UNCLASSIFIED//
ROUTINE
R 211852Z MAY 20 MID110000722904U
FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC
TO ALNAV
INFO SECNAV WASHINGTON DC
CNO WASHINGTON DC
CMC WASHINGTON DC
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ALNAV 058/20

MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHGINTON DC/-/MAY//

SUBJ/ANNUAL ETHICS MESSAGE//

RMKS/1.  As our force and nation respond to the novel Coronavirus Disease 
(COVID-19) pandemic, I would like to remind all Department of the Navy (DON) 
employees, regardless of rank or position, of the continuing importance of 
earning and maintaining the public’s trust.  All of us must make ethics an 
integral part of our professional as well as personal lives. Ethics and 
values -based decision-making are a DON priority.

2.  As Federal employees, we have all received training on the various ethics 
and standards of conduct rules.  These rules are rooted in the basic 
obligation which is:  Public Service is a Public Trust.  This basic 
obligation means that each of us has a responsibility to the United States 
Government and its citizens to place loyalty to the Constitution, laws, and 
ethical principles above private gain.  We must also ensure that every 
citizen can have complete confidence in the integrity of the Federal 
Government, including the DON.  To this end, we must all consider the primary 
ethical values contained in the Joint Ethics Regulation, as well as the 
Navy’s core values of honor, courage, and commitment when making work-related 
decisions.

3.  I also want to remind all DON employees of our obligation to remain 
apolitical as we carry out our official duties.  While I encourage each of 
you to exercise your right to vote, we must be mindful of the limitations on 
both military and civilian employees that affect our participation in 
political activities.  I expect all leaders to review the rules governing 
participation by Department of Defense personnel in political activities and 
ensure widest dissemination of the political activities guidance to their 
teams.

4.  Fostering an environment that embraces ethics and values-based decision -
making is an ongoing effort.  As such, military and civilian leaders must 
continue to include ethics and standards of conduct in daily discussions.  
Furthermore, leaders should actively participate in the annual ethics 
training that every financial disclosure filer is required to complete.

5.  Released by the Honorable James E. McPherson, Acting Secretary of the 
Navy.//

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