The United States Secretary of Defense is the head of the United States Department of Defense, concerned with the armed services and military matters. The Secretary is appointed by the President with the approval of the Senate, and is a member of the Cabinet. By statute the secretary must be a civilian who has not served in the armed forces for at least 10 years (10 USC Sec. 113). The Secretary of Defense is sixth in the United States presidential line of succession. The United States Department of Defense, abbreviated DoD or DOD and sometimes called the Defense Department, is a civilian Cabinet organization of the United States government. ... Seal of the President of the United States, official impression The President of the United States is the head of state of the United States. ... The United States Senate is the upper house of the U.S. Congress, smaller than the United States House of Representatives. ... Cabinet meeting on May 16, 2001. ... The armed forces of the United States of America consist of the United States Army United States Navy United States Air Force United States Marine Corps United States Coast Guard Note: The United States Coast Guard has both military and law enforcement functions. ... The United States Code (U.S.C.) is the general and permanent federal Law of the United States. ... The presidential line of succession defines who may become or act as President of the United States upon the incapacity, death, resignation, or removal from office (by impeachment and subsequent conviction) of a sitting President or a President-elect. ...

This position was created in 1947 when the Navy, Army, and newly created Air Force were merged into the new National Military Establishment. In the same massive reorganization, the Secretary of War was replaced by the Secretary of the Army and, along with the Secretary of the Navy and the new Secretary of the Air Force, became a non-Cabinet position placed under the Secretary of Defense. In 1949, the National Military Establishment was renamed the Department of Defense, which remains the current name of the department. 1947 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Secretary of War was a member of the Presidents Cabinet, beginning with George Washingtons administration. ... Flag of the United States Secretary of the Army The United States Secretary of the Army has statutory responsibility for all matters relating to the United States Army: manpower, personnel, reserve affairs, installations, environmental issues, weapons systems and equipment acquisition, communications, and financial management. ... Flag of the United States Secretary of the Navy. ... The Secretary of the Air Force is the civilian head of the United States Department of the Air Force, a component organization of the Department of Defense. ... 1949 is a common year starting on Saturday. ...

Within the United States Armed Forces, the Secretary of Defense is often referred to as SecDef. The armed forces of the United States of America consist of the United States Army United States Navy United States Air Force United States Marine Corps United States Coast Guard Note: The United States Coast Guard has both military and law enforcement functions. ...

He is assisted by a Deputy Secretary and 5 Under Secretaries in the fields of Acquisition, Technology & Logistics; Comptroller/Chief Financial Officer; Intelligence; Personnel & Readiness; and arguably the most important, Policy. All of these positions require Senate confirmation.

See http://www.defenselink.mil/osd/topleaders.html for information on each position and biographies of the current Deputy Secretary (DepSecDef) and Under Secretaries (USDs).

SecDef also supervises the 6 Joint Chiefs of Staff (http://www.dtic.mil/jcs/core/people.html) and the commanders of the 9 Unified Commands (http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/unifiedcommand).

Seal of the President of the United States, official impression The President of the United States is the head of state of the United States. ... James Vincent Forrestal (February 15, 1892–May 22, 1949) was a Secretary of the Navy and the first United States Secretary of Defense (1947 - 1949). ... September 17 is the 260th day of the year (261st in leap years). ... 1947 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... March 28 is the 87th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (88th in Leap years). ... 1949 is a common year starting on Saturday. ... Harry S. Truman - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... Louis Arthur Johnson (January 10, 1891 - April 24, 1966) was the second United States Secretary of Defense, serving in the cabinet of President Harry S. Truman from March 28, 1949 to September 19, 1950. ... March 28 is the 87th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (88th in Leap years). ... 1949 is a common year starting on Saturday. ... September 19 is the 262nd day of the year (263rd in leap years). ... Events January January 5 - US Senator Estes Kefauver introduces a resolution calling for examination of organized crime in the USA January 6 - The United Kingdom recognizes the Peoples Republic of China. ... Harry S. Truman - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... George C. Marshall George Catlett Marshall (December 31, 1880–October 16, 1959), an American military leader and statesman, was born into a middle-class family in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. ... September 21 is the 264th day of the year (265th in leap years). ... Events January January 5 - US Senator Estes Kefauver introduces a resolution calling for examination of organized crime in the USA January 6 - The United Kingdom recognizes the Peoples Republic of China. ... September 12 is the 255th day of the year (256th in leap years). ... Global Metrics Human security Major Armed Conflicts: Total Deaths in Battle: 700,000 people Violent Deaths caused by Government (Other than War): Violent Deaths caused by other humans: Juvenile Violent Crime: Political security Nations Holding Multi-party Elections: Percentage Living under a Fully Democratic System of Governance: Free Countries: Percentage... Harry S. Truman - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... Robert Abercrombie Lovett (14 September 1895 - 7 May 1986) was the fourth United States Secretary of Defense, serving in the cabinet of President Harry S. Truman from 1951 to 1953 and in this capacity, directed the Korean War. ... September 17 is the 260th day of the year (261st in leap years). ... Global Metrics Human security Major Armed Conflicts: Total Deaths in Battle: 700,000 people Violent Deaths caused by Government (Other than War): Violent Deaths caused by other humans: Juvenile Violent Crime: Political security Nations Holding Multi-party Elections: Percentage Living under a Fully Democratic System of Governance: Free Countries: Percentage... January 20 is the 20th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1953 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... Harry S. Truman - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... Charles Erwin Wilson (July 18, 1890 - September 26, 1961), American businessman and politician, was United States Secretary of Defense from 1953 to 1957 under President Eisenhower. ... January 28 is the 28th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1953 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... October 8 is the 281st day of the year (282nd in leap years). ... 1957 was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Order: 34th President Vice President: Richard Nixon Term of office: January 20, 1953 – January 20, 1961 Preceded by: Harry S. Truman Succeeded by: John F. Kennedy Date of birth: October 14, 1890 Place of birth: Denison, Texas Date of death: March 28, 1969 Place of death: Washington, D.C. First... Neil Hosler McElroy (30 October 1904 - 30 November 1972) was United States Secretary of Defense from 1957 to 1959 under President Eisenhower. ... October 9 is the 282nd day of the year (283rd in Leap years). ... 1957 was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... December 1 is the 335th (in leap years the 336th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1959 was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... Order: 34th President Vice President: Richard Nixon Term of office: January 20, 1953 – January 20, 1961 Preceded by: Harry S. Truman Succeeded by: John F. Kennedy Date of birth: October 14, 1890 Place of birth: Denison, Texas Date of death: March 28, 1969 Place of death: Washington, D.C. First... Thomas Sovereign Gates, Jr. ... December 2 is the 336th day (337th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1959 was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... January 20 is the 20th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1961 (As MAD Magazine pointed out on its first cover for the year) was the first upside-down year - i. ... Order: 34th President Vice President: Richard Nixon Term of office: January 20, 1953 – January 20, 1961 Preceded by: Harry S. Truman Succeeded by: John F. Kennedy Date of birth: October 14, 1890 Place of birth: Denison, Texas Date of death: March 28, 1969 Place of death: Washington, D.C. First... Robert McNamara in 1964 Robert Strange McNamara (born June 9, 1916), American businessman and politician, was United States Secretary of Defense from 1961 to 1968. ... January 21 is the 21st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1961 (As MAD Magazine pointed out on its first cover for the year) was the first upside-down year - i. ... February 29 is the 60th day of a leap year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 306 days remaining. ... 1968 was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... Order: 35th President Vice President: Lyndon B. Johnson Term of office: January 20, 1961 – November 22, 1963 Preceded by: Dwight D. Eisenhower Succeeded by: Lyndon B. Johnson Date of birth: May 29, 1917 Place of birth: Brookline, Massachusetts Date of death: November 22, 1963 Place of death: Dallas, Texas First... Lyndon Baines Johnson (August 27, 1908–January 22, 1973), often referred to as LBJ, was an American politician. ... Clark McAdams Clifford (December 25, 1906 _ October 10, 1998) was an American lawyer who served for Presidents Truman, Kennedy, and Johnson. ... March 1 is the 60th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (61st in leap years). ... 1968 was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... January 20 is the 20th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1969 was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1969 calendar). ... Lyndon Baines Johnson (August 27, 1908–January 22, 1973), often referred to as LBJ, was an American politician. ... Melvin Robert Laird (born September 1, 1922) was a Republican congressman from Wisconsin who served as Richard Nixons Secretary of Defense from 1969 to 1973. ... January 22 is the 22nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1969 was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1969 calendar). ... January 29 is the 29th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1973 was a common year starting on Monday. ... Order: 37th President Vice President: Spiro Agnew ( 1969– 1973), Gerald Ford ( 1973– 1974) Term of office: January 20, 1969 – August 9, 1974 Preceded by: Lyndon B. Johnson Succeeded by: Gerald Ford Date of birth: January 9, 1913 Place of birth: Yorba Linda, California Date of death: April 22, 1994 Place... Elliot Lee Richardson Elliot Lee Richardson (July 20, 1920 - December 31, 1999) was an American lawyer and politician who was a member of the cabinet of President Richard Nixon, but he managed to avoid being tainted by the Watergate Scandal. ... January 30 is the 30th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1973 was a common year starting on Monday. ... May 24 is the 144th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (145th in leap years). ... 1973 was a common year starting on Monday. ... Order: 37th President Vice President: Spiro Agnew ( 1969– 1973), Gerald Ford ( 1973– 1974) Term of office: January 20, 1969 – August 9, 1974 Preceded by: Lyndon B. Johnson Succeeded by: Gerald Ford Date of birth: January 9, 1913 Place of birth: Yorba Linda, California Date of death: April 22, 1994 Place... James Rodney Schlesinger (born 15 February 1929) was United States Secretary of Defense from 1973 to 1974 under presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. ... July 2 is the 183rd day of the year (184th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 182 days remaining. ... 1973 was a common year starting on Monday. ... November 19 is the 323rd day of the year (324th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1975 was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1975 calendar). ... Order: 37th President Vice President: Spiro Agnew ( 1969– 1973), Gerald Ford ( 1973– 1974) Term of office: January 20, 1969 – August 9, 1974 Preceded by: Lyndon B. Johnson Succeeded by: Gerald Ford Date of birth: January 9, 1913 Place of birth: Yorba Linda, California Date of death: April 22, 1994 Place... Order: 38th President Vice President: none, then Nelson A. Rockefeller Term of office: August 9, 1974 – January 20, 1977 Preceded by: Richard Nixon Succeeded by: Jimmy Carter Date of birth: July 14, 1913 Place of birth: Omaha, Nebraska First Lady: Betty Ford Political party: Republican Gerald Rudolph Ford, Jr. ... Donald Rumsfeld Donald Henry Rumsfeld (born July 9, 1932) is the current Secretary of Defense of the United States, since January 20, 2001, under President George W. Bush. ... November 20 is the 324th day of the year (325th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1975 was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1975 calendar). ... January 20 is the 20th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ... Order: 38th President Vice President: none, then Nelson A. Rockefeller Term of office: August 9, 1974 – January 20, 1977 Preceded by: Richard Nixon Succeeded by: Jimmy Carter Date of birth: July 14, 1913 Place of birth: Omaha, Nebraska First Lady: Betty Ford Political party: Republican Gerald Rudolph Ford, Jr. ... Harold Brown (born September 19, 1927), American scientist, was U.S. Secretary of Defense from 1977 to 1981 in the cabinet of President Jimmy Carter. ... January 21 is the 21st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ... January 20 is the 20th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1981 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... Order: 39th President Vice President: Walter Mondale Term of office: January 20, 1977 – January 20, 1981 Preceded by: Gerald Ford Succeeded by: Ronald Reagan Date of birth: October 1, 1924 Place of birth: Plains, Georgia First Lady: Rosalynn Carter Political party: Democratic James Earl Jimmy Carter, Jr. ... Caspar Willard Weinberger (born August 18, 1917) is best known as United States Secretary of Defense under President Ronald Reagan from 1982 through 1987, and for his related roles in the Strategic Defense Initiative program (popularly known as Star Wars), and in the Iran-Contra Affair. ... January 21 is the 21st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1981 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... November 23 is the 327th day of the year (328th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 38 days remaining. ... 1987 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Order: 40th President Vice President: George H.W. Bush Term of office: January 20, 1981 – January 20, 1989 Preceded by: Jimmy Carter Succeeded by: George H.W. Bush Date of birth: February 6, 1911 Place of birth: Tampico, Illinois Date of death: June 5, 2004 Place of death: Los Angeles... Frank Charles Carlucci III (born October 18, 1930) was a government official in the United States associated with the Republican Party who was United States Secretary of Defense from 1987 until 1989. ... November 23 is the 327th day of the year (328th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 38 days remaining. ... 1987 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 20 is the 20th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1989 is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Order: 40th President Vice President: George H.W. Bush Term of office: January 20, 1981 – January 20, 1989 Preceded by: Jimmy Carter Succeeded by: George H.W. Bush Date of birth: February 6, 1911 Place of birth: Tampico, Illinois Date of death: June 5, 2004 Place of death: Los Angeles... Richard Bruce Cheney (born January 30, 1941), widely known as Dick Cheney, is an American politician and businessman affiliated with the U.S. Republican Party. ... March 21 is the 80th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (81st in leap years). ... 1989 is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 20 is the 20th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1993 is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003) Events January January 1 - Czechoslovakia divides. ... Order: 41st President Vice President: Dan Quayle Term of office: January 20, 1989 – January 20, 1993 Preceded by: Ronald Reagan Succeeded by: Bill Clinton Date of birth: June 12, 1924 Place of birth: Milton, Massachusetts First Lady: Barbara Pierce Bush Political party: Republican George Herbert Walker Bush, KBE (born June... Leslie Aspin, Jr. ... January 21 is the 21st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1993 is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003) Events January January 1 - Czechoslovakia divides. ... February 3 is the 34th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1994 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... Order: 42nd President Vice President: Al Gore Term of office: January 20, 1993–January 20, 2001 Preceded by: George H. W. Bush Succeeded by: George W. Bush Date of birth: August 19, 1946 Place of birth: Hope, Arkansas First Lady: Hillary Rodham Clinton Political party: Democratic William Jefferson Clinton (born... Alternative meaning: William Perry (football) William James Perry (born October 11, 1927) was the U.S. Secretary of Defense under President Bill Clinton from February 3, 1994 to January 23, 1997. ... February 3 is the 34th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1994 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... January 23 is the 23rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1997 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Reef. ... Order: 42nd President Vice President: Al Gore Term of office: January 20, 1993–January 20, 2001 Preceded by: George H. W. Bush Succeeded by: George W. Bush Date of birth: August 19, 1946 Place of birth: Hope, Arkansas First Lady: Hillary Rodham Clinton Political party: Democratic William Jefferson Clinton (born... William Sebastian Cohen (born August 28, 1940) is an American Republican politician from Maine. ... January 24 is the 24th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1997 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Reef. ... January 20 is the 20th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2001 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Order: 42nd President Vice President: Al Gore Term of office: January 20, 1993–January 20, 2001 Preceded by: George H. W. Bush Succeeded by: George W. Bush Date of birth: August 19, 1946 Place of birth: Hope, Arkansas First Lady: Hillary Rodham Clinton Political party: Democratic William Jefferson Clinton (born... Donald Rumsfeld Donald Henry Rumsfeld (born July 9, 1932) is the current Secretary of Defense of the United States, since January 20, 2001, under President George W. Bush. ... January 20 is the 20th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2001 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician and currently the 43rd President of the United States. ...

External links

• Histories of the Secretaries of Defense (http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/secdef_histories/)