United States Navy

The United States Navy (US Navy) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces, designated in the U.S. Constitution as the navy of the United States. It is part of the Department of the Navy, which in turn falls under the Department of Defense. Its origins trace back to the Continental Navy established on 13 October 1775, and it took its current form under legislation enacted in 1794. Its leadership is headquartered at the Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia. According to 2025 budget figures, the branch comprised roughly 344,600 active-duty personnel, 57,500 reservists, and 210,024 civilian employees. The Navy operates the world largest aircraft carrier fleet and is the second largest navy by number of combat vessels. In robotics and autonomy, the branch develops and fields uncrewed surface, undersea, and aerial systems along with maritime autonomy programs. Civilian oversight rests with the Secretary of the Navy, while the senior officer on active duty is the Chief of Naval Operations.