United States Secretary of Defense

E379

The United States Secretary of Defense is the head of the Department of Defense and the principal defense policy advisor to the President, overseeing the nation’s armed forces and military strategy.


Statements (48)

Predicate Object
instanceOf United States federal executive position
cabinet-level position
defense minister role
advises President of the United States
appointedBy President of the United States
country United States of America
createdOn 1947-09-18
department Department of Defense
surface form: United States Department of Defense
eligibleFor reappointment without term limit
firstHolder James V. Forrestal
hasAbbreviation SecDef
hasRole principal defense policy advisor to the President of the United States
headOf Department of Defense
surface form: United States Department of Defense
isInLineOfSuccessionFor President of the United States
legalBasis Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1958
National Security Act of 1947
locatedIn Arlington, Virginia
surface form: Arlington County, Virginia
memberOf National Security Council of the United States
surface form: United States National Security Council
mustBe civilian at time of appointment
nominatedBy President of the United States
oversees Joint Chiefs of Staff
Office of the Secretary of Defense
Unified Combatant Commands
United States Air Force
United States Armed Forces
United States Army
United States Marine Corps
United States Navy
United States Space Force
participatesIn meetings of the National Security Council
partOf Cabinet of the United States
positionInPresidentialLineOfSuccession seventh
replaced United States Secretary of Defense self-linksurface differs
surface form: United States Secretary of War

United States Secretary of the Navy as cabinet-level military head
reportsTo President of the United States
requires advice and consent of the United States Senate
responsibleFor execution of approved defense policy
formulation of general defense policy
military strategy of the United States
overall direction of the United States military
seat Pentagon
surface form: The Pentagon
style Mr. Secretary
subjectTo civilian control of the military principle
supervises Secretary of the Air Force
Secretary of the Army
Secretary of the Navy
termLength no fixed term
website https://www.defense.gov

Referenced by (129)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

SecDef abbreviationOf United States Secretary of Defense
this entity surface form: Secretary of Defense
Civil Reserve Air Fleet activationAuthority United States Secretary of Defense
this entity surface form: U.S. Secretary of Defense
Individual Ready Reserve activationAuthority United States Secretary of Defense
this entity surface form: Secretary of Defense
this entity surface form: Secretary of Defense
Chief of Naval Operations advises United States Secretary of Defense
this entity surface form: Secretary of Defense
Chief of Staff of the Air Force advises United States Secretary of Defense
this entity surface form: Secretary of Defense
CSAF advises United States Secretary of Defense
subject surface form: Chief of Staff of the Air Force
this entity surface form: Secretary of Defense
Chief of the National Guard Bureau advises United States Secretary of Defense
this entity surface form: Secretary of Defense
Commandant of the Marine Corps advises United States Secretary of Defense
this entity surface form: Secretary of Defense
CMC advises United States Secretary of Defense
subject surface form: Commandant of the Marine Corps
this entity surface form: Secretary of Defense
Joint Chiefs of Staff advises United States Secretary of Defense
this entity surface form: Secretary of Defense
National Guard Bureau advises United States Secretary of Defense
this entity surface form: Secretary of Defense
Mr. Secretary appliesToOffice United States Secretary of Defense
this entity surface form: Secretary of Defense
Mr. Secretary appliesToOfficeHolder United States Secretary of Defense
this entity surface form: U.S. Secretary of Defense
Madam Secretary appliesToPosition United States Secretary of Defense
this entity surface form: Secretary of Defense
Mr. Secretary appliesToPosition United States Secretary of Defense
this entity surface form: Secretary of Defense
National Military Strategy approvedBy United States Secretary of Defense
this entity surface form: Secretary of Defense
Seal of the United States Department of Defense associatedWith United States Secretary of Defense
Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command authorizedBy United States Secretary of Defense
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal awardingAuthority United States Secretary of Defense
this entity surface form: Secretary of Defense
Defense Distinguished Service Medal awardingAuthority United States Secretary of Defense
this entity surface form: Secretary of Defense
this entity surface form: Secretary of Defense
Air Force Reserve canBeActivatedBy United States Secretary of Defense
this entity surface form: Secretary of Defense
Minister of Defence canBeKnownAs United States Secretary of Defense
this entity surface form: Secretary of Defense
Department of Defense chiefExecutiveOfficer United States Secretary of Defense
subject surface form: United States Department of Defense
United States Armed Forces civilianLeader United States Secretary of Defense
National Security Act Amendments of 1949 clarifiedRoleOf United States Secretary of Defense
this entity surface form: Secretary of Defense
Director of the Central Intelligence Agency coordinatesWith United States Secretary of Defense
this entity surface form: Secretary of Defense
National Security Act of 1947 created United States Secretary of Defense
this entity surface form: Secretary of Defense
Frontiero v. Richardson defendantOffice United States Secretary of Defense
this entity surface form: Secretary of Defense of the United States
Presidential Succession Act definesSuccessionPosition United States Secretary of Defense
Department of Defense directives enforcedBy United States Secretary of Defense
this entity surface form: Secretary of Defense
National Security Act Amendments of 1949 enhancedAuthorityOf United States Secretary of Defense
this entity surface form: Secretary of Defense
Homeland Security Council of the United States hasMember United States Secretary of Defense
this entity surface form: Secretary of Defense of the United States
National Military Establishment hasPosition United States Secretary of Defense
this entity surface form: Secretary of Defense
NME headOfGovernmentBody United States Secretary of Defense
National Military Establishment headOfGovernmentBody United States Secretary of Defense
Office of the Secretary of Defense headOfGovernmentBody United States Secretary of Defense
Biden administration includesPosition United States Secretary of Defense
this entity surface form: Secretary of Defense
Vice Chief of Naval Operations isInferiorTo United States Secretary of Defense
this entity surface form: Secretary of Defense
Department of Defense officeHeldByHeadOfGovernment United States Secretary of Defense
subject surface form: United States Department of Defense
Munitions Board operatedUnder United States Secretary of Defense
this entity surface form: Secretary of Defense
United States military intelligence agencies overseenBy United States Secretary of Defense
Central Security Service oversightBy United States Secretary of Defense
Defense Intelligence Agency oversightBy United States Secretary of Defense
this entity surface form: Secretary of Defense
NSC 10/2 directive oversightBy United States Secretary of Defense
this entity surface form: Secretary of Defense
Dick Cheney positionHeld United States Secretary of Defense
this entity surface form: U.S. Secretary of Defense
Donald Rumsfeld positionHeld United States Secretary of Defense
Elliot Richardson positionHeld United States Secretary of Defense
George C. Marshall positionHeld United States Secretary of Defense