To whom does the DCPO report?

• A. DCA
• B. Executive Officer
• C. CO
• D. Department Head

Answer: (A)

The key idea is who oversees the ship’s damage control program. The Damage Control Petty Officer works under the Damage Control Officer/Damage Control Assistant, who is responsible for implementing and supervising damage control readiness, training, and procedures. The DCPO handles the day-to-day DC watches and tasks as a hands-on coordinator under the DCA’s supervision. While the Commanding Officer and Executive Officer are above in the overall command chain, they are not the DCPO’s direct supervisor for DC matters, and a Department Head isn’t the line supervisor for the DC program. So the DCPO reports to the Damage Control Assistant.