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United States Secretary of Defense
United States Department of Defense Seal
Seal of the Department[1]
Flag of the United States Secretary of Defense
Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III (50885754687)
Incumbent
Lloyd Austin
since January 22, 2021
United States Department of Defense
Office of the Secretary of Defense
Mr. Secretary
(informal)
The Honorable
(formal)
Status Leader and chief executive
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[3]
Deputy Deputy Secretary of Defense
Salary Executive Schedule, level I[4]
Website www.defense.gov

The Secretary of Defense (SecDef) is the leader and chief executive officer of the Department of Defense, an Executive Department of the Government of the United States of America.[5][6][7] This position corresponds to what is generally known as a Defense Minister in many other countries.[8] The Secretary of Defense is appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, and is by custom a member of the Cabinet and by law a member of the National Security Council.[9]

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", and is further designated by the same statute as "the principal assistant to the President in all matters relating to the Department of Defense."[10] Ensuring civilian control of the military, an individual may not be appointed as Secretary of Defense within seven years after relief from active duty as a commissioned officer of a regular (i.e., non-reserve) component of an armed force.[11]

The Secretary of Defense is in the chain of command and exercises command and control, subject only to the orders of the President, over all Department of Defense forces (the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps) for both operational and administrative purposes.[12][13][14][15][16] Only the Secretary of Defense (or the President) can authorize the transfer of operational control of forces between the three Military Departments (the departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force) and the nine Combatant Commands (Africa Command, Central Command, European Command, Northern Command, Pacific Command, Southern Command, Special Operations Command, Strategic Command, Transportation Command).[12] Because the Office of Secretary of Defense is vested with legal powers which exceeds those of any commissioned officer, and is second only to the President in the military hierarchy, it has sometimes unofficially been referred to as a de facto "deputy commander-in-chief".[17][18][19] The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is the principal military adviser to the Secretary of Defense and the President, and while the Chairman may assist the Secretary and President in their command functions, the Chairman is not in the chain of command.[20]

The Secretary of Defense, Secretary of State, the Attorney General and the Secretary of the Treasury, are generally regarded as the four most important cabinet officials because of the importance of their departments.[21]

The current Secretary of Defense is Richard V. Spencer, who assumed office on 15 July 2019 in an acting capacity until Mark Esper, as the appointed Secretary, is confirmed by the Senate and can assume office formally. Spencer also serves as United States Secretary of the Navy and intends to continue to do so following Esper's confirmation.

History[]

National Military Establishment seal 1947-1949

Seal of the National Military Establishment (1947–1949), which was reorganized into the Department of Defense.

The Army, Navy, and Marine Corps were established in 1775, in concurrence with the American Revolution. The War Department, headed by the Secretary of War, was created by Act of Congress in 1789 and was responsible for both the Army and Navy until the founding of a separate Department of the Navy in 1798.

Based on the experiences of World War II, proposals were soon made on how to more effectively manage the large combined military establishment. The Army generally favored centralization while the Navy had institutional preferences for decentralization and the status quo. The resulting National Security Act of 1947 was largely a compromise between these divergent viewpoints. The Act split the War Department into the Department of the Army and the Department of the Air Force, each with their own Secretary, and created a sui generis National Military Establishment led by a Secretary of Defense. At first, each of the service secretaries maintained quasi-cabinet status. The first Secretary of Defense, James Forrestal, who in his previous capacity as Secretary of the Navy had opposed creation of the new position, found it difficult to exercise authority over them with the limited powers his office had at the time. To address this and other problems, the National Security Act was amended in 1949 to further consolidate the national defense structure in order to reduce interservice rivalry, directly subordinate the Secretaries of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force to the Secretary of Defense in the chain of command, and rename the National Military Establishment to the Department of Defense as one Executive Department. The position of the Deputy Secretary of Defense, the number two position in the department, was also created at this time.

The general trend since 1949 has been to further centralize management in the Department of Defense, elevating the status and authorities of civilian OSD appointees and defense-wide organizations at the expense of the military departments and the services within them. The last major revision of the statutory framework concerning the position was done in the Goldwater–Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986. In particular, it elevated the status of joint service for commissioned officers, making it in practice a requirement before appointments to general officer and flag officer grades could be made.

Powers and functions[]

The Secretary of War [now Secretary of Defense] is the regular constitutional organ of the President for the administration of the military establishment of the nation; and rules and orders publicly promulgated through him must be received as the acts of the executive, and as such, be binding upon all within the sphere of his legal and constitutional authority. Such regulations cannot be questioned or denied because they may be thought unwise or mistaken. .

United States v. Eliason, 41 United States Reports 291 (1842)

Nor is it necessary for the Secretary of War [now Secretary of Defense] in promulgating such rules or orders to state that they emanate from the President, for the presumption is that the Secretary is acting with the President's approbation and under his direction.

In re Brodie, 128 Fed. 668 (CCA 8th 1904)

File:DoD Organization March 2012.pdf

The Secretary of Defense, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is by federal law (10 U.S.C. § 113) the head of the Department of Defense, "the principal assistant to the President in all matters relating to Department of Defense", and has "authority, direction and control over the Department of Defense". Because the Constitution vests all military authority in Congress and the President, the statutory authority of the Secretary of Defense is derived from their constitutional authorities. Since it is impractical for either Congress or the President to participate in every piece of Department of Defense affairs, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary's subordinate officials generally exercise military authority.

As the head of DoD, all officials, employees and service members are "under" the Secretary of Defense. Some of those high-ranking officials, civil and military (outside of OSD and the Joint Staff) are: the Secretary of the Army, Secretary of the Navy, and Secretary of the Air Force, Army Chief of Staff, Commandant of the Marine Corps, Chief of Naval Operations, and Air Force Chief of Staff, Chief of the National Guard Bureau and the Combatant Commanders of the Combatant Commands. All of these high-ranking positions, civil and military, require Senate confirmation.

The Department of Defense is composed of the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) and the Joint Staff (JS), Office of the Inspector General (DODIG), the Combatant Commands, the Military Departments (Department of the Army (DA), Department of the Navy (DON) & Department of the Air Force (DAF)), the Defense Agencies and DoD Field Activities, the National Guard Bureau (NGB), and such other offices, agencies, activities, organizations, and commands established or designated by law, or by the President or by the Secretary of Defense.

Department of Defense Directive 5100.01 describes the organizational relationships within the Department, and is the foundational issuance for delineating the major functions of the Department. The latest version, signed by former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates in December 2010, is the first major re-write since 1987.[22][23]

Office of the Secretary of Defense[]

The Secretary's principally civilian staff element is called the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) and is composed of the Deputy Secretary of Defense (DEPSECDEF) and five Under Secretaries of Defense in the fields of Acquisition, Technology & Logistics, Comptroller/Chief Financial Officer, Intelligence, Personnel & Readiness, and Policy; several Assistant Secretaries of Defense; other directors and the staffs under them.

The name of the principally military staff organization, organized under the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is the Joint Staff (JS).

Awards and decorations[]

The Defense Distinguished Service Medal (DDSM), the Defense Superior Service Medal (DSSM), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal (DMSM), the Joint Service Commendation Medal (JSCM) and the Joint Service Achievement Medal (JSAM) are awarded, to military personnel for service in joint duty assignments, in the name of the Secretary of Defense. In addition, there is the Joint Meritorious Unit Award (JMUA), which is the only ribbon (as in non-medal) and unit award issued to joint DoD activities, also issued in the name of the Secretary of Defense.

The DDSM is analogous to the distinguished services medals issued by the military departments (i.e. Army Distinguished Service Medal, Navy Distinguished Service Medal & Air Force Distinguished Service Medal), the DSSM corresponds to the Legion of Merit, the DMSM to the Meritorious Service Medal, the JSCM to the service commendation medals, and the JSAM to the achievement medals issued by the services. While the approval authority for DSSM, DMSM, JSCM, JSAM and JMUA is delegated to inferior DoD officials: the DDSM can only be awarded by the Secretary of Defense.

Recommendations for the Medal of Honor (MOH), formally endorsed in writing by the Secretary of the Military Department concerned and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are processed through the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, and such recommendations be must approved by the Secretary of Defense before it can be handed over to the President, who is the final approval authority for the MOH, although it is awarded in the name of Congress.

The Secretary of Defense, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, is the approval authority for the acceptance and wear of NATO medals issued by the Secretary General of NATO and offered to the U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO in recognition of U.S. Service members who meet the eligibility criteria specified by NATO.[24]

Congressional committees[]

As the head of the department, the Secretary of Defense is the chief witness for the congressional committees with oversight responsibilities over the Department of Defense. The most important committees, with respect to the entire department, are the two authorizing committees, the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), and the two appropriations committees, the Senate Appropriations Committee and the House Appropriations Committee.

For the DoD intelligence programs the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence have the principal oversight role.

National Security Council[]

The Secretary of Defense is a statutory member of the National Security Council.[25] As one of the principals, the Secretary along with the Vice President, Secretary of State and the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs participates in biweekly Principals Committee (PC) meetings, preparing and coordinating issues before they are brought before full NSC sessions chaired by the President.

Role in the military justice system[]

The Secretary is one of few civilians—others are the President, the three "service secretaries" (the Secretary of the Army, Secretary of the Navy, and Secretary of the Air Force), and the Secretary of Homeland Security (when the United States Coast Guard is under the United States Department of Homeland Security and has not been transferred to the Department of the Navy under the Department of Defense)—authorized to act as convening authority in the military justice system for General Courts-Martial (10 U.S.C. § 822: article 22, UCMJ), Special Courts-Martial (10 U.S.C. § 823: article 23, UCMJ), and Summary Courts-Martial (10 U.S.C. § 824: article 24 UCMJ).

Amenities[]

Salary[]

Secretary of Defense is a Level I position of the Executive Schedule,[4] and thus earns a salary of $199,700 per year.

List of secretaries of defense[]

The longest-serving secretary of defense is Robert McNamara, who served for a total of 7 years, 39 days. Combining his two non-sequential services as the secretary of defense, the second-longest serving is Donald Rumsfeld, who served just ten days fewer than McNamara. The second-longest unbroken tenure was Caspar Weinberger's, at 6 years, 306 days.

The shortest-serving secretary of defense is Elliot Richardson, who served 114 days and then was appointed $3 amid the resignations of the Watergate Scandal. (This is not counting deputy secretaries of defense William P. Clements and William Howard Taft IV, who each served a few weeks as temporary/acting secretary of defense).

Parties

      Democratic       Republican       Political Independent / Unknown

Status
  Denotes an Acting Secretary of Defense
Secretary of Defense Took office Left office Time in office Party State of residence President
serving under
Ref
1
James Forrestal
Forrestal, JamesJames Forrestal
(1892–1949)
September 17, 1947March 28, 19491 year, 192 daysDemocraticNew YorkTruman, HarryHarry S Truman (Dem)[26]
2
Louis A
Johnson, LouisLouis A. Johnson
(1891–1966)
March 28, 1949September 19, 19501 year, 175 daysDemocraticWest VirginiaTruman, HarryHarry S Truman (Dem)[27]
3Marshall, GeorgeGeorge Marshall
(1880–1959)
September 21, 1950September 12, 1951356 daysIndependentPennsylvaniaTruman, HarryHarry S Truman (Dem)[28]
4
Robert A
Lovett, RobertRobert A. Lovett
(1895–1986)
September 17, 1951January 20, 19531 year, 125 daysRepublicanNew YorkTruman, HarryHarry S Truman (Dem)[29]
5
Charles Erwin Wilson
Wilson, CharlesCharles Erwin Wilson
(1890–1961)
January 28, 1953October 8, 19574 years, 253 daysRepublicanMichiganEisenhower, DwightDwight D. Eisenhower (Rep)[30]
6
Neil H
McElroy, NeilNeil H. McElroy
(1904–1972)
October 9, 1957December 1, 19592 years, 53 daysRepublicanOhioEisenhower, DwightDwight D. Eisenhower (Rep)[31]
7
Thomas S. Gates Jr.
Gates, ThomasThomas S. Gates Jr.
(1906–1983)
December 2, 1959January 20, 19611 year, 49 daysRepublicanPennsylvaniaEisenhower, DwightDwight D. Eisenhower (Rep)[32]
8
Robert McNamara
McNamara, RobertRobert McNamara
(1916–2009)
January 21, 1961February 29, 19687 years, 39 daysRepublicanMichiganKennedy, JohnJohn F. Kennedy (Dem)
Lyndon B. Johnson (Dem)
[33]
9
Clark Clifford
Clifford, ClarkClark Clifford
(1906–1998)
March 1, 1968January 20, 1969325 daysDemocraticMarylandJohnson, LyndonLyndon B. Johnson (Dem)[34]
10
Melvin R
Laird, MelvinMelvin R. Laird
(1922–2016)
January 22, 1969January 29, 19734 years, 7 daysRepublicanWisconsinNixon, RichardRichard Nixon (Rep)[35]
11
Elliot Richardson
Richardson, ElliotElliot Richardson
(1920–1999)
January 30, 1973May 24, 1973114 daysRepublicanMassachusettsNixon, RichardRichard Nixon (Rep)[36]
Bill Clements
Clements, BillBill Clements (Acting)
(1917–2011)
May 24, 1973July 2, 1973[citation needed]39 daysRepublicanTexasNixon, RichardRichard Nixon (Rep)[37]
12
James R
Schlesinger, JamesJames R. Schlesinger
(1929–2014)
July 2, 1973November 19, 19752 years, 140 daysRepublicanVirginiaNixon, RichardRichard Nixon (Rep)
Gerald Ford (Rep)
[38]
13
Donald Rumsfeld
Rumsfeld, DonaldDonald Rumsfeld
(born 1932)
November 20, 1975January 20, 19771 year, 61 daysRepublicanIllinoisFord, GeraldGerald Ford (Rep)[39]
14
Harold Brown
Brown, HaroldHarold Brown
(1927–2019)
January 20, 1977January 20, 19814 years, 0 daysIndependentCaliforniaCarter, JimmyJimmy Carter (Dem)[40]
15
Caspar Weinberger
Weinberger, CasparCaspar Weinberger
(1917–2006)
January 21, 1981November 23, 19876 years, 306 daysRepublicanCaliforniaReagan, RonaldRonald Reagan (Rep)[41]
16
Frank Carlucci
Carlucci, FrankFrank Carlucci
(1930–2018)
November 23, 1987January 20, 19891 year, 58 daysRepublicanVirginiaReagan, RonaldRonald Reagan (Rep)[42]
William Howard Taft IV
Taft, WilliamWilliam Howard Taft IV (Acting)
(born 1945)
January 20, 1989March 21, 198960 daysRepublicanOhioBush, GeorgeGeorge H. W. Bush (Rep)[43]
17
Dick Cheney
Cheney, DickDick Cheney
(born 1941)
March 21, 1989January 20, 19933 years, 305 daysRepublicanWyomingBush, GeorgeGeorge H. W. Bush (Rep)[44]
18
Leslie Aspin
Aspin, LesLeslie Aspin
(1938–1995)
January 20, 1993[45][46]February 3, 19941 year, 14 daysDemocraticWisconsinClinton, BillBill Clinton (Dem)[47]
19
William Perry
Perry, WilliamWilliam Perry
(born 1927)
February 3, 1994January 23, 1997[48] / January 24, 1997[45][49]2 years, 356 daysIndependentPennsylvaniaClinton, BillBill Clinton (Dem).
20
William Cohen
Cohen, WilliamWilliam Cohen
(born 1940)
January 24, 1997January 20, 20013 years, 362 daysRepublicanMaineClinton, BillBill Clinton (Dem)[50]
21
Donald Rumsfeld
Rumsfeld, DonaldDonald Rumsfeld
(born 1932)
January 20, 2001December 18, 20065 years, 332 days
(7 years, 29 days total)
RepublicanIllinoisBush, George W.George W. Bush (Rep)[51]
22
Robert Gates
Gates, RobertRobert Gates
(born 1943)
December 18, 2006June 30, 2011[52] / July 1, 2011[45]4 years, 194 daysRepublicanTexasBush, George W.George W. Bush (Rep)
Barack Obama (Dem)
.
23
Leon Panetta
Panetta, LeonLeon Panetta
(born 1938)
July 1, 2011February 26, 20131 year, 240 daysDemocraticCaliforniaObama, BarackBarack Obama (Dem)[53]
24
Chuck Hagel
Hagel, ChuckChuck Hagel
(born 1946)
February 27, 2013February 17, 20151 year, 355 daysRepublicanNebraskaObama, BarackBarack Obama (Dem)[54]
25
Ash Carter
Carter, AshAsh Carter
(born 1954)
February 17, 2015January 20, 20171 year, 338 daysDemocraticMassachusettsObama, BarackBarack Obama (Dem)[45][55]
26
Jim Mattis
Mattis, JimJim Mattis
(born 1950)
January 20, 2017January 1, 20191 year, 345 daysIndependentWashingtonTrump, DonaldDonald Trump (Rep)[56]
Patrick M
Shanahan, PatrickPatrick M. Shanahan (Acting)
(born 1962)
January 1, 2019June 23, 2019173 daysIndependentWashingtonTrump, DonaldDonald Trump (Rep)[57]
Mark Esper
Esper, MarkMark Esper (Acting)
(born 1964)
June 24, 2019July 15, 201921 daysRepublicanVirginiaTrump, DonaldDonald Trump (Rep)[58]
Richard V
Esper, MarkRichard V. Spencer (Acting)
(born 1954)
July 15, 2019July 23, 20198 daysRepublicanWyomingTrump, DonaldDonald Trump (Rep)[59]
27
Mark Esper
Esper, MarkMark Esper
(born 1964)
July 23, 2019November 9, 20201 year, 109 daysRepublicanVirginiaTrump, DonaldDonald Trump (Rep)[58]
Christopher C
Miller, Christopher C.Christopher C. Miller (Acting)
(born 1965)
November 9, 2020January 20, 202172 daysRepublicanIowaTrump, DonaldDonald Trump (Rep)[58]
David Norquist
Norquist, David L.David Norquist (Acting)
(born 1966)
January 20, 2021January 22, 20212 daysRepublicanMassachusettsBiden, JoeJoe Biden (Dem)[60]
28
Lloyd Austin
Austin, LloydLloyd Austin
(born 1953)
January 22, 2021Incumbent3 years, 254 daysIndependentGeorgiaBiden, JoeJoe Biden (Dem)[61]

Succession[]

Presidential succession[]

The Secretary of Defense is sixth in the presidential line of succession, following the Secretary of the Treasury and preceding the Attorney General.[62]

Secretary of Defense succession[]

In United States Executive order 13533 of March 1, 2010, President Barack Obama modified the line of succession regarding who would act as Secretary of Defense in the event of a vacancy or incapacitation, thus reversing the changes made by President George W. Bush in United States Executive order 13394 as to the relative positions of the Secretaries of the Military Departments. All of the officials in the line of succession are civilians appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate:

Executive Order 13533 (March 1, 2010–present)

# Office
Secretary of Defense
1 Deputy Secretary of Defense
2 Secretary of the Army
3 Secretary of the Navy
4 Secretary of the Air Force
5 Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics
6 Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
7 Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)
8 Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness
9 Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence
10 Deputy Chief Management Officer of the Department of Defense
11 Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics
12 Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
13 Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)
14 Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness
15 Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence
16 Director of Defense Research and Engineering
17 General Counsel of the Department of Defense
Assistant Secretaries of Defense
Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Nuclear and Chemical and Biological Defense Programs
Director of Operational Test and Evaluation
Director of Operational Energy Plans and Programs
and the Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation
18 Under Secretary of the Army
Under Secretary of the Navy
and the Under Secretary of the Air Force
19 Assistant Secretaries of the Army
Assistant Secretaries of the Navy
Assistant Secretaries of the Air Force
General Counsel of the Army
General Counsel of the Navy
and the General Counsel of the Air Force.

Executive Order 13394 (December 22, 2005 – March 1, 2010)

# Office
Secretary of Defense
1 Deputy Secretary of Defense
2 Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence
3 Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
4 Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics
5 Secretary of the Army
6 Secretary of the Air Force
7 Secretary of the Navy
8 Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness
and the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)
9 Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology
Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
and the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness
10 General Counsel of the Department of Defense
Assistant Secretaries of Defense
and the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation
11 Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Logistics and Material Readiness
and the Director of Defense Research and Engineering
12 Under Secretary of the Army
Under Secretary of the Navy
and the Under Secretary of the Air Force
13 Assistant Secretaries of the Army
Assistant Secretaries of the Navy
Assistant Secretaries of the Air Force
General Counsel of the Army
General Counsel of the Navy
and the General Counsel of the Air Force.

Living former Secretaries of Defense[]

See also[]

References[]

Footnotes[]

  1. Trask & Goldberg: p. 177.
  2. "Positional Colors for the Department of Defense". http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/UniformedServices/Flags/Pos_Colors_DoD.aspx. 
  3. "3 U.S. Code § 19 – Vacancy in offices of both President and Vice President; officers eligible to act". https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/3/19. 
  4. 4.0 4.1 5 U.S.C. § 5312
  5. 10 U.S.C. § 113.
  6. DoDD 5100.1: Enclosure 2: a
  7. 5 U.S.C. § 101.
  8. http://www.nato.int/cps/en/SID-C0FDE451-36F2483B/natolive/nato_countries.htm, accessed on 2012-01-04.
  9. 50 U.S.C. § 402.
  10. 10 U.S.C. § 113
  11. The National Security Act of 1947 originally required an interval of ten years after relief from active duty, which was reduced to seven years by Sec. 903(a) of the 2008 National Defense Authorization Act. In 1950 Congress passed special legislation (Pub. Law 81-788) to allow George C. Marshall to serve as Secretary of Defense while remaining a commissioned officer on the active list of the Army (Army regulations kept all five-star generals on active duty for life), but warned:

    It is hereby expressed as the intent of the Congress that the authority granted by this Act is not to be construed as approval by the Congress of continuing appointments of military men to the office of Secretary of Defense in the future. It is hereby expressed as the sense of the Congress that after General Marshall leaves the office of Secretary of Defense, no additional appointments of military men to that office shall be approved.

    See Defenselink bio, retrieved 8/2/2010; and Marshall Foundation bio, retrieved 8/2/2010.

  12. 12.0 12.1 10 U.S.C. § 162
  13. Joint Publication 1: II-9, II-10 & II-11.
  14. 10 U.S.C. § 3011
  15. 10 U.S.C. § 5011
  16. 10 U.S.C. § 8011
  17. Trask & Goldberg: pp.11 & 52
  18. Cohen: p.231.
  19. http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2006/10/rumsfeld.html, accessed on 2012-01-06.
  20. 10 U.S.C. § 152
  21. Cabinets and Counselors: The President and the Executive Branch (1997). Congressional Quarterly. p. 87.
  22. Department of Defense Directive 5100.01 Functions of the Department of Defense and Its Major Components
  23. DoDD 5100.1: p.1.
  24. DoDM 1348.33, Vol 3: p.39 (Enclosure 3)
  25. 50 U.S.C. § 402
  26. "James V. Forrestal – Harry S. Truman Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. http://history.defense.gov/Multimedia/Biographies/Article-View/Article/571293/james-v-forrestal/. 
  27. "Louis A. Johnson – Harry S. Truman Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. http://history.defense.gov/Multimedia/Biographies/Article-View/Article/571265/louis-a-johnson/. 
  28. "George C. Marshall – Harry S. Truman Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. http://history.defense.gov/Multimedia/Biographies/Article-View/Article/571266/george-c-marshall/. 
  29. "Robert A. Lovett – Harry S. Truman Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. http://history.defense.gov/Multimedia/Biographies/Article-View/Article/571267/robert-a-lovett/. 
  30. "Charles E. Wilson – Dwight D. Eisenhower Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. http://history.defense.gov/Multimedia/Biographies/Article-View/Article/571268/charles-e-wilson/. 
  31. "Neil H. McElroy – Dwight D. Eisenhower Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. http://history.defense.gov/Multimedia/Biographies/Article-View/Article/571269/neil-h-mcelroy/. 
  32. "Thomas S. Gates, Jr. – Dwight D. Eisenhower Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. http://history.defense.gov/Multimedia/Biographies/Article-View/Article/571270/thomas-s-gates-jr/. 
  33. "Robert S. McNamara – John F. Kennedy / Lyndon Johnson Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. http://history.defense.gov/Multimedia/Biographies/Article-View/Article/571271/robert-s-mcnamara/. 
  34. "Clark M. Gifford – Lyndon Johnson Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. http://history.defense.gov/Multimedia/Biographies/Article-View/Article/571292/clark-m-clifford/. 
  35. "Melvin R. Laird – Richard Nixon Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. http://history.defense.gov/Multimedia/Biographies/Article-View/Article/571291/melvin-r-laird/. 
  36. "Elliot L. Richardson – Richard Nixon Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. http://history.defense.gov/Multimedia/Biographies/Article-View/Article/571290/elliot-l-richardson/. 
  37. Cantwell, Gerald T. (1997). Citizen Airmen: A History of the Air Force Reserve 1946–1994. DIANE Publishing. p. 252. ISBN 9781428991620. https://books.google.com/books?id=8Y3tmhPrl44C&q=William+P.+Clements,+Jr.+Acting+Secretary+of+Defense&pg=PA252. "In June 1973, Representative O. C. Fisher complained to William P. Clements, Jr., acting Secretary of Defense, that the authority, responsibility, and, consequently, effectiveness of the chiefs of the various reserve components seemed to be eroding." 
  38. "James R. Schlesinger – Richard Nixon / Gerald Ford Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. http://history.defense.gov/Multimedia/Biographies/Article-View/Article/571289/james-r-schlesinger/. 
  39. "Donald H. Rumsfeld – Gerald Ford Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. http://history.defense.gov/Multimedia/Biographies/Article-View/Article/571288/donald-h-rumsfeld/. 
  40. "Harold Brown – James Carter Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. http://history.defense.gov/Multimedia/Biographies/Article-View/Article/571287/harold-brown/. 
  41. "Caspar W. Weinberger – Ronald Reagan Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. http://history.defense.gov/Multimedia/Biographies/Article-View/Article/571286/caspar-w-weinberger/. 
  42. "Frank C. Carlucci – Ronald Reagan Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. http://history.defense.gov/Multimedia/Biographies/Article-View/Article/571285/frank-c-carlucci/. 
  43. "II. Secretaries of Defense". Washington Headquarters Services – Pentagon Digital Library. pp. 9. http://www.whs.mil/library/Key47-04/II.pdf. "(Deputy Secretary of Defense William H. Taft served as acting secretary of defense from 20 January 1989 until 21 March 1989)." 
  44. "Richard B. Cheney – George H.W. Bush Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. http://history.defense.gov/Multimedia/Biographies/Article-View/Article/571284/richard-b-cheney/. 
  45. 45.0 45.1 45.2 45.3 Department of Defense Key Officials September 1947 – February 2019
  46. "Les Aspin Serves One Year As Defense Secretary". https://library.cqpress.com/cqalmanac/document.php?id=cqal93-1106289. 
  47. "Leslie Aspin – William J. Clinton Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. http://history.defense.gov/Multimedia/Biographies/Article-View/Article/571283/leslie-aspin/. 
  48. "William J. Perry – William J. Clinton Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. http://history.defense.gov/Multimedia/Biographies/Article-View/Article/571282/william-j-perry/. 
  49. "II. Secretaries of Defense". Washington Headquarters Services – Pentagon Digital Library. pp. 10. http://www.whs.mil/library/Key47-04/II.pdf. "Sworn in as secretary of defense on 3 February 1994 and served until 24 January 1997." 
  50. "William S. Cohen – William J. Clinton Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. http://history.defense.gov/Multimedia/Biographies/Article-View/Article/571281/william-s-cohen/. 
  51. "Donald H. Rumsfeld – George W. Bush Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. http://history.defense.gov/Multimedia/Biographies/Article-View/Article/571280/donald-h-rumsfeld/. 
  52. "Robert M. Gates – George W. Bush / Barack Obama Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. http://history.defense.gov/Multimedia/Biographies/Article-View/Article/571279/robert-m-gates/. 
  53. "Leon E. Panetta – Barack Obama Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. http://history.defense.gov/Multimedia/Biographies/Article-View/Article/571278/leon-e-panetta/. 
  54. "Chuck Hagel – Barack Obama Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. http://history.defense.gov/Multimedia/Biographies/Article-View/Article/571277/chuck-hagel/. 
  55. "Ashton B. Carter – Barack Obama Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. http://history.defense.gov/Multimedia/Biographies/Article-View/Article/571296/ashton-b-carter/. 
  56. "James N. Mattis – Donald Trump Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. http://history.defense.gov/Multimedia/Biographies/Article-View/Article/1059855/james-n-mattis/. 
  57. "PN583 – Patrick M. Shanahan – Department of Defense". Library of Congress. July 18, 2017. https://www.congress.gov/nomination/115th-congress/583. 
  58. 58.0 58.1 58.2 "Dr. Mark T. Esper – Acting Secretary of Defense". United States Department of Defense. June 24, 2019. https://dod.defense.gov/About/Biographies/Biography-View/Article/1378166/dr-mark-t-esper/. 
  59. "Letter from Acting Secretary of Defense Richard V. Spencer to Pentagon". July 15, 2019. https://news.usni.org/2019/07/15/letter-from-acting-secretary-of-defense-richard-v-spencer-to-pentagon. 
  60. "Trump administration official Norquist sworn in as acting Pentagon chief". https://thehill.com/policy/defense/535078-trump-administration-official-norquist-sworn-in-as-acting-pentagon-chief. 
  61. "Senate confirms Lloyd Austin to be first Black defense secretary". January 22, 2021. https://edition.cnn.com/2021/01/22/politics/lloyd-austin-senate-vote-confirmation/index.html. 
  62. 3 U.S.C. § 19.

Sources[]

Federal law[]

Directives, regulations and manuals[]

Further reading[]

Primary historical sources[]

  • Cheney, Dick; Cheney, Liz (2011). In My Time: A Personal and Political Memoir. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-1-4391-7619-1. 
  • {{Cite book
| last1 = Rumsfeld | first1 = Donald
| authorlink1 = Donald Rumsfeld
| title = Jim Mattis
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