United States Secretary of Defense

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.

Related Topics:
United States Department of Defense - President - Senate - Cabinet - Armed forces - USC - United States presidential line of succession

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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.

Related Topics:
1947 - Secretary of War - Secretary of the Army - Secretary of the Navy - Secretary of the Air Force - 1949

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Within the United States Armed Forces, the Secretary of Defense is often referred to as SecDef.

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The SecDef and the President of the United States 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.

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The SecDef 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.

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The Secretary of Defense also supervises the six Joint Chiefs of Staff and the commanders of the nine Unified Commands.

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See here for more information on each position and biographies of the current Deputy Secretary (DepSecDef) and Under Secretaries (USDs).

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