Difference between revisions of "United States Secretary of Defense"
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==History== | ==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). James Forrestal was the first Secretary of Defense. | + | 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== | ==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.<ref>[http://www.defenselink.mil/odam/omp/pubs/GuideBook/DoD.htm DoD Organizational Structure]</ref> | 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.<ref>[http://www.defenselink.mil/odam/omp/pubs/GuideBook/DoD.htm DoD Organizational Structure]</ref> | ||
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| + | ==Secretaries== | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
[[category:United States Department of Defense]] | [[category:United States Department of Defense]] | ||
Revision as of 03:27, November 29, 2008
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.
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]