

• General Counsel of the Department of Defense


• General Counsel of the Army


• General Counsel of the Air Force

References

1. 
   ^ 5 U.S.C. § 5315
   


2. 
   ^ History of the Office of General Counsel of the Navy
   

External links

• Official website

v t e United States Department of Defense
Headquarters: The Pentagon Patrick M. Shanahan, Acting Secretary & Deputy Secretary of Defense
Office of the Secretary of Defense .mw-parser-output .nobold{font-weight:normal} (including Defense Agencies and DoD Field Activities) Deputy Secretary of Defense Deputy's Advisory Working Group Office of Net Assessment Special Access Program Oversight Committee Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Director, Defense Research and Engineering Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Missile Defense Agency Defense Contract Management Agency Defense Logistics Agency Defense Technical Information Center Defense Threat Reduction Agency Office of Economic Adjustment Defense Acquisition University Defense Acquisition Board Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Defense Security Cooperation Agency Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency Defense Policy Board Advisory Committee Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) Defense Contract Audit Agency Defense Finance and Accounting Service Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Defense Commissary Agency Department of Defense Education Activity DoD Human Resources Activity Military Health System Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Defense Intelligence Agency Defense Security Service Defense Information Systems Agency National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency National Reconnaissance Office National Security Agency (Director) Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Defense Media Activity (American Forces Press Service, American Forces Radio and Television Service, Stars and Stripes, The Pentagon Channel) General Counsel of the Department of Defense Defense Legal Services Agency Director of Administration and Management Pentagon Force Protection Agency Washington Headquarters Services
Military Departments Department of the Army Secretary of the Army The Secretariat: Under Secretary of the Army Assistant Secretary for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology Assistant Secretary for Civil Works Assistant Secretary (Financial Management and Comptroller) Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs General Counsel of the Army The Administrative Assistant The Army Staff: Chief of Staff of the Army Vice Chief of Staff of the Army Sergeant Major of the Army Deputy Chief of Staff G-8 Chief of Chaplains Judge Advocate General Provost Marshal General Surgeon General U.S. Army field organizations: see Structure of the United States Army Department of the Navy Secretary of the Navy The Secretariat: Under Secretary of the Navy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller) Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Installations and Environment) Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs) Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisitions) General Counsel of the Navy Judge Advocate General Naval Criminal Investigative Service Naval Inspector General Headquarters Marine Corps: Commandant of the Marine Corps Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Chaplain U.S. Marine Corps field organizations: see Organization of the United States Marine Corps Office of the Chief of Naval Operations: Chief of Naval Operations Vice Chief of Naval Operations Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Director of Naval Reactors Chief of Chaplains Chief of Naval Personnel Surgeon General United States Navy field organizations: see Structure of the United States Navy Department of the Air Force Secretary of the Air Force The Secretariat: Under Secretary of the Air Force Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition) Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Financial Management & Comptroller) Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Installations, Environment & Logistics) Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Manpower & Reserve Affairs) General Counsel of the Air Force Air Force Office of Special Investigations The Air Staff: Chief of Staff of the Air Force Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Chief of Chaplains Chief of Safety Chief Scientist Judge Advocate General Surgeon General U.S. Air Force field organizations: Major Commands Direct Reporting Units Field Operating Agencies
Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman Joint Requirements Oversight Council Director of the Joint Staff Joint Staff National Military Command Center Alternate National Military Command Center National Defense University
Combatant Commands Africa Command Central Command European Command Northern Command Indo-Pacific Command Southern Command Cyber Command Special Operations Command Strategic Command Transportation Command
National Guard Bureau Chief of the National Guard Bureau Air National Guard Army National Guard
Office of the Inspector General Defense Criminal Investigative Service

v t e United States Department of the Navy
Secretaries	Cabinet level Stoddert Smith Hamilton Jones Crowninshield S Thompson Southard Branch L. Woodbury Dickerson Paulding Badger Upshur Henshaw Gilmer Mason Bancroft Mason Preston Graham Kennedy Dobbin Toucey Welles Borie Robeson R Thompson Goff Hunt Chandler Whitney Tracy Herbert Long Moody Morton Bonaparte Metcalf Newberry Meyer Daniels Denby Wilbur Adams Swanson Edison Knox Forrestal Dept. of Defense Sullivan Matthews Kimball Anderson Thomas T. Gates Franke Connally Korth Nitze Ignatius Chafee Warner Middendorf Claytor Hidalgo Lehman Webb Ball Garrett O'Keefe Dalton Danzig England Winter Mabus Spencer
Under Secretaries	Forrestal Bard A. Gates Sullivan Kenney Kimball Whitehair Thomas T. Gates Franke Bantz Fay BeLieu Baldwin Baird Warner Sanders Middendorf Potter Macdonald Woolsey Murray Goodrich Garrett Howard Danzig Hultin Pirie Livingstone Aviles Work Davidson Modly
Assistant Secretaries	Pre–1954 Fox Faxon Soley McAdoo T. Roosevelt Sr. Allen Hackett Darling Newberry Satterlee Winthrop F. Roosevelt G. Woodbury T. Roosevelt Jr. Robinson Jahncke H. Roosevelt Edison Compton Bard Hensel Kenney Andrews Koehler Askins Fogler Post–1954 Financial Management and Comptroller Installations and Environment Manpower and Reserve Affairs Research, Development and Acquisitions General Counsel of the Navy defunct: Air Installations and Logistics Material Research and Development Research, Engineering and Systems Shipbuilding and Logistics

v t e United States Navy
Portal Category
Leadership	Secretary of the Navy Under Secretary of the Navy Chief of Naval Operations Vice Chief of Naval Operations Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy 4-star admirals House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces Senate Subcommittee on Seapower
Structure	Navy Navy Reserve Fleet Marine Force Expeditionary Combat Command Merchant Marine Units Aircraft wings Aircraft squadrons Carrier strike group Installations Naval Observatory Master jet base Operating forces Fleet Forces Command Pacific Fleet Naval Forces Europe Naval Forces Central Command Naval Forces Southern Command Naval Special Warfare Command Naval Reserve Forces Operational Test and Evaluation Force Naval Network Warfare Command Military Sealift Command Shore Naval Sea Systems Command Naval Air Systems Command Naval Facilities Engineering Command Naval Supply Systems Command Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command Fleet Cyber Command Naval Academy Naval Education and Training Command Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command Office of Naval Intelligence Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center Naval Legal Service Command Naval Observatory Navy Occupational Safety & Health Bureau of Naval Personnel Chief of Naval Personnel Bureau of Medicine and Surgery Navy Installations Command Fleets Second Fleet Third Fleet Fourth Fleet Fifth Fleet Sixth Fleet Seventh Fleet Tenth Fleet Ships A–B C D–F G–H I–K L M N–O P Q–R S T–V W–Z Aircraft carriers Airships Amphibious warfare ships Auxiliaries Battleships Cruisers Destroyers Destroyer escorts Escort carriers Frigates Mine warfare vessels Monitors Patrol vessels Sailing frigates Steam frigates Steam gunboats Ships of the line Sloops of war Submarines Torpedo boats
Personnel and training	People Officers Insignia Designators Enlisted Rates Ratings Classification Personnel Chaplain Corps Chief Deputy Chief Explosive ordnance disposal Medical Corps Dental Corps Nurse Corps Medical Service Corps Supply Corps Civil Engineer Corps JAG Corps JAG DJAG NCIS Boatswain's mates Hospital corpsman Naval Aviator SEALs Seabees Master-at-arms Operations specialist SWCCs Hispanic sailors Training Recruit Naval Academy Officer Candidate School STA-21 NROTC BESS BFTT CNATT COMPTUEX NAWCTSD AIM Naval Chaplaincy School Naval Hospital Corps School Naval Justice School Naval Postgraduate School United States Armed Forces School of Music Navy Senior Enlisted Academy Navy Supply Corps School Naval War College Nuclear Power School JMTC TOPGUN USNTPS Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Equipment	Uniforms Awards and decorations Badges Current fleet Reserve fleet Aircraft Weapons Naval reactors
History and traditions	History "Anchors Aweigh" Blue Angels Continental Navy Ensign Fleet bands Fleet Week Jack Line-crossing ceremony National Museum Navy Band Ceremonial Guard Navy Flag Navy Hymn Navy Memorial Navy service numbers Navy Weeks Revolt of the Admirals Sailor's Creed Ship commissioning Ship decommissioning Tingey House USS Constitution Wetting-down United States battleship retirement debate

v t e United States Marine Corps
Leadership	Secretary of the Navy Under Secretary of the Navy Commandant of the Marine Corps Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Marine Corps generals United States Congress House Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces Senate Subcommittee on Seapower
Major commands	Organization of the Marine Corps Headquarters Marine Corps Marine Forces Command II Marine Expeditionary Force Marine Forces Pacific I Marine Expeditionary Force III Marine Expeditionary Force Marine Forces Reserve Fleet Marine Force Atlantic Pacific Marine Corps Combat Development Command Small Wars Center and Irregular Warfare Integration Division (SWC/IWID) Operations Analysis Directorate (OAD) Training & Education Command (TECOM) United States Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory
Structure	Marine Air-Ground Task Force Bases Battalions Regiments Brigades Divisions MEF/Corps Marine aviation Marine expeditionary unit Special Operations Marine Raiders Marine Raider Regiment Recon Force Division
Personnel and training	Personnel Personnel Rank insignia MOS Notable Marines Historical Marines Marine Astronauts Criminal Investigation Division Judge Advocate Division Chaplain of the Marine Corps Associated organizations Training Training Recruit Training School of Infantry Officer Candidates School The Basic School Martial Arts Program
Uniforms and equipment	Uniforms Awards Badges Weapons Vehicles and aircraft Individual equipment
History and traditions	History Culture Acronyms and terms Birthday Ball Eagle, Globe, and Anchor Flag Marine Band Drum and Bugle Corps Marine One Silent Drill Platoon White House Sentries Service Numbers Marine Corps War Memorial Marine Detachments "Marines' Hymn" National Museum Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima Rifleman's Creed Semper Fidelis march History of Hispanics in the USMC History of women in the USMC Women's Reserve Honorary Marine Toys for Tots
Portal Category

This page is only for reference, If you need detailed information, please check here