DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS
2000 NAVY PENTAGON
WASHINGTON, DC 20350-2000
OPNAVSTAFFINST 1601.7N
N3/N5
23 Apr 2021
OPNAV STAFF INSTRUCTION 1601.7N
From: Chief of Naval Operations
Subj: NAVY HEADQUARTERS CRISIS MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES AND
ORGANIZATION
Ref: (a) CJCSM 3430.01
(b) OPNAVINST 1601.10E
1. Purpose. To prescribe crisis management organization, responsibilities, duties, and
procedures of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) and staffing requirements to
support the OPNAV Crisis Action Team (CAT) and the Joint Staff CAT. This instruction is a
complete revision, and should be reviewed in its entirety. Major changes to this revision are
outlined in subparagraphs 1a and 1b.
a. The change from an OPNAV Instruction to an OPNAV Staff Instruction.
b. Significant changes in verbiage to the OPNAV CAT layout to match its current
operations and function.
2. Cancellation. OPNAVINST 1601.7M.
3. Background. The Navy crisis action management procedures and organization provide the
Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) and his or her staff with rapid and appropriate command and
control capability and coordinated military recommendations during crisis situations. Crisis
response includes, but is not limited to, defense support to civil authority and initiation of
military operations and campaigns. With flexible staffing and augmentation from OPNAV
directorates and Navy Reserve Component forces, the crisis management organization provides a
single point of contact to assist in coordinating actions. Per reference (a), OPNAV may also be
required to provide personnel augmentation to the Joint Staff to ensure Navy liaison between
both staffs.
4. Applicability. This directive applies to OPNAV.
5. Policy
a. The crisis management organization includes permanent watch standers assigned to the
Navy service watch cell located in the National Military Command Center (NMCC),
supplemented by “on call” watch team members assigned to the OPNAV CAT. CNO has
