The Command Duty Officer (CDO) functions as which of the following?

The Command Duty Officer (CDO) functions as which of the following?

• A. Executive Officer's assistant
• B. Deck Officer
• C. Security Officer
• D. Commanding Officer's representative

Answer: (D)

The Command Duty Officer is the commanding officer’s representative on the watch. In this role, the CDO stands in for the CO on the bridge and during watch sections, coordinating all watchstanders and activities to ensure orders from the CO are carried out, information is relayed up to the CO, and the ship remains safe, secure, and ready. The CDO oversees the actions of departments, handles communications, and directs responses to incidents within the CO’s standing orders and the watch bill, escalating to the CO or XO as needed. This isn’t about assisting the Executive Officer, who handles the XO’s staff and administration, nor is it about the Deck Officer, who is responsible for navigation and piloting the ship, or the Security Officer, who leads the security program. The best description is that the CDO serves as the CO’s representative.

The Command Duty Officer is the commanding officer’s representative on the watch. In this role, the CDO stands in for the CO on the bridge and during watch sections, coordinating all watchstanders and activities to ensure orders from the CO are carried out, information is relayed up to the CO, and the ship remains safe, secure, and ready. The CDO oversees the actions of departments, handles communications, and directs responses to incidents within the CO’s standing orders and the watch bill, escalating to the CO or XO as needed.

This isn’t about assisting the Executive Officer, who handles the XO’s staff and administration, nor is it about the Deck Officer, who is responsible for navigation and piloting the ship, or the Security Officer, who leads the security program. The best description is that the CDO serves as the CO’s representative.