Under Secretary of Defense

Under Secretary of Defense
Post	Under Secretary of Defense
Body	the United States
Insigniasize	120
Insigniacaption	Seal of the United States Department of Defense
Incumbent	Michael McCord
Incumbentsince	July 10, 2023
Department	United States Department of Defense
Reports to	Secretary of Defense
Deputy	Deputy Under Secretary of Defense
Formation	1949
First	Stephen T. Early

Under Secretary of Defense is a high-ranking civilian official within the United States Department of Defense. The position was established by the landmark National Security Act of 1947 and further codified by the National Security Act Amendments of 1949, which reorganized the nation's military establishment. The Under Secretary is the third-highest-ranking official in the department, following the Secretary of Defense and the Deputy Secretary of Defense, and serves as a principal staff assistant and deputy to the Secretary. The officeholder is tasked with overseeing major departmental functions, including acquisition, technology, logistics, and personnel.

History and establishment

The position was created as part of the major reorganization of the United States Armed Forces following World War II. The National Security Act of 1947 established the National Military Establishment, which was renamed the United States Department of Defense by the National Security Act Amendments of 1949. This legislation formally created the role to provide a senior civilian manager beneath the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense. The first individual to hold the title was Stephen T. Early, a former White House Press Secretary under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Over the decades, the specific duties and the number of subordinate officials have evolved through subsequent legislation, including the Goldwater–Nichols Act and annual National Defense Authorization Acts.

Roles and responsibilities

The Under Secretary of Defense typically bears responsibility for one of the department's core functional areas, as delegated by the Secretary of Defense. Common portfolios include the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, who oversees the Defense Acquisition System and military logistics, and the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, who directs the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and technology development. Other key areas of oversight can include personnel and readiness, intelligence, and policy. The officeholder chairs numerous boards and committees, such as the Defense Acquisition Board, and plays a critical role in the Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution process that funds the United States Armed Forces.

Appointment and succession

The Under Secretary of Defense is appointed by the President of the United States with the advice and consent of the United States Senate. Nominees are typically individuals with extensive experience in national security, public administration, or the defense industry. By law, the Under Secretary is in the line of succession to the office of the Secretary of Defense, following the Deputy Secretary of Defense. In the event of a vacancy, the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense or another designated official may perform the duties of the office until a new appointment is confirmed.

List of Under Secretaries of Defense

Since the position's inception, numerous notable figures have served, often moving on to higher office. The inaugural Under Secretary was Stephen T. Early. Other prominent holders include Frank Pace, who later served as Secretary of the Army; William H. Taft IV, a former United States Ambassador to NATO; and Jacques Gansler, a renowned expert in defense acquisition. The current Under Secretary is Michael McCord, who was confirmed by the United States Senate in 2023. A complete historical list is maintained by the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Historical Office of the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

Office of the Under Secretary of Defense

The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (OUSD) refers to the immediate staff and subordinate organizations that support the officeholder in executing their duties. This includes several Deputy Under Secretaries and Assistant Secretaries of Defense who manage specific directorates. The OUSD is housed within the Pentagon and works closely with the Joint Staff, the Department of the Army, the Department of the Navy, the Department of the Air Force, and the Space Force. It provides policy direction and oversight to the military departments and combatant commands.

Related positions

The Under Secretary of Defense is one of several senior civilian positions within the United States Department of Defense. Directly superior are the Secretary of Defense and the Deputy Secretary of Defense. Parallel positions include the Secretary of the Army, the Secretary of the Navy, and the Secretary of the Air Force. Other key related roles are the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, and the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. Similar high-level positions exist in other cabinet departments, such as the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs at the United States Department of State.

Category:United States Department of Defense officials Category:Under Secretaries of Defense of the United States Category:1949 establishments in the United States