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United States Secretary of Defense
Flag of the United States Secretary of Defense.svg
Flag of the secretary
US Department of Defense seal.svg
Seal of the department
Confirmation portrait of Pete Hegseth (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Pete Hegseth

since January 25, 2025
United States Department of Defense
Office of the Secretary of Defense
Style Mr. Secretary (informal)
The Honorable (formal)
Abbreviation SecDef
Member of Cabinet
National Security Council
Reports to President of the United States
Seat The Pentagon, Arlington County, Virginia
Appointer The President
with Senate advice and consent
Term length No fixed term
Constituting instrument 10 U.S.C. § 113
Precursor Secretary of War
Secretary of the Navy
Formation September 17, 1947 (1947-09-17)
First holder James Forrestal
Succession Sixth
Deputy Deputy Secretary of Defense
Salary Executive Schedule, level I

The United States Secretary of Defense (often called SecDef) is the main leader of the United States Department of Defense (DoD). This department manages the U.S. Armed Forces. The Secretary of Defense is a very important member of the President's Cabinet.

This person is in charge of the military, second only to the president of the United States. The president is the commander-in-chief of the military. In many other countries, this job is called a "defense minister." The president chooses the Secretary of Defense. The Senate must agree with the president's choice. By law, the Secretary is also part of the National Security Council.

To make sure civilians control the military, U.S. law has a special rule. The Secretary of Defense cannot have been an active military officer in the past seven years. For generals and admirals, this time is ten years. However, Congress can make an exception to this rule. They have done this three times for George C. Marshall, James N. Mattis, and Lloyd J. Austin III.

The Secretary of Defense takes orders only from the president. They are in charge of all parts of the Department of Defense. This includes the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Space Force. They also oversee the Coast Guard when it works with the Department of Defense. Only the Secretary of Defense (or the president or Congress) can move forces between military branches. Because of their power, some people call the Secretary the "deputy commander-in-chief."

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff gives military advice to the Secretary and the president. But the chairman is not directly in the chain of command. The Secretary of Defense is one of the four most important Cabinet members. The others are the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Attorney General.

The current Secretary of Defense is Pete Hegseth.

How the Secretary of Defense Started

Seal of the United States National Military Establishment (1947–1949)
Seal of the National Military Establishment (1947–1949)

The Army, Navy, and Marine Corps were created in 1775. This happened during the American Revolution. The War Department was set up in 1789. It was led by the Secretary of War. This department was in charge of both the Army and Navy. Later, in 1798, a separate Department of the Navy was created.

After World War II, people wanted to manage the military better. The Army wanted more central control. The Navy preferred to keep things separate. The National Security Act of 1947 was a compromise. It changed the name of the War Department to the Department of the Army. It also added the Army and Navy departments to a new group called the National Military Establishment (NME). The Act also made the United States Air Force its own branch, separate from the Army.

Associate Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart Swearing Donald Rumsfeld in as Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia - NARA - 23898551
Donald Rumsfeld being sworn in as Secretary of Defense in 1975.

The Act created a new job title: Secretary of Defense. At first, each military branch still had its own leader in the Cabinet. The first Secretary of Defense, James Forrestal, found it hard to lead all the branches. He had limited power. So, in 1949, the National Security Act was changed. This change made the defense structure more unified. It helped reduce competition between the military branches. The leaders of the Army, Navy, and Air Force then reported directly to the Secretary of Defense. The NME was also renamed the Department of Defense. At this time, the job of Deputy Secretary of Defense was also created. This is the second-in-command role.

Since 1949, the Department of Defense has become more centralized. This means more power has been given to civilian leaders and defense organizations. The last big change to the Secretary's role was in 1986. This change made it very important for officers to have experience working with different military branches.

As the Secretary of Defense is a civilian job, the person must have been retired from military service for at least seven years. Congress can make an exception. This has happened only three times since 1947. These exceptions were for Army General George Marshall in 1950, Marine Corps General Jim Mattis in 2017, and retired Army General Lloyd Austin in 2021.

What the Secretary of Defense Does

DoD Organization December 2013
Department of Defense organizational chart (December 2013)

The Secretary of Defense is chosen by the president. The Senate must agree to the choice. By law, the Secretary is the head of the Department of Defense. They are the president's main helper for all defense matters. They have power and control over the entire Department of Defense. The U.S. Constitution gives military power to Congress and the president. The Secretary's power comes from them. Since the president cannot handle every detail, the Secretary and their team manage military affairs.

As the head of the DoD, all officials, employees, and service members report to the Secretary. Some of these high-ranking officials include the leaders of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. It also includes the top military leaders like the Army chief of staff and the Marine Corps commandant. All these important jobs need Senate approval.

The Department of Defense includes many parts. These are the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Combatant Commands. It also includes the military departments (Army, Navy, Air Force) and other defense agencies.

The Secretary's Office

The Secretary has a main civilian staff called the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD). This office includes the Deputy Secretary of Defense. It also has six under secretaries who handle different areas like money, intelligence, and policy. There are also other assistants and their teams.

The main military staff organization is called the Joint Staff. It works under the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Military Awards

The Secretary of Defense approves special awards for military personnel. These awards are for service in joint duty assignments. Examples include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal and the Defense Superior Service Medal. The Joint Meritorious Unit Award is given to groups that work together across different military branches.

The highest military award is the Medal of Honor. Recommendations for this medal go through the Secretary of Defense. The Secretary must approve them before they go to the president. The president is the final approval authority for the Medal of Honor.

Working with Congress

The Secretary of Defense is the main person who talks to Congress about the Department of Defense. The most important committees are the Senate Armed Services Committee and the House Armed Services Committee. These committees oversee the entire department. There are also committees that oversee intelligence programs.

National Security Council

The Secretary of Defense is a member of the National Security Council. This group helps the president make important decisions about national security. The Secretary, along with the vice president and Secretary of State, attends regular meetings. They prepare and coordinate issues before the president makes final decisions.

Secretary's Salary

The Secretary of Defense earns a salary of US$246,400 per year, as of October 2024. This is a top-level position in the government's pay scale.

List of Secretaries of Defense

The person who served the longest as Secretary of Defense is Robert McNamara. He served for more than seven years. Donald Rumsfeld served almost as long, combining his two times in office.

The shortest-serving Secretary of Defense was Elliot Richardson. He served for 114 days. He then became the U.S. attorney general during the Watergate Scandal.

For leaders of the military departments before 1947, you can look at the lists of Secretaries of the Navy and Secretaries of War.

Parties

      Democratic       Republican       Independent / Unknown

Status

     Denotes an Acting Secretary of Defense

No. Image Name Start End Duration Party Home State President(s)
1 James Forrestal - SecOfDef.jpg Forrestal, JamesJames Forrestal September 17, 1947 March 28, 1949 1 year, 192 days Democratic New York Truman, Harry S.Harry S. Truman
(1945–1953)
2 Louis Johnson official DoD photo.jpg Johnson, Louis A.Louis A. Johnson March 28, 1949 September 19, 1950 1 year, 175 days Democratic West Virginia
3 General George C. Marshall, official military photo, 1946 (cropped).JPEG Marshall, George C.George C. Marshall September 21, 1950 September 12, 1951 356 days Independent Pennsylvania
4 Robert A. Lovett cph.3a47036.jpg Lovett, Robert A.Robert A. Lovett September 17, 1951 January 20, 1953 1 year, 125 days Republican New York
5 Charles Wilson official DoD photo.jpg Wilson, Charles ErwinCharles Erwin Wilson January 28, 1953 October 8, 1957 4 years, 253 days Republican Michigan Eisenhower, Dwight D.Dwight D. Eisenhower
(1953–1961)
6 Neil McElroy official DoD photo.jpg McElroy, Neil H.Neil H. McElroy October 9, 1957 December 1, 1959 2 years, 53 days Republican Ohio
7 Thomas S Gates Jr..jpg Gates Jr., Thomas S.Thomas S. Gates Jr. December 2, 1959 January 20, 1961 1 year, 49 days Republican Pennsylvania
8 Robert McNamara official portrait.jpg McNamara, RobertRobert McNamara January 21, 1961 February 29, 1968 7 years, 39 days Republican Michigan Kennedy, John F.John F. Kennedy
(1961–1963)
Johnson, Lyndon B.Lyndon B. Johnson
(1963–1969)
9 Clark Clifford photo portrait.jpg Clifford, ClarkClark Clifford March 1, 1968 January 20, 1969 325 days Democratic Maryland Johnson, Lyndon B.Lyndon B. Johnson
(1963–1969)
10 Melvin Laird official photo.JPEG Laird, MelvinMelvin Laird January 22, 1969 January 29, 1973 4 years, 7 days Republican Wisconsin Nixon, RichardRichard Nixon
(1969–1974)
11 ElliotLeeRichardson.jpg Richardson, ElliotElliot Richardson January 30, 1973 May 24, 1973 114 days Republican Massachusetts
Clements Deputy DoD.jpg Clements, BillBill Clements
Acting
May 24, 1973 July 2, 1973 39 days Republican Texas
12 James Schlesinger official DoD photo BW (cropped).jpg Schlesinger, James R.James R. Schlesinger July 2, 1973 November 19, 1975 2 years, 140 days Republican Virginia Nixon, RichardRichard Nixon
(1969–1974)
Ford, GeraldGerald Ford
(1974–1977)
13 Rumsfeld Ford admin Secretary of Defense.jpg Rumsfeld, DonaldDonald Rumsfeld November 20, 1975 January 20, 1977 1 year, 61 days Republican Illinois Ford, GeraldGerald Ford
(1974–1977)
14 Harold Brown photo portrait standing.jpg Brown, HaroldHarold Brown January 20, 1977 January 20, 1981 4 years, 0 days Democratic California Carter, JimmyJimmy Carter
(1977–1981)
15 Caspar Weinberger official photo.jpg Weinberger, CasparCaspar Weinberger January 21, 1981 November 23, 1987 6 years, 306 days Republican California Reagan, RonaldRonald Reagan
(1981–1989)
16 Frank Carlucci official portrait.JPEG Carlucci, FrankFrank Carlucci November 23, 1987 January 20, 1989 1 year, 58 days Republican Virginia
William Howard Taft IV, Deptuty Secretary of Defense, official portrait.JPEG Taft IV, William HowardWilliam Howard Taft IV
Acting
January 20, 1989 March 21, 1989 60 days Republican Ohio Bush, George H. W.George H. W. Bush
(1989–1993)
17 Secretary of Defense Richard B. Cheney, official portrait (cropped).jpg Cheney, DickDick Cheney March 21, 1989 January 20, 1993 3 years, 305 days Republican Wyoming
18 Les Aspin official DoD photo.jpg Aspin, LesLes Aspin January 20, 1993 February 3, 1994 1 year, 14 days Democratic Wisconsin Clinton, BillBill Clinton
(1993–2001)
19 William Perry official DoD photo (retouched).jpg Perry, WilliamWilliam Perry February 3, 1994 January 24, 1997 2 years, 356 days Democratic Pennsylvania
20 William Cohen, official portrait (cropped).jpg Cohen, WilliamWilliam Cohen January 24, 1997 January 20, 2001 3 years, 362 days Republican Maine
21 Rumsfeld1 (cropped).jpg Rumsfeld, DonaldDonald Rumsfeld January 20, 2001 December 18, 2006 5 years, 332 days
(7 years, 29 days total)
Republican Illinois Bush, George W.George W. Bush
(2001–2009)
22 Robert Gates, official DoD photo portrait, 2006 (cropped).jpg Gates, RobertRobert Gates December 18, 2006 June 30, 2011 4 years, 194 days Republican Texas Bush, George W.George W. Bush
(2001–2009)
Obama, BarackBarack Obama
(2009–2017)
23 Leon Panetta, official DoD photo portrait, 2011 (cropped).jpg Panetta, LeonLeon Panetta July 1, 2011 February 26, 2013 1 year, 240 days Democratic California Obama, BarackBarack Obama
(2009–2017)
24 Chuck Hagel Defense portrait (cropped).jpg Hagel, ChuckChuck Hagel February 27, 2013 February 17, 2015 1 year, 355 days Republican Nebraska
25 Ash Carter DOD Secretary Portrait (cropped).jpg Carter, AshAsh Carter February 17, 2015 January 20, 2017 1 year, 338 days Democratic Massachusetts
26 James Mattis official photo (cropped).jpg Mattis, JimJim Mattis January 20, 2017 January 1, 2019 1 year, 345 days Independent Washington Trump, DonaldDonald Trump
(2017–2021)
Patrick Shanahan (cropped).jpg Shanahan, Patrick M.Patrick M. Shanahan
Acting
January 1, 2019 June 23, 2019 173 days Independent Washington
Mark T. Esper (cropped).jpg Esper, MarkMark Esper
Acting
June 24, 2019 July 15, 2019 21 days Republican Virginia
Richard V. Spencer official photo (cropped).jpg Spencer, Richard V.Richard V. Spencer
Acting
July 15, 2019 July 23, 2019 8 days Republican Wyoming
27 Dr. Mark T. Esper – Acting Secretary of Defense (cropped).jpg Esper, MarkMark Esper July 23, 2019 November 9, 2020 1 year, 109 days Republican Virginia
Christopher C. Miller official portrait (cropped).jpg Miller, Christopher C.Christopher C. Miller
Acting
November 9, 2020 January 20, 2021 72 days Republican Iowa
David L. Norquist – Deputy Secretary of Defense (cropped).jpg Norquist, DavidDavid Norquist
Acting
January 20, 2021 January 22, 2021 2 days Republican Massachusetts Biden, JoeJoe Biden
(2021–2025)
28 Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, official portrait, 2023 (cropped).jpg Austin, LloydLloyd Austin January 22, 2021 January 20, 2025 3 years, 364 days Independent Georgia
Robert Salesses in 2005 (cropped).jpg Salesses, Robert G.Robert G. Salesses
Acting
January 20, 2025 January 25, 2025 5 days Independent Trump, DonaldDonald Trump
(2025–present)
29 Pete Hegseth by Gage Skidmore 3.jpg Hegseth, PetePete Hegseth January 25, 2025 Incumbent 152 days Republican Tennessee

Who Takes Over if the President or Secretary Can't Serve?

Presidential Succession

The Secretary of Defense is sixth in line to become president. This means if the president and five other people ahead of them cannot serve, the Secretary of Defense would become president. They come after the Secretary of the Treasury and before the Attorney General.

Secretary Succession

If the Secretary of Defense cannot do their job, other officials are ready to step in. There is a specific order of who takes over. The Deputy Secretary of Defense is usually the first person to take over if the Secretary is unable to serve.

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See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Secretario de Defensa de los Estados Unidos para niños

  • Base Realignment and Closure Commission
  • Boeing E-4
  • Challenge coin
  • Combat Exclusion Policy
  • Commission to Assess the Ballistic Missile Threat to the United States
  • Continuity of Operations Plan
  • CONPLAN 8022-02
  • Defense Policy Board Advisory Committee
  • Defense Support of Civil authorities
  • Department of Defense Directive 2310
  • Designated survivor
  • Emergency Action Message
  • Global Command and Control System
  • Gold Codes
  • Hamdan v. Rumsfeld
  • Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System
  • Key West Agreement
  • McCarran Internal Security Act
  • Military Commissions Act of 2006
  • Military operation plan
  • National Command Authority (United States)
  • National Industrial Security Program
  • National Security Strategy (United States)
  • Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge
  • Packard Commission
  • Permissive Action Link
  • Presidential Successor Support System
  • Quadrennial Defense Review
  • Rules of engagement
  • Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award
  • Single Integrated Operational Plan
  • State secrets privilege
  • Stop-loss policy
  • Two-man rule
  • Unconventional warfare (United States Department of Defense doctrine)
  • United States Foreign Military Financing
  • US Commission on National Security/21st Century
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