DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS
2000
NAVY PENTAGON
W
ASHINGTON DC 20350-2000
OPNAVINST 3500.39D
N09F
29 Mar 2018
OPNAV INSTRUCTION 3500.39D
From: Chief of Naval Operations
Subj: OPERATIONAL RISK MANAGEMENT
Ref: (a) DoD Instruction 6055.01 of 14 October 2014
(b) NWP 5-01
(c) OPNAVINST 5100.23G
Encl: (1) Operational Risk Management (ORM) Fundamentals
(2) Operational Risk Management (ORM) Time Critical Risk Management (TCRM)
(3) Operational Risk Management (ORM) Training Continuum
(4) Operational Risk Management (ORM) Evolution and Program Assessments
(5) Operational Risk Management (ORM) Glossary
1. Purpose. To establish policy, guidelines, procedures, and responsibilities per references (a)
and (b); to standardize the operational risk management (ORM) process across the Navy; and to
establish the ORM training continuum. This revision provides fidelity to the ORM training
continuum, highlighting ORM unit and group assessments and reporting results. This instruction
is a complete revision and should be reviewed in its entirety.
2. Cancellation. OPNAVINST 3500.39C.
3. Scope and Applicability. This instruction applies to all Navy activities, commands,
personnel, and contractors (i.e., the latter only when under the direct supervision of Government
personnel).
4. Discussion. Risk is inherent in all tasks, training, missions, operations, and in personal
activities no matter how routine. A frequent contributing cause in task degradation or mission
failure is human error, specifically the inability to consistently manage risk. ORM reduces or
offsets risks by systematically identifying hazards and assessing and controlling the associated
risks, allowing decisions to be made that weigh risks against mission or task benefits while
assessing their potential impact on operations. As professionals, Navy personnel are responsible
for managing risk in all tasks while leaders at all levels are responsible for ensuring proper
procedures are in place and that appropriate resources are available for their personnel to perform
assigned tasks. The Navy vision is to develop an environment in which every officer, enlisted,
or civilian person is trained and motivated to personally manage risk in everything they do, as
outlined in enclosure (1). This includes on- and off-duty evolutions in peacetime and during
conflict, thereby enabling successful completion of any task and mission. Navy commands and
activities accomplish this by executing a four pillar strategy.
