To whom does the Command Duty Officer report?

To whom does the Command Duty Officer report?

• A. Commanding Officer (CO)
• B. Executive Officer (XO)
• C. Master Chief Petty Officer
• D. Public Affairs Officer

Answer: (B)

On a ship, the person standing the Command Duty Officer watch serves as the on-scene authority for the ship’s operations and safety, and their day-to-day supervision comes through the Executive Officer. The Executive Officer is the senior staff officer who oversees the ship’s readiness and watch teams, so the CDO reports to the XO for operational direction, coordination of the watch, and escalation of issues. The Commanding Officer remains the ultimate authority, but during the watch the XO acts as the direct supervisor and primary point of contact for the CDO. The other roles—Master Chief Petty Officer and Public Affairs Officer—handle enlisted leadership and external communications, not the direct reporting line for the CDO.

On a ship, the person standing the Command Duty Officer watch serves as the on-scene authority for the ship’s operations and safety, and their day-to-day supervision comes through the Executive Officer. The Executive Officer is the senior staff officer who oversees the ship’s readiness and watch teams, so the CDO reports to the XO for operational direction, coordination of the watch, and escalation of issues. The Commanding Officer remains the ultimate authority, but during the watch the XO acts as the direct supervisor and primary point of contact for the CDO. The other roles—Master Chief Petty Officer and Public Affairs Officer—handle enlisted leadership and external communications, not the direct reporting line for the CDO.