Under Secretary of the Air Force

Under Secretary of the Air Force is the second-highest-ranking civilian official in the United States Department of the Air Force, serving as the principal deputy to the Secretary of the Air Force. The position was established by the landmark National Security Act of 1947, which created an independent United States Air Force and its civilian-led department. Charged with overseeing the day-to-day operations and management of the department, the Under Secretary plays a critical role in shaping Air Force and Space Force policy, acquisition, and budgetary matters.

History and establishment

The office was created concurrently with the United States Department of the Air Force on September 18, 1947, following the passage of the National Security Act of 1947. This pivotal legislation, signed by President Harry S. Truman, reorganized the entire United States Armed Forces, establishing the United States Air Force as a separate service co-equal with the United States Army and the United States Navy. The first individual to hold the position was Arthur S. Barrows, a former executive from the Sears corporation, who was appointed by Truman. The role's creation mirrored similar under secretary positions in the Department of the Army and Department of the Navy, ensuring a consistent civilian management structure across the newly formed National Military Establishment, later renamed the United States Department of Defense.

Roles and responsibilities

The Under Secretary of the Air Force assumes the duties of the Secretary of the Air Force during the secretary's absence or disability and is vested with full authority to act on the secretary's behalf. Primary responsibilities include the oversight and direction of the department's extensive acquisition, technology, and logistics enterprises, including the Space Acquisition Council. The office also supervises critical financial management, auditing, and cost assessment functions, ensuring the multi-billion-dollar budgets for the United States Air Force and United States Space Force are executed effectively. Furthermore, the Under Secretary often leads special initiatives, such as the Department of the Air Force Artificial Intelligence portfolio, and represents the department in high-level forums within the Office of the Secretary of Defense and before committees of the United States Congress.

Appointment and succession

The Under Secretary of the Air Force is appointed by the President of the United States and must be confirmed by a majority vote in the United States Senate. The appointment process typically involves hearings before the Senate Armed Services Committee. There is no fixed term of office, and the Under Secretary serves at the pleasure of the President. In the line of succession, the Under Secretary is first in order to perform the duties of the Secretary of the Air Force if that office becomes vacant, ahead of the service's senior uniformed leaders like the Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force and the Chief of Space Operations.

List of Under Secretaries

Since the position's inception, over thirty individuals have served as Under Secretary of the Air Force. Notable holders of the office include John A. McCone, who later became Director of the Central Intelligence Agency; C. R. Smith, the legendary former CEO of American Airlines; and Norton A. Schwartz, who later served as the Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. The list reflects a mix of appointees from industry, finance, and public service, appointed by administrations from Harry S. Truman to Joe Biden. The position has occasionally been filled on an acting basis, such as by the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management, when a nominee is awaiting Senate confirmation.

Office of the Under Secretary

The Office of the Under Secretary of the Air Force (OUSAF) is headquartered in The Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. This staff organization provides direct support to the Under Secretary in executing their wide-ranging duties. Key subordinate officials who report through the Under Secretary include the multiple Assistant Secretaries of the Air Force, who lead specific functional areas like Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, Financial Management, and Space Acquisition and Integration. The office works closely with the Air Force and Space Force staffs, the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, and other agencies within the United States Department of Defense to coordinate policy and manage the department's vast resources.

Category:United States Department of the Air Force Category:Under Secretaries of the Air Force Category:1947 establishments in the United States