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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 the Navy was changed to a non-Cabinet position placed under the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of War was replaced by the Secretary of the Army, also a non-Cabinet position 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.
Within the United States Armed Forces, the Secretary of Defense is often referred to as SECDEF.
A Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense specialises in a particular set of defense issues; e.g., the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Civilian Personnel Policy) -- DASD(CPP), the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (C3I Acquisition) DASD(C3IA), and so on.
| Name | Term of Office | President(s) served under |
|---|---|---|
| James V. Forrestal | September 17, 1947 - March 28, 1949 | Harry S. Truman |
| Louis A. Johnson | March 28, 1949 - September 19, 1950Events January January 5 US Senator Estes Kefauver introduces a resolution calling for examination of organized crime in the USA January 6 The United Kingdom recognizes the People's Republic of China. The Republic of China severs diplomatic relations with | Harry S. Truman |
| George C. Marshall | September 21September 21 is the 264th day of the year (265th in leap years). There are 101 days remaining. Events 1745 Battle of Prestonpans Hanoverian army under the command of John Cope is defeated, in ten minutes, by the Jacobite forces of Prince Charles Edward St, 1950Events January January 5 US Senator Estes Kefauver introduces a resolution calling for examination of organized crime in the USA January 6 The United Kingdom recognizes the People's Republic of China. The Republic of China severs diplomatic relations with - September 12September 12 is the 255th day of the year (256th in leap years). There are 110 days remaining. Events 490 BC Athens defeats Persia at the Battle of Marathon 1213 Peter II of Aragon, the king of Aragon, died at the Battle of Muret. 1609 Henry Hudson discov, 1951 | Harry S. Truman |
| Robert A. Lovett | September 17, 1951 - January 20, 1953 | Harry S. Truman |
| Charles E. Wilson | January 28, 1953 - October 8, 1957 | Dwight D. Eisenhower |
| Neil H. McElroy | October 9, 1957 - December 1, 1959 | Dwight D. Eisenhower |
| Thomas S. Gates | December 2, 1959 - January 20, 1961 | Dwight D. Eisenhower |
| Robert McNamara | January 21, 1961 - February 29, 1968 | John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson |
| Clark Clifford | March 1, 1968- January 20, 1969 | Lyndon Johnson |
| Melvin Laird | January 22, 1969 - January 29, 1973 | Richard Nixon |
| Elliot L. Richardson | January 30, 1973 - May 24, 1973 | Richard Nixon |
| James R. Schlesinger | July 2, 1973 - November 19, 1975 | Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford |
| Donald H. Rumsfeld | November 20, 1975 - January 20, 1977 | Gerald Ford |
| Harold Brown | January 21, 1977 - January 20, 1981 | Jimmy Carter |
| Caspar W. Weinberger | January 21, 1981 - November 23, 1987 | Ronald Reagan |
| Frank C. Carlucci | November 23, 1987 - January 20, 1989 | Ronald Reagan |
| Richard B. Cheney | March 21, 1989 - January 20, 1993 | George H. W. Bush |
| Les Aspin | January 21, 1993 - February 3, 1994 | Bill Clinton |
| William J. Perry | February 3, 1994 - January 23, 1997 | Bill Clinton |
| William S. Cohen | January 24, 1997 - January 20, 2001 | Bill Clinton |
| Donald H. Rumsfeld | January 20, 2001 - present | George W. Bush |