Under Secretary of the Army

Under Secretary of the Army is the second-highest-ranking civilian official in the United States Department of the Army, serving as the principal deputy to the Secretary of the Army. The position was established by the National Security Act of 1947 and requires appointment by the President of the United States with confirmation by the United States Senate. The Under Secretary exercises full authority over the department in the Secretary's absence and oversees critical areas including Army modernization, acquisition, logistics, and financial management.

History

The office was created as part of the sweeping reorganization of the United States Armed Forces following World War II, which also established the Department of Defense and the separate United States Air Force. The first Under Secretary, William H. Draper Jr., was appointed in 1947. Throughout the Cold War, the role evolved to manage the Army's expanding technological and procurement needs during conflicts like the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Key legislative acts, including the Goldwater–Nichols Act of 1986, further clarified the position's responsibilities within the Department of Defense chain of command. The post has been instrumental in overseeing major modernization programs such as the M1 Abrams tank and the Future Combat Systems.

Responsibilities

The Under Secretary serves as the Chief Management Officer of the Army Department and is the senior official for acquisition and logistics. Specific duties include supervising the Assistant Secretary for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology and providing oversight of the Army Materiel Command. The office is responsible for the execution of the Army's research, development, and acquisition budget, which includes major programs like the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle and the Next Generation Combat Vehicle. The Under Secretary also chairs the Army Acquisition Council and works closely with the Army Forces Command and Training and Doctrine Command on capability development.

List of Under Secretaries

Since its inception, the position has been held by numerous notable individuals from public service and private industry. The inaugural Under Secretary was William H. Draper Jr., a former Army officer and banker. Other prominent holders include John S. Foster Jr., who later directed the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; Michael P. W. Stone, who later served as Secretary of the Army; and Joseph W. Westphal, who also served as United States Ambassador to Saudi Arabia. The current Under Secretary, Gabe Camarillo, was confirmed by the United States Senate in 2022, having previously served as Assistant Secretary of the Air Force.

Succession

The Under Secretary of the Army is fourteenth in the line of succession to the office of the Secretary of Defense, as established by Executive Order 13623. This places the office in the presidential line of succession behind other senior Department of Defense officials like the Secretary of the Air Force and ahead of the Secretary of Homeland Security. In the event the position is vacant, the Assistant Secretary for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology typically performs the Under Secretary's duties.

See also

* United States Department of the Army * Secretary of the Army * Chief of Staff of the United States Army * Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment * United States Army Acquisition Corps * List of senior officials in the United States Department of Defense

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