United States Secretary of Defense

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Head of the U.S. Department of Defense

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Incumbent
Lloyd Austin

since January 22, 2021

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The United States Secretary of Defense (SecDef) is the head of the United States Department of Defense, the executive department of the U.S. federal government responsible for coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government directly related to national security and the United States Armed Forces. The Secretary of Defense is a statutory office, and the general provision in 10 U.S.C. § 113 provides that the Secretary of Defense has "authority, direction, and control over the Department of Defense".

History

The position of Secretary of Defense was created by the National Security Act of 1947 and was first held by James Forrestal, who was previously the Secretary of the Navy. The act merged the Department of War and the Department of the Navy into the National Military Establishment, which was later renamed the Department of Defense in 1949.

Responsibilities

The Secretary of Defense is the principal defense policy advisor to the President of the United States and is responsible for the formulation of general defense policy and policy related to all matters of direct and primary concern to the Department of Defense, and for the execution of approved policy. The Secretary is also a member of the National Security Council.

The Secretary of Defense's power over the United States military is second only to that of the President. This includes the authority to direct the movements of the armed forces and to oversee the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Appointment

The Secretary of Defense is appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the United States Senate. By statute, the Secretary must be a civilian who has not served in the active component of the armed forces for at least seven years prior to their appointment.

List of Secretaries of Defense

Since the establishment of the position, there have been numerous Secretaries of Defense. Some notable Secretaries include:

• James Forrestal (1947–1949)
• Robert McNamara (1961–1968)
• Donald Rumsfeld (1975–1977, 2001–2006)
• James Mattis (2017–2019)
• Lloyd Austin (2021–present)

Related Pages

• United States Department of Defense
• Joint Chiefs of Staff
• National Security Council (United States)
• United States Deputy Secretary of Defense
• Secretary of the Navy
• Secretary of the Army
• Secretary of the Air Force

See Also

• Cabinet of the United States
• United States Armed Forces
• National Security Act of 1947