Final answer:
If the Secretary of the Navy dies, resigns, or is absent from his position, the person who should perform his duties is the Under Secretary of the Navy.
Step-by-step explanation:
If the Secretary of the Navy dies, resigns, or is absent from his position, the person who should perform his duties is the Under Secretary of the Navy. The Under Secretary is the second-highest-ranking civilian official in the Department of the Navy and is responsible for overseeing and carrying out the Secretary's duties in their absence. They provide policy guidance and direction to the Navy and Marine Corps.
Chief of Naval Operations is responsible for the operational readiness of the U.S. Navy and reports directly to the Secretary of the Navy. While the Chief of Naval Operations plays a crucial role in the Navy's decision-making process, they do not assume the Secretary's duties in the event of their absence, resignation, or death.
The Secretary of Defense and Deputy Secretary of Defense are in charge of the entire Department of Defense, which includes the Navy. They do not directly assume the duties of the Secretary of the Navy, but they have a supervisory role over the Navy as part of their broader responsibilities.