United States Secretary of the Air Force facts for kids

Quick facts for kids United States Secretary of the Air Force
Flag of the secretary
Seal of the Department of the Air Force
Incumbent Troy Meink since May 16, 2025
Department of the Air Force
Style	Mr. Secretary The Honorable (formal address in writing)
Reports to	Secretary of Defense Deputy Secretary of Defense
Appointer	The president with the advice and consent of the Senate
Term length	No fixed term
Precursor	Secretary of War
Inaugural holder	Stuart Symington
Formation	September 18, 1947; 77 years ago (1947-09-18)
Succession	3rd in SecDef succession
Deputy	The under secretary (principal civilian deputy) The chief of staff (military deputy) The chief of space operations (military deputy)
Salary	Executive Schedule, Level II

The Secretary of the Air Force (often called SecAF) is the top civilian leader of the United States Department of the Air Force. This department includes both the United States Air Force and the United States Space Force.

The President of the United States chooses this person. The Senate must then agree with the choice. The Secretary reports to the Secretary of Defense. They are in charge of all the important activities for the Air Force and Space Force.

The Secretary works closely with other leaders. These include the Under Secretary of the Air Force (a civilian helper). They also work with military leaders like the Chief of Staff of the Air Force and the Chief of Space Operations.

The first Secretary of the Air Force was Stuart Symington. He started on September 18, 1947. This happened when the Department of War was reorganized. The Army Air Forces became its own military branch. This change was made possible by the National Security Act of 1947.

What the Secretary of the Air Force Does

Stuart Symington takes his oath as the first Secretary of the Air Force in 1947.

The Secretary is the main leader of the Department of the Air Force. This department is a "Military Department." It includes all parts of the Air Force and Space Force. This means all their bases, units, and reserve groups.

The Secretary's main jobs are listed in U.S. law. These jobs include:

• Finding and signing up new members (Recruiting).
• Setting up and organizing military groups.
• Providing supplies and equipment.
• Training all personnel.
• Taking care of service members' well-being.
• Keeping everything in good working order.
• Building and fixing military equipment.
• Building and maintaining bases and buildings.

The Secretary of Defense can ask the Secretary of the Air Force to assign military units. These units then work with special commands. These commands perform specific missions. Once assigned, only the Secretary of Defense can move them.

However, the chain of command for other things is different. It goes from the President to the Secretary of Defense. Then it goes to the Secretary of the Air Force. Finally, it reaches the commanders of Air Force and Space Force units. Air Force and Space Force officers must report to the Secretary when asked. The Secretary can also decide what jobs service members and civilians do. They can also change names of activities. The Secretary also has duties under military law. This includes the power to hold military trials.

The President or Secretary of Defense can give the Secretary more duties. For example, the Secretary is in charge of space systems for the Department of Defense. This means they help plan and get space systems. These systems help the U.S. achieve its national security goals.

Office of the Secretary of the Air Force

Office of the Secretary of the Air Force

Agency overview
Formed	1947
Headquarters	Pentagon
Parent agency	Department of the Air Force

Secretary of the Air Force Verne Orr (center) with other military leaders in 1982.

The Office of the Secretary of the Air Force is the main support team for the Secretary. This office handles many important tasks. These include buying new equipment and checking finances. They also deal with inspections, laws, and public relations.

This office is one of three main headquarters for the Department of the Air Force. The other two are the Air Staff and the Office of the Chief of Space Operations.

Who Works in the Office

The Office of the Secretary of the Air Force includes:

• The Under Secretary of the Air Force.
  • This includes deputies for international affairs and space programs.
• Assistant Secretaries for different areas. These areas include:
  • Buying new technology and supplies.
  • Managing money and finances.
  • Taking care of bases, the environment, and energy.
  • Handling personnel and reserve forces.
  • Getting and putting together space systems.
• The main lawyer (General Counsel).
• The Inspector General, who checks for problems.
• The Chief of Legislative Liaison, who works with Congress.
• The Administrative Assistant to the Secretary.
• The Auditor General, who checks financial records.
• The Air Reserve Forces Policy Committee.

List of Secretaries of the Air Force

No.	Image	Name	Start	End	Duration	President(s)
1		Symington, StuartStuart Symington	September 18, 1947	April 24, 1950	2 years, 218 days		Truman, Harry S.Harry S. Truman (1945–1953)
2		Finletter, Thomas K.Thomas K. Finletter	April 24, 1950	January 20, 1953	2 years, 271 days
3		Talbott, Harold E.Harold E. Talbott	February 4, 1953	August 13, 1955	2 years, 190 days		Eisenhower, Dwight D.Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953–1961)
4		Quarles, Donald A.Donald A. Quarles	August 15, 1955	April 30, 1957	1 year, 258 days
5		Douglas Jr., James H.James H. Douglas Jr.	May 1, 1957	December 10, 1959	2 years, 223 days
6		Sharp, Dudley C.Dudley C. Sharp	December 11, 1959	January 20, 1961	1 year, 40 days
7		Zuckert, Eugene M.Eugene M. Zuckert	January 24, 1961	September 30, 1965	4 years, 249 days		Kennedy, John F.John F. Kennedy (1961–1963)
							Johnson, Lyndon B.Lyndon B. Johnson (1963–1969)
8		Brown, HaroldHarold Brown	October 1, 1965	February 15, 1969	3 years, 137 days
							Nixon, RichardRichard Nixon (1969–1974)
9		Seamans Jr., Robert C.Robert C. Seamans Jr.	February 15, 1969	May 15, 1973	4 years, 89 days
10		McLucas, John L.John L. McLucas	May 15, 1973	July 18, 1973	2 years, 192 days
			July 18, 1973	November 23, 1975
							Ford, GeraldGerald Ford (1974–1977)
11		Reed, Thomas C.Thomas C. Reed	January 2, 1976	April 6, 1977	1 year, 94 days
							Carter, JimmyJimmy Carter (1977–1981)
12		Stetson, John C.John C. Stetson	April 6, 1977	May 18, 1979	2 years, 42 days
13		Mark, HansHans Mark	May 18, 1979	July 26, 1979	1 year, 267 days
			July 26, 1979	February 9, 1981
							Reagan, RonaldRonald Reagan (1981–1989)
14		Orr, VerneVerne Orr	February 9, 1981	November 30, 1985	4 years, 294 days
15		Rourke, Russell A.Russell A. Rourke	December 9, 1985	April 6, 1986	118 days
16		Aldridge Jr., Edward C.Edward C. Aldridge Jr.	April 6, 1986	June 8, 1986	2 years, 254 days
			June 9, 1986	December 16, 1988
–		McGovern, James F.James F. McGovern	December 16, 1988	April 29, 1989	134 days
							Bush, George H. W.George H. W. Bush (1989–1993)
–		Welch Jr., John J.John J. Welch Jr.	April 29, 1989	May 21, 1989	22 days
17		Rice, Donald B.Donald B. Rice	May 21, 1989	January 20, 1993	3 years, 244 days
–		Donley, Michael B.Michael B. Donley Acting	January 20, 1993	July 13, 1993	174 days		Clinton, BillBill Clinton (1993–2001)
–		McPeak, Merrill A.Merrill A. McPeak Acting	July 14, 1993	August 5, 1993	22 days
18		Widnall, SheilaSheila Widnall	August 6, 1993	October 31, 1997	4 years, 86 days
19		Peters, F. WhittenF. Whitten Peters	November 1, 1997	July 30, 1999	3 years, 80 days
			July 30, 1999	January 20, 2001
–		Delaney, Lawrence J.Lawrence J. Delaney Acting	January 21, 2001	May 31, 2001	130 days		Bush, George W.George W. Bush (2001–2009)
20		Roche, James G.James G. Roche	June 1, 2001	January 20, 2005	3 years, 233 days
–		Teets, Peter B.Peter B. Teets Acting	January 20, 2005	March 25, 2005	64 days
–		Montelongo, MichaelMichael Montelongo Acting	March 25, 2005	March 28, 2005	3 days
–		Dominguez, Michael L.Michael L. Dominguez Acting	March 28, 2005	July 29, 2005	123 days
–		Geren, PetePete Geren Acting	July 29, 2005	November 4, 2005	98 days
21		Wynne, MichaelMichael Wynne	November 4, 2005	June 20, 2008	2 years, 229 days
22		Donley, Michael B.Michael B. Donley	June 21, 2008	October 2, 2008	5 years, 0 days
			October 2, 2008	June 21, 2013
							Obama, BarackBarack Obama (2009–2017)
–		Fanning, EricEric Fanning Acting	June 21, 2013	December 20, 2013	182 days
23		James, Deborah LeeDeborah Lee James	December 20, 2013	January 20, 2017	3 years, 31 days
–		Disbrow, LisaLisa Disbrow Acting	January 20, 2017	May 16, 2017	116 days		Trump, DonaldDonald Trump (2017–2021)
24		Wilson, HeatherHeather Wilson	May 16, 2017	May 31, 2019	2 years, 15 days
–		Donovan, MatthewMatthew Donovan Acting	June 1, 2019	October 18, 2019	139 days
25		Barrett, BarbaraBarbara Barrett	October 18, 2019	January 20, 2021	1 year, 94 days
–		Roth, John P.John P. Roth Acting	January 20, 2021	July 28, 2021	189 days		Biden, JoeJoe Biden (2021–2025)
26		Kendall III, FrankFrank Kendall III	July 28, 2021	January 20, 2025	3 years, 176 days
–		A. Ashworth, GaryGary A. Ashworth Acting	January 20, 2025	May 13, 2025	113 days		Trump, DonaldDonald Trump (2025–present)
27		Meink, TroyTroy Meink	May 16, 2025	Incumbent	101 days

See also

In Spanish: Secretario de la Fuerza Aérea de los Estados Unidos para niños

• Department of the Air Force Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service