FOIA/PA Main :: Administrative Department :: USNA Skip to footer site map USNA Administrative Department Freedom of Information /Privacy Act FOIA/PA Main Admin Dept Home USNA Instructions Freedom of Information /Privacy Act Privacy Program Forms Program Records Management Larson Hall 1st LT Information Midshipmen Personnel and Administration Chop Sheet and Routing Matrix External Governing Instructions Directives Management Award Template (Superintendent) Administrative Department USNA FOIA Program The Freedom of Information Act 5 U.S.C. §552 The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 5 U.S.C. §552, was passed by Congress in 1966 to provide the public with a right of access to federal government records. The FOIA gives the public the right to request access to records of the Executive Branch of government and agencies are required to search for those requested records and then to provide copies to the requester unless the records contain information that is protected from mandatory disclosure. The Privacy Act 5 U.S.C. §552a The Privacy Act (PA) of 1974, 5 U.S.C. §552a , establishes a code of fair information practices that governs the collection, maintenance, use, and dissemination of information about individuals that is maintained in systems of records by federal agencies.  The Privacy Act requires that agencies give the public notice of their systems of records by publication in the Federal Register. The Privacy Act prohibits the disclosure of a record about an individual from a system of records absent the written consent of the individual, unless the disclosure is pursuant to one of twelve statutory exceptions. For more information about the FOIA or Privacy Act Visit the Secretary of the Navy and Chief of Naval Operations websites at or .  The Department of Defense website can be located at For FOIA and PA policy issues/guidance refer to the following Secretary of the Navy, Naval Academy, and DoD instructions: SECNAVINST 5720.42G OSD Memo of 1 Sep 2005 - Withholding of Information that Personally Identifies DOD Personnel SECNAVINST 5211.5F USNAINST 5720.5C USNAINST 5211.3E DoD FOIA Handbook FOIA Public Liaisons: Naval Academy FOIA Coordinator U.S. Naval Academy 121 Blake Rd Annapolis, MD 21402-1300                                          410-293-1550                                                              foia@usna.edu Department of the Navy DON FOIA Public Liaison Chief of Naval Operations (DNS-36) 2000 Navy Pentagon Washington, D.C. 20350-2000                                    703-697-0031 DONFOIAPublicLiaison@navy .mil Freedom of Information /Privacy Act FOIA/PA Main FOIA Request PA Request Processing Request Sample FOIA Request Letter Fee Category Reading Room Annual Reports This is an official U.S. Navy Web Site . URL: Page Last Updated: 2025-12-15