In 1949 the Act was amended to establish the Department of Defense as an Executive Department and to establish the Department of the Army, Navy and Air Force as military departments within the Department of Defense. Thirdly the Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986 further defined the roles of the military departments within the Department of Defense. In addition to establishing the office of Vice Chairman of the Joint Chief Of Staff and further emphasizing the operational chain of command, the Act provided detailed statements of the roles of the Secretary of the Navy, the Chief of Naval Operations, the Commandant of Marine Corps and their respective principal assistants. And lastly the responsibilities and authority of the Department of the navy are vested in the Secretary of the Navy, and are subject to reassignments and delegation by the Secretary. The secretary is bound by the provisions of law, the directions of the President and the Secretary of Defense and along with all the persons in charge of Government ag
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