Federal Government
Secretaries of Defense
A member of the president's cabinet, the secretary heads the Department of Defense, created in 1947. The departmental predecessor was the Secretary of War. A civilian, the secretary is appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate. All activities in the department are accomplished under his or her supervision. The secretary administers the national military budget and holds authority over personnel, supplies and other aspects of defense. He or she also is the main advisor to the president on all Department of Defense matters and related topics. The secretary is a member of the National Security Council, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and other agencies. He or she also maintains close contact with the State Department and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. A deputy and several assistant secretaries are answerable to the secretary.
|
Term of Service
|
Secretary |
Home State |
Administration |
|
1947 - 1949
|
James V. Forrestal |
New York |
Truman |
|
1949 - 1950
|
Louis A. Johnson |
West Virginia |
Truman |
|
1950 - 1951
|
George C. Marshall |
Pennsylvania |
Truman |
|
1951 - 1953
|
Robert A. Lovett |
New York |
Truman |
|
1953 - 1957
|
Charles E. Wilson |
Michigan |
Eisenhower |
|
1957 - 1959
|
Neil H. McElroy |
Ohio |
Eisenhower |
|
1959 - 1961
|
Thomas S. Gates Jr. |
Pennsylvania |
Eisenhower |
|
1961 - 1963
|
Robert S. McNamara |
Michigan |
Kennedy |
|
1963 - 1968
|
Robert S. McNamara |
Michigan |
L.B. Johnson |
|
1968 - 1969
|
Clark M. Clifford |
Maryland |
L.B. Johnson |
|
1969 - 1973
|
Melvin R. Laird |
Wisconsin |
Nixon |
|
1973
|
Elliot L. Richardson |
Massachusetts |
Nixon |
|
1973 - 1974
|
James R. Schlesinger |
Virginia |
Nixon |
|
1974 - 1975
|
James R. Schlesinger |
Virginia |
Ford |
|
1975 - 1977
|
Donald H. Rumsfeld |
Illinois |
Ford |
|
1977 - 1981
|
Harold Brown |
California |
Carter |
|
1981 - 1987
|
Caspar W. Weinberger |
California |
Reagan |
|
1987 - 1989
|
Frank C. Carlucci |
Pennsylvania |
Reagan |
|
1989 - 1993
|
Richard B. Cheney |
Wyoming |
G.H.W. Bush |
|
1993 - 1994
|
Les Aspin |
Wisconsin |
Clinton |
|
1994 - 1997
|
William J. Perry |
California |
Clinton |
|
1997 - 2001
|
William Cohen |
Maine |
Clinton |
|
2001 -
|
Donald H. Rumsfeld |
Illinois |
G.W. Bush |
Off-site search results for "Secretaries of Defense"... Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient William J. Perry, 19th Secretary of Defense of the United States
Perry, deputy secretary of defense under Aspin, for the position. Perry was born on 11 October 1927 in Vandergrift, Pennsylvania. He received B.S. (1949) and M.A. (1950) degrees from Stanford University, and a Ph.D. in secretary of defense under Aspin, for the position. Perry was born on 11 October 1927 in Vandergrift, Pennsylvania. He received B.S. (1949) and M.A. (1950) degrees from Stanford University, and a Ph.D. in mathematics from ...
http://www.medaloffreedom.com/WilliamJPerry.htm
Secretary of Defense, Robert McNamara, Memorandum for the President, "Vietnam Situation," 21 December 1963
494-496 THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE Washington 21 December 1963 MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT Subject: Vietnam Situation In accordance with your request this morning, this is a summary of my conclusions after my visit to Vietnam onSECRETARY OF DEFENSE Washington 21 December 1963 MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT Subject: Vietnam Situation In accordance with your request this morning, this is a summary of my conclusions after my visit to Vietnam on December 19-20. 1.
http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/pentagon3/doc156.htm
[EXCERPTS] Remarks as Delivered Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen Navy League Exposition Washington, D.C. Thursday, March 27, 1997
[EXCERPTS] Remarks as Delivered Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen Navy League Exposition Washington, D.C. Thursday, March 27, 1997 ....... First, on strategic nuclear reductions. Here, both President Clinton and President YelSecretary of Defense William S. Cohen Navy League Exposition Washington, D.C. Thursday, March 27, 1997 ....... First, on strategic nuclear reductions. Here, both President Clinton and President Yeltsin underscored ...
http://www.fas.org/nuke/control/abmt/news/bmd970401b.htm
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