United States Secretary of Defense
| United States Secretary of Defense | |
|---|---|
 Seal of the department | |
 | |
| 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 |
| First holder | James Forrestal |
| Succession | Sixth |
| Deputy | Deputy Secretary of Defense |
| Salary | Executive Schedule, level I |
| Website | defense.gov |
The United States secretary of Defense (SecDef) is the head of the United States Department of Defense (DoD), the executive department of the U.S. Armed Forces.
The position was established in 1947 with the National Security Act, which aimed to unify and coordinate the various branches of the military under a single executive authority. The defense secretary serves as the principal defense policy advisor to the president and is responsible for overseeing the Department of Defense, making decisions on military strategy, personnel, and budgetary issues. The first person to hold this title was James Forrestal.
Subject only to the orders of the president, the secretary of defense is in the chain of command and exercises command and control over all DoD-controlled service branches – the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Space Force – as well as the Coast Guard when its command and control is transferred to the Department of Defense. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is the principal military adviser to the secretary of defense and the president.
Over the decades, the role has changed significantly, especially during major conflicts such as the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. This role has increasingly emphasized not only military preparedness and operations but also the integration of defense with international relations and national security priorities.
Pete Hegseth is the current secretary of defense. He was nominated by President Donald Trump on and confirmed by the Senate on January 25, 2025.
In 2025, President Donald Trump authorized "secretary of war" as a secondary title for use by the secretary; only an act of Congress can legally change the name of the position.
List of secretaries of defense
- Parties
Democratic Republican Independent / Unknown
- Status
| No. | Portrait | Secretary of Defense | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Party | State of residence | President serving under | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | James Forrestal (1892–1949) | September 17, 1947 | March 28, 1949 | 1 year, 192 days | Democratic | New York | Harry S. Truman (D) | ||
| 2 | Louis A. Johnson (1891–1966) | March 28, 1949 | September 19, 1950 | 1 year, 175 days | Democratic | West Virginia | Harry S. Truman (D) | ||
| 3 | George C. Marshall (1880–1959) | September 21, 1950 | September 12, 1951 | 356 days | Independent | Pennsylvania | Harry S. Truman (D) | ||
| 4 | Robert A. Lovett (1895–1986) | September 17, 1951 | January 20, 1953 | 1 year, 125 days | Republican | New York | Harry S. Truman (D) | ||
| 5 | Charles Erwin Wilson (1890–1961) | January 28, 1953 | October 8, 1957 | 4 years, 253 days | Republican | Michigan | Dwight D. Eisenhower (R) | ||
| 6 | Neil H. McElroy (1904–1972) | October 9, 1957 | December 1, 1959 | 2 years, 53 days | Republican | Ohio | Dwight D. Eisenhower (R) | ||
| 7 | Thomas S. Gates Jr. (1906–1983) | December 2, 1959 | January 20, 1961 | 1 year, 49 days | Republican | Pennsylvania | Dwight D. Eisenhower (R) | ||
| 8 | Robert McNamara (1916–2009) | January 21, 1961 | February 29, 1968 | 7 years, 39 days | Republican | Michigan | John F. Kennedy (D) Lyndon B. Johnson (D) | ||
| 9 | Clark Clifford (1906–1998) | March 1, 1968 | January 20, 1969 | 325 days | Democratic | Maryland | Lyndon B. Johnson (D) | ||
| 10 | Melvin R. Laird (1922–2016) | January 22, 1969 | January 29, 1973 | 4 years, 7 days | Republican | Wisconsin | Richard Nixon (R) | ||
| 11 | Elliot Richardson (1920–1999) | January 30, 1973 | May 24, 1973 | 114 days | Republican | Massachusetts | Richard Nixon (R) | ||
| – | Bill Clements (1917–2011) Acting | May 24, 1973 | July 2, 1973 | 39 days | Republican | Texas | Richard Nixon (R) | ||
| 12 | James R. Schlesinger (1929–2014) | July 2, 1973 | November 19, 1975 | 2 years, 140 days | Republican | Virginia | Richard Nixon (R) Gerald Ford (R) | ||
| 13 | Donald Rumsfeld (1932–2021) | November 20, 1975 | January 20, 1977 | 1 year, 61 days | Republican | Illinois | Gerald Ford (R) | ||
| 14 | Harold Brown (1927–2019) | January 20, 1977 | January 20, 1981 | 4 years, 0 days | Democratic | California | Jimmy Carter (D) | ||
| 15 | Caspar Weinberger (1917–2006) | January 21, 1981 | November 23, 1987 | 6 years, 306 days | Republican | California | Ronald Reagan (R) | ||
| 16 | Frank Carlucci (1930–2018) | November 23, 1987 | January 20, 1989 | 1 year, 58 days | Republican | Virginia | Ronald Reagan (R) | ||
| – | William Howard Taft IV (born 1945) Acting | January 20, 1989 | March 21, 1989 | 60 days | Republican | Ohio | George H. W. Bush (R) | ||
| 17 | Dick Cheney (1941–2025) | March 21, 1989 | January 20, 1993 | 3 years, 305 days | Republican | Wyoming | George H. W. Bush (R) | ||
| 18 | Leslie Aspin (1938–1995) | January 20, 1993 | February 3, 1994 | 1 year, 14 days | Democratic | Wisconsin | Bill Clinton (D) | ||
| 19 | William Perry (born 1927) | February 3, 1994 | January 23, 1997 / January 24, 1997 | 2 years, 356 days | Democratic | Pennsylvania | Bill Clinton (D) | . | |
| 20 | William Cohen (born 1940) | January 24, 1997 | January 20, 2001 | 3 years, 362 days | Republican | Maine | Bill Clinton (D) | ||
| 21 | Donald Rumsfeld (1932–2021) | January 20, 2001 | December 18, 2006 | 5 years, 332 days (7 years, 29 days total) | Republican | Illinois | George W. Bush (R) | ||
| 22 | Robert Gates (born 1943) | December 18, 2006 | June 30, 2011 / July 1, 2011 | 4 years, 194 days | Republican | Texas | George W. Bush (R) Barack Obama (D) | . | |
| 23 | Leon Panetta (born 1938) | July 1, 2011 | February 26, 2013 | 1 year, 240 days | Democratic | California | Barack Obama (D) | ||
| 24 | Chuck Hagel (born 1946) | February 27, 2013 | February 17, 2015 | 1 year, 355 days | Republican | Nebraska | Barack Obama (D) | ||
| 25 | Ash Carter (1954–2022) | February 17, 2015 | January 20, 2017 | 1 year, 338 days | Democratic | Massachusetts | Barack Obama (D) | ||
| 26 | Jim Mattis (born 1950) | January 20, 2017 | January 1, 2019 | 1 year, 345 days | Independent | Washington | Donald Trump (R) | ||
| – | Patrick M. Shanahan (born 1962) Acting | January 1, 2019 | June 23, 2019 | 173 days | Independent | Washington | Donald Trump (R) | ||
| – | Mark Esper (born 1964) Acting | June 24, 2019 | July 15, 2019 | 21 days | Republican | Virginia | Donald Trump (R) | ||
| – | Richard V. Spencer (born 1954) Acting | July 15, 2019 | July 23, 2019 | 8 days | Republican | Wyoming | Donald Trump (R) | ||
| 27 | Mark Esper (born 1964) | July 23, 2019 | November 9, 2020 | 1 year, 109 days | Republican | Virginia | Donald Trump (R) | ||
| – | Christopher C. Miller (born 1965) Acting | November 9, 2020 | January 20, 2021 | 72 days | Republican | Iowa | Donald Trump (R) | ||
| – | David Norquist (born 1966) Acting | January 20, 2021 | January 22, 2021 | 2 days | Republican | Massachusetts | Joe Biden (D) | ||
| 28 | Lloyd Austin (born 1953) | January 22, 2021 | January 20, 2025 | 3 years, 364 days | Independent | Georgia | Joe Biden (D) | ||
| – | Robert G. Salesses Acting | January 20, 2025 | January 25, 2025 | 6 days | Republican | — | Donald Trump (R) | ||
| 29 | Pete Hegseth (born 1980) | January 25, 2025 | Incumbent | 1 year, 285 days | Republican | Tennessee | Donald Trump (R) |
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Living former secretaries of defense
As of November 2025, there are eight living former secretaries of defense, the oldest being William J. Perry (served 1994-1997). The most recent death of a former secretary of state was that of Dick Cheney (served 1989-1993) on November 3, 2025.
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References
- ↑ Trask & Goldberg: p. 177.
- ↑ "Positional Colors for the Department of Defense". United States Army Institute of Heraldry. Archived from the original on 2023-09-16. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
- ↑ "3 U.S. Code § 19 – Vacancy in offices of both President and Vice President; officers eligible to act". Archived from the original on December 26, 2018. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
- ↑ 5 U.S.C. § 5312
- ↑ 10 U.S.C. § 113.
- ↑ DoDD 5100.1: Enclosure 2: a
- ↑ 5 U.S.C. § 101.
- ↑ "United States Department of Defense", Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, 2024-03-30, retrieved 2024-10-30
- ↑ 10 U.S.C. § 162
- ↑ Joint Publication 1: II-9, II-10 & II-11.
- ↑ 10 U.S.C. § 3011
- ↑ 10 U.S.C. § 5011
- ↑ 10 U.S.C. § 8011
- ↑ 10 U.S.C. § 152
- ↑ "Korean War", Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, 2024-09-22, retrieved 2024-10-30
- ↑ "Vietnam War", Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, 2024-10-27, retrieved 2024-10-30
- ↑ "War in Iraq (2013–2017)", Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, 2024-09-19, retrieved 2024-10-30
- ↑ "War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)", Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, 2024-09-14, retrieved 2024-10-30
- ↑ "Trump to sign executive order renaming Defense to Department of War - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. 2025-09-04. Retrieved 2025-09-04.
- ↑ "Trump order will rebrand Defense Department as Department of War". www.nbcnews.com. 2025-09-05. Retrieved 2025-09-05.
- ↑ "James V. Forrestal – Harry S. Truman Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. Archived from the original on August 14, 2017. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
- ↑ "Louis A. Johnson – Harry S. Truman Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. Archived from the original on January 4, 2017. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
- ↑ "George C. Marshall – Harry S. Truman Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. Archived from the original on February 7, 2017. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
- ↑ "Robert A. Lovett – Harry S. Truman Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. Archived from the original on May 16, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
- ↑ "Charles E. Wilson – Dwight D. Eisenhower Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office.[permanent dead link]
- ↑ "Neil H. McElroy – Dwight D. Eisenhower Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. Archived from the original on February 8, 2017. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
- ↑ "Thomas S. Gates, Jr. – Dwight D. Eisenhower Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office.[permanent dead link]
- ↑ "Robert S. McNamara – John F. Kennedy / Lyndon Johnson Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. Archived from the original on February 7, 2017. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
- ↑ "Clark M. Gifford – Lyndon Johnson Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. Archived from the original on February 13, 2017. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
- ↑ "Melvin R. Laird – Richard Nixon Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. Archived from the original on February 8, 2017. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
- ↑ "Elliot L. Richardson – Richard Nixon Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. Archived from the original on February 7, 2017. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
- ↑ Cantwell, Gerald T. (1997). Citizen Airmen: A History of the Air Force Reserve 1946–1994. DIANE Publishing. p. 252. ISBN 9781428991620.
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.
- ↑ "James R. Schlesinger – Richard Nixon / Gerald Ford Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. Archived from the original on February 8, 2017. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
- ↑ "Donald H. Rumsfeld – Gerald Ford Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. Archived from the original on February 8, 2017. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
- ↑ "Harold Brown – James Carter Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. Archived from the original on November 22, 2018. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
- ↑ "Caspar W. Weinberger – Ronald Reagan Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. Archived from the original on October 22, 2023. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
- ↑ "Frank C. Carlucci – Ronald Reagan Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. Archived from the original on February 7, 2017. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
- ↑ "II. Secretaries of Defense". Washington Headquarters Services – Pentagon Digital Library. p. 9. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 11, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
(Deputy Secretary of Defense William H. Taft served as acting secretary of defense from 20 January 1989 until 21 March 1989).
- ↑ "Richard B. Cheney – George H.W. Bush Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. Archived from the original on June 14, 2019. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
- 1 2 3 4 Department of Defense Key Officials September 1947 – February 2019
- ↑ "Les Aspin Serves One Year As Defense Secretary". Archived from the original on December 8, 2023. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
- ↑ "Leslie Aspin – William J. Clinton Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. Archived from the original on July 8, 2023. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
- ↑ "William J. Perry – William J. Clinton Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. Archived from the original on April 22, 2021. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
- ↑ "II. Secretaries of Defense". Washington Headquarters Services – Pentagon Digital Library. p. 10. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 11, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
Sworn in as secretary of defense on 3 February 1994 and served until 24 January 1997.
- ↑ "William S. Cohen – William J. Clinton Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. Archived from the original on September 19, 2023. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
- ↑ "Donald H. Rumsfeld – George W. Bush Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. Archived from the original on February 7, 2017. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
- ↑ "Robert M. Gates – George W. Bush / Barack Obama Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. Archived from the original on February 7, 2017. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
- ↑ "Leon E. Panetta – Barack Obama Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. Archived from the original on February 7, 2017. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
- ↑ "Chuck Hagel – Barack Obama Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. Archived from the original on February 25, 2017. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
- ↑ "Ashton B. Carter – Barack Obama Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. Archived from the original on February 7, 2017. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
- ↑ "James N. Mattis – Donald Trump Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense – Historical Office. Archived from the original on February 12, 2017. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
- ↑ "PN583 – Patrick M. Shanahan – Department of Defense". Congress.gov. Library of Congress. July 18, 2017. Archived from the original on January 7, 2019. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
- 1 2 3 4 "Dr. Mark T. Esper – Acting Secretary of Defense". United States Department of Defense. June 24, 2019. Archived from the original on August 2, 2019. Retrieved June 24, 2019.
- ↑ "Letter from Acting Secretary of Defense Richard V. Spencer to Pentagon". USNI News. July 15, 2019. Archived from the original on July 23, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
- ↑ "Trump administration official Norquist sworn in as acting Pentagon chief". The Hill. January 20, 2021. Archived from the original on January 20, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
- ↑ "Senate confirms Lloyd Austin to be first Black defense secretary". cnn.com. January 22, 2021. Archived from the original on January 22, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
- ↑ Herb, Jeremy; Britzky, Haley; Liebermann, Oren; Holmes, Kristen; Forrest, Jack (2024-11-13). "Trump picks Fox News host and Army veteran Pete Hegseth to serve as secretary of defense | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
Other websites
Wikimedia Commons has media related to United States Secretary of Defense.
- "Top Civilian and Military Leaders". U.S. Department of Defense. Archived from the original on October 12, 2007. Retrieved October 13, 2007. – Includes the Secretary of Defense
- More information on each position and biographies of the current Deputy Secretary (DepSecDef) and Under Secretaries (USDs) Archived 2009-01-15 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ Cheney had died on November 3, 2025, but his death was announced on November 4, 2025.