United States Secretary of Defense: Difference between revisions
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The '''[[United States]] Secretary of [[Defense (military)|Defense]]''' ('''SECDEF''') is the head of the [[United States Department of Defense|U.S. Department of Defense]] (DoD), concerned with the [[Military of the United States|armed services]] and [[Military of the United States|military matters]]. The role of the Secretary of Defense is to be the principal defense policy advisor to the [[President of the United States|President]] and is responsible for the formulation of general defense policy and policy related to all matters of direct and primary concern to the DoD, and for the execution of approved policy[http://www.dod.mil/odam/omp/pubs/GuideBook/DoD.htm#Secretary%20of%20Defense]. The Secretary is appointed by the [[President of the United States|President]] by and with the approval of the [[United States Senate|Senate]], and is a member of the [[United States Cabinet|Cabinet]]. By statute the secretary must be a civilian who has not served in the active component of the [[Military of the United States|armed forces]] for at least 10 years (10 [[United States Code|USC]] Sec. 113 - Note that [[United States Congress|Congress]] had passed a law to allow [[George Marshall]] to be appointed in 1950 despite having only been a civilian since 1945). The Secretary of Defense is sixth in the [[United States presidential line of succession|presidential line of succession]]. |
The '''[[United States]] Secretary of [[Defense (military)|Defense]]''' ('''SECDEF''') is the head of the [[United States Department of Defense|U.S. Department of Defense]] (DoD), concerned with the [[Military of the United States|armed services]] and [[Military of the United States|military matters]]. The role of the Secretary of Defense is to be the principal defense policy advisor to the [[President of the United States|President]] and is responsible for the formulation of general defense policy and policy related to all matters of direct and primary concern to the DoD, and for the execution of approved ihasabucket noooo |
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they be stealin my bucket |
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policy[http://www.dod.mil/odam/omp/pubs/GuideBook/DoD.htm#Secretary%20of%20Defense]. The Secretary is appointed by the [[President of the United States|President]] by and with the approval of the [[United States Senate|Senate]], and is a member of the [[United States Cabinet|Cabinet]]. By statute the secretary must be a civilian who has not served in the active component of the [[Military of the United States|armed forces]] for at least 10 years (10 [[United States Code|USC]] Sec. 113 - Note that [[United States Congress|Congress]] had passed a law to allow [[George Marshall]] to be appointed in 1950 despite having only been a civilian since 1945). The Secretary of Defense is sixth in the [[United States presidential line of succession|presidential line of succession]]. |
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==History== |
==History== |
Revision as of 18:59, 12 May 2008
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The United States Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) is the head of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), concerned with the armed services and military matters. The role of the Secretary of Defense is to be the principal defense policy advisor to the President and is responsible for the formulation of general defense policy and policy related to all matters of direct and primary concern to the DoD, and for the execution of approved ihasabucket noooo they be stealin my bucket policy[1]. The Secretary is appointed by the President by and 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 active component of the armed forces for at least 10 years (10 USC Sec. 113 - Note that Congress had passed a law to allow George Marshall to be appointed in 1950 despite having only been a civilian since 1945). The Secretary of Defense is sixth in the presidential line of succession.
History
The 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.
Organization
Within the U.S. Armed Forces, the Secretary of Defense is often referred to as SecDef.
The SecDef and the President together constitute the National Command Authority (NCA), which has sole authority to launch strategic nuclear weapons. All nuclear weapons are governed by the two-man rule, even at the highest levels in government. Both individuals must concur before a strategic nuclear strike may be ordered.
The SecDef, as the head of the United States Office of the Secretary of Defense, is assisted by a Deputy Secretary and five 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.
The Secretary of Defense also supervises the six members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the commanders of the ten Combatant Commands.
Along with the Secretary of State, the Attorney General and the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Defense is generally regarded as one of the "Big Four" important cabinet officials.
List of Secretaries of Defense
Line of succession
In an Executive Order of December 22, 2005, President George W. Bush modified the line of succession regarding who would act as Secretary of Defense in the event of a vacancy or incapacitation as follows:
- Deputy Secretary of Defense
- Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence
- Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
- Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics
- Secretary of the Army
- Secretary of the Air Force
- Secretary of the Navy
- Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness and the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)
- Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, and Deputy
Trivia
Despite being second only to the President in military affairs, the position has only once being held by a professional General.
References
- "Histories of the Secretaries of Defense". U.S. Department of Defense.
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External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- "Top Civilian and Military Leaders".
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ignored (help) – Includes the Secretary of Defense - More information on each position and biographies of the current Deputy Secretary (DepSecDef) and Under Secretaries (USDs)