Shield. Dark blue, gold, and white are colors traditionally associated with the United States Navy. The wavy pattern in chief refers to the ocean while the three stars denote the N3/N5/N7 as a three-star principal official in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. The queen chess piece sitting atop a golden globe illustrates the directorate’s responsibility for Navy strategy and the importance of the Navy’s being able quickly to move in any direction and to any location worldwide. The sextant symbolizes the precision, calculation, and strategic foresight required for naval planning. The gold compass rose emphasizes global navigation and operations at sea.
Crest. The trident refers to the Navy’s warfighting advantage in the maritime domain and is the classic emblem for a strong command of the seas.
Supporters. Positioned crossed behind the shield, the Navy officer sword and Navy chief petty officer cutlass refer to the crucial partnerships between officer and enlisted personnel and highlight the educational opportunities for both categories of service members provided by the academic institutions falling under N3/N5/N7 leadership.
Scroll. The Latin motto, “STRATEGIA ET POTENTIA” in context, translates to: “Strategy and Power,” focusing on the strategic planning and force necessary for naval dominance. The white scroll alludes to the responsibility of N3/N5/N7 for Navy education, and the colors are consistent with those worn on academic robes to represent the three areas of study most relevant to N3/N5/N7’s work: the Arts (white), Engineering (orange), and Science (yellow).
Seal. The coat of arms as blazoned in full color on a circular light blue background, edged with a gold chain border, enclosed by a dark blue designation band edged on the outside with a gold rope or line, inscribed, “DCNO FOR OPERATIONS, PLANS, STRATGEY, AND WARFIGHTING DEVELOPMENT” around the band and “N3 N5 N7” at the base, between two discs, all in white. The chain encircling the center of the seal further portrays the strong links between shipmates and co-workers, as well as the connections between N3/N5/N7 and partner organizations across the Navy and the federal government. The chain, with the rope at the outside edge of the seal, are also traditional symbols of Navy strength and unity.