United States Secretary of Defense
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The United States Secretary of Defense is the head of the Department of Defense. The current Secretary of Defense is Robert Gates, who was nominated by President George W. Bush on November 8, 2006 and unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate Armed Services Committee on December 5, 2006.
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History
The Secretary of Defense position was created in 1947 by President Harry S Truman along with the creation of the National Military Establishment (which became the DoD in 1949), which replaced the Secretary and Department of War. James Forrestal was appointed as the first Secretary of Defense.
Duties
The Secretary of Defense is 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 policy. Under the direction of the President, the Secretary exercises authority, direction, and control over the Department of Defense.[1]
Secretaries
| Secretaries of Defense | ||
|---|---|---|
| Donald Rumsfeld | January 20, 2001 | December 18, 2006 |
| Robert Gates | December 18, 2006 | Incumbent |
