Naval History & Heritage Command

The Naval History & Heritage Command (NHHC) is at the historic Washington Navy Yard. It is an Echelon II command responsible for the preservation, analysis, and dissemination of U.S. naval history and heritage. The NHHC is composed of 42 facilities in 13 geographic locations. This includes the Navy Department Library, ten museums and one heritage center, USS Constitution repair facility and detachment, and Historic ship NAUTILUS.
Mission
Collect, preserve, protect and make available the artifacts, documents, and art that best embody our naval history and heritage for present and future generations.
Advance the knowledge of naval history and heritage through professional research, analysis, interpretation, products and services.
Make naval history and heritage "come alive" for our Sailors and Marines to enhance readiness and esprit de corps.
Remind America of its need to maintain a strong Navy and Marine Corps to protect its citizens, their freedoms and the nation's maritime commerce.
Vision statement
Be the recognized authority on U.S. naval history and instill pride in America's naval heritage.
Director
The position of Director of Naval History was first established in 1944.
Admiral Edward C. Kalbfus, USN, July 1944 - December 1945
Vice Admiral Vincent R. Murphy, USN (ret.), December 1945 - June 1946
Rear Admiral John B. Heffernan, USN (ret.), July 1946 - October 1956
Rear Admiral Ernest M. Eller, USN (ret.), October 1956 - January 1970
Rear Admiral F. Kent Loomis, USN (ret.), 24 January 1970 - 31 July 1970
Vice Admiral Edwin B. Hooper, USN (ret.), August 1970 - July 1976
Rear Admiral John D. H. Kane, USN (ret.), August 1976 - December 1985
Dr. Ronald H. Spector, 21 July 1986 - 19 July 1989
Dr. Dean C. Allard, 29 July 1989 - 31 January 1995
Dr. William S. Dudley, 23 July 1995 - 30 September 2005
Rear Admiral Paul E. Tobin, Jr., USN (ret.), 25 July 2005 - January 2008
Rear Admiral Jay A. DeLoach, USN (ret.), 23 June 2008 - 14 May 2012
Captain Henry J. Hendrix, USN, 14 May 2012 - present
Collections
The Command starts and maintains records, manuscripts, books, photographs, artifacts, and artwork that document the Navy's history. Extensive collections at the Command's headquarters on the Washington Navy Yard include:
Archives--Millions of official operational records, historical documents, personal papers, officer biographies, oral histories, and manuscripts related to naval operations, policy, and strategy, including ships' deck logs dating back thirty years and annual command operations reports of active U.S. Navy ships, aviation units, and shore commands
Historical Artifacts--More than 200,000 artifacts, such as shipboard equipment, anchors, bells, uniforms, flags, and weapons from some of the Navy's most famous fighting ships and personnel
Archaeological Artifacts-Over 9,000 artifacts recovered and documented from sunken military craft such as personal affects, ordnance, ship's rigging and hull elements, and ceramic vessels
Photos--More than 500,000 historic still photos in a dedicated photo collection, with thousands more in the records collections housed in the Command's archives
Art--More than 18,000 paintings, prints, drawings, and sculptures
Library--More than 150,000 books and 80,000 manuscripts related to naval, maritime, and military history in the official Navy Department Library
Similar collections that document the Navy's history in specialized areas of interest are located at the eleven official U.S. Navy museums nationwide.