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On a Naval Ship or shore activity, a Department is a section devoted to one of several major tasks. Most Ships have Operations, Engineering, Deck or Weapons, and Medical Departments. Aircraft Carriers and some large landing vessels have an Aviation, while cargo ships have one for that purpose.

In the book Carrier, Tom Clancy records the various departments of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington as they were in autumn 1997. Interestingly, Clancy wrote the book without having ever set foot on the ship.

• Administration (ADMIN)—the record keepers of the ship and oversees personnel, maintenance, logistics, financial and other records. The Department Head (DH) was a Lieutenant (O-3).
• Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Division (AIMD)—provides spares, maintenance facilities and support personnel for the Carrier Air Wing. The DH was a Commander.
• Air Department (AIR)—oversees operations on the flight deck, hangars and air-space near the carrier. The DH is known as the "Air Boss" and is a Commander; his assistant is called the "Mini Boss" and is usually a Commander.
• Command Religious Ministries Department (CRMD)—looks after the crew's spiritual and moral welfare. The DH was a Captain and the Command Chaplin of the ship.
• Deck Department (DECK)—handles lines, anchors and small boats among a range of other traditional sailor duties. The Deck Department is headed by a Lieutenant Commander.
• Medical Department (MEDICAL)—OiC: Senior Medical Officer (SMO) a Medical Corps CDR.
• Dental Department (DENTAL)—provides dental services to the crew of the carrier and battle group. The DH was a Dental Corps CDR. In FY 2007 the Navy began to merge aircraft carriers' Medical & Dental Depts into a single "Health Services Dept" under the SMO. This process began aboard USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) in the fall of 2006. This combined HS Dept is still colloquially known as the Medical Dept. And continuing longtime naval tradition, the main spaces occupied by the Med Dept are still colloquially known as Sickbay.
• Engineering Department (CRMD)—responsible for most systems on board the ship from electrical power to sewage treatment. The Chief Engineer (CHENG) is usually a Lieutenant Commander. On non-nuclear ships the Engineering Department is responsible for the propulsion systems. On a nuclear-powered ship, the reactors are maintained by the secretive Reactor Department (REACTOR). The head of the Reactor Department is the ship's Reactor Officer (RO) and was a Captain.
• Combat Systems Division (CSD)—OiC: Combat System Officer (CSO) a CDR.
• Legal Department (LEGAL)—OiC: Ship's Legal Officer (LEGAL-OFF) a JAG Corps LCDR.
• Marine Detachment (MARDET)—OiC: Marine 1st Lieutenant.
• Navigation Department (NAV)—OiC: Navigation Officer ('GATOR') a CDR.
• Operations Department (OPS)—OiC: Operations Officer (OPSO) a CDR.
• Safety Department (SAFETY)—OiC: Safety Officer (SAFETYO) a CDR.
• Supply Department (SUPPLY)—OiC: Supply Officer (SUPPO) a Supply Corps CDR.
• Training Department (TRAINING)—OiC: an LT (O-3).
• Weapons Department (WEPS)— OiC: the 'Gunner' or "Gun Boss," a CDR. Firing weapons controlled by the Tactical Action Officer (TAO) in the Combat Direction Center (CDC).

See also: military science, Military History of the United States