Deputy Secretary of Defense
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| Deputy Secretary of Defense | |
|---|---|
| Post | Deputy Secretary of Defense |
| Reports to | Secretary of Defense |
| Formation | 1949 |
| First | Stephen Early |
Deputy Secretary of Defense.
The Deputy Secretary of Defense is the second-highest-ranking official in the United States Department of Defense and serves as the principal civilian deputy to the Secretary of Defense. The office assists with direction of the United States Armed Forces, management of the National Defense Strategy, oversight of the Department of the Navy, Department of the Army, and Department of the Air Force, and coordination with the Joint Chiefs of Staff and interagency partners. The position bridges executive policy from the President of the United States with operational leadership across defense institutions such as the Defense Intelligence Agency and United States Cyber Command.
Role and Responsibilities
The Deputy Secretary executes statutory duties delegated by the Secretary of Defense and often acts as the department's chief operating officer, supervising programmatic, budgetary, and acquisition portfolios including interactions with the United States Congress and the Office of Management and Budget. Responsibilities encompass oversight of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, coordination with the National Security Council, administration of the Defense Contract Audit Agency, and representation in interagency fora alongside officials from the Department of State and Department of Homeland Security. The office directs implementation of policy guidance from the National Defense Strategy and supervises personnel matters involving Senior Executive Service members, military flag officers, and civilian workforce policies under statutes such as the National Security Act of 1947.
History and Development
The position evolved from post‑World War II reorganizations culminating in the National Security Act of 1947 and subsequent amendments that shaped the National Military Establishment. Early incarnations reflected reforms tied to the Reorganization Plan No. 6 of 1949 and debates in Congress involving figures like Charles E. Wilson and James Forrestal. Over decades, the role expanded during crises including the Korean War, Vietnam War, Gulf War, and post‑9/11 conflicts, with institutional change influenced by reviews such as the Packard Commission and the Goldwater-Nichols Act. The office adapted to emerging domains through engagement with entities like United States Space Command and partnerships formed after the Cold War and during the Global War on Terrorism.
Appointment and Confirmation
The Deputy Secretary is appointed by the President of the United States and must be confirmed by the United States Senate pursuant to the Appointments Clause. Nominees typically undergo scrutiny before the Senate Armed Services Committee and full Senate, where hearings reference experience with institutions such as the Defense Acquisition University, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and prior service with the Central Intelligence Agency or Federal Bureau of Investigation. Confirmation considerations involve budgetary records, ethics reviews, and ties to defense contractors including firms like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Northrop Grumman, with Senate processes shaped by precedents from nominations of officials such as Paul Wolfowitz and William J. Lynn III.
Officeholders and Succession
Officeholders have included a mix of career civil servants, former military officers, and private sector executives, with notable deputies who later served as Secretary of Defense or in other cabinet-level roles. The line of succession to perform the duties of the Secretary of Defense is prescribed in law and Department directives, interfacing with officials from the Office of the Secretary of Defense and Combatant Commanders such as the leaders of United States Central Command and United States European Command. Succession arrangements reflect continuity planning seen in historical transitions involving figures like Les Aspin and William Perry.
Organization and Staff
The Deputy Secretary oversees a staff that interfaces with principal components including the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, and the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller). The office works closely with the Inspector General of the Department of Defense, the General Counsel of the Department of Defense, and the offices responsible for force structure, readiness, and logistics, coordinating cross‑cutting programs with agencies such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration on aerospace matters and the United States Agency for International Development on stability operations.
Notable Actions and Controversies
Deputy Secretaries have played central roles in major defense initiatives and controversies, including oversight of acquisition reform, weapons programs like the F-35 Lightning II and Ballistic Missile Defense System, and responses to incidents involving detainee policies linked to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base. The office has been implicated in debates over procurement cost overruns, whistleblower cases involving the Defense Contract Audit Agency, and policy disputes during crises such as the Iraq War and operations in Afghanistan. Congressional investigations and GAO reports have frequently examined decisions tied to resource allocation, drawing attention to interactions with defense industry contractors and procurement officials.