Talk:United States Navy/@comment-24938973-20151109150426/@comment-24142455-20151109165507

ACtually the Chief of Naval Operations reports directly to the Secretary of the Navy, though he does not have operational command authority over Naval forces as the title implies (that is nowadays within the purview of the Combatant Commanders who report to the Secretary of Defense), the CNO does exercise supervision of Navy organizations as the designee of the Secretary of the Navy.

Sources: Wikipedia

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_of_Naval_Operations