Who directs a safety stand down?

• A. Commanding Officer (CO)
• B. XO
• C. Chief of the Boat
• D. Safety Officer

Answer: (A)

A safety stand-down is a deliberate, command-level pause in operations to focus on safety and address hazards. The commanding officer has the authority and responsibility for the safety and readiness of the entire command, so they direct when and how a stand-down happens, issuing a directive that applies to everyone. The Safety Officer can plan and coordinate the safety topics, briefings, and training, but the actual order to pause work comes from the CO. The Executive Officer executes orders from the CO, and the Chief of the Boat serves as a senior enlisted advisor rather than the authority to initiate a stand-down across the command.