Which organization maintains the Navy's policies and regulations concerning health and illness?

The organization that maintains the Navy's policies and regulations concerning health and illness is the Surgeon General. The Surgeon General of the Navy operates under the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery and is responsible for overseeing the Navy's health and medical policies. This includes establishing health standards, providing guidance on medical issues, and ensuring that sailors receive appropriate care.

The Chief of Naval Operations focuses primarily on overall naval operations and strategic policies but does not specifically manage health and illness regulations. The Department of Defense encompasses many branches and plays a broader role in defense policy at the federal level rather than focusing solely on the Navy's health policies. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention specializes in public health and disease control but operates outside the military framework and does not directly dictate Navy-specific health regulations.