Under Secretary of Defense

Under Secretary of Defense
United States Department of War · Public domain · source
Post	Under Secretary of Defense
Body	United States Department of Defense
Flagcaption	Flag
Incumbent	Vacant
Department	United States Department of Defense
Style	The Honorable
Reports to	Secretary of Defense
Seat	The Pentagon, Arlington County, Virginia
Appointer	President of the United States
Appointer qualifications	with advice and consent of the United States Senate
Formation	1947
First	James V. Forrestal

Under Secretary of Defense The Under Secretary of Defense is a senior civilian official position within the United States Department of Defense established to support the Secretary of Defense and coordinate major policy, acquisition, personnel, intelligence, and comptrollership functions across the Department of the Navy, Department of the Army, and Department of the Air Force. The role interfaces with the White House, the United States Congress, and interagency partners such as the Department of State and the Office of Management and Budget. Holders have included influential figures who previously served in or later moved to positions in the Central Intelligence Agency, National Security Council, or federal agencies like the General Services Administration.

Overview

The office serves as a principal deputy in specified functional domains to the Secretary of Defense and often coordinates with the Deputy Secretary of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and combatant commanders such as the United States European Command, United States Indo-Pacific Command, and United States Central Command. Under Secretaries lead substantial directorates in The Pentagon and liaise with congressional committees including the Senate Armed Services Committee and the House Armed Services Committee. The office has been central to major initiatives involving the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the Goldwater-Nichols Act, and procurement reforms that affect programs like the F-35 Lightning II and the Virginia-class submarine.

History

The position traces to post-World War II restructuring when the National Security Act of 1947 created the modern United States Department of Defense and the Secretary of Defense portfolio. Early occupants were closely linked to figures such as James V. Forrestal and later to policy architects involved in the Marshall Plan and the Korean War. During the Cold War the office interacted with the Central Intelligence Agency on covert programs and with NATO partners including the United Kingdom and the French Republic. Reforms in the 1980s and 1990s, influenced by the Packard Commission and events like the Gulf War (1990–1991), expanded roles in acquisition and modernization.

Roles and Responsibilities

Under Secretaries typically oversee domains including acquisition and sustainment, research and engineering, personnel and readiness, policy, and intelligence integration. They manage interactions with defense contractors such as Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, and General Dynamics, and with research institutions like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Johns Hopkins University, and Carnegie Mellon University. The office guides implementation of statutes including the Clinger–Cohen Act and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, and coordinates with agencies like the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration on technology initiatives.

Appointment and Succession

The Under Secretary is nominated by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate following hearings before bodies such as the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee when issues overlap. Succession and delegation rules are governed by statutes and directives originating from the Secretary of Defense and informed by precedents set during administrations from Harry S. Truman through Barack Obama and Donald J. Trump to Joe Biden. In vacancies, acting officials have sometimes been drawn from senior career officials, the Office of the Secretary of Defense staff, or from the Defense Intelligence Agency.

Officeholders and Organization

Prominent occupants have included political appointees and career civil servants who later served in roles at the Central Intelligence Agency, Department of State, or as ambassadors to countries such as United Kingdom or Germany. The office is organized into directorates and deputy offices mirroring areas such as acquisition, policy, manpower, and intelligence. It works closely with entities like the Defense Logistics Agency, the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (as a statutory distinct post), and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences for medical readiness.

Policy Areas and Major Initiatives

Major policy areas have encompassed acquisition reform for platforms such as the Aegis Combat System, nuclear modernization programs connected to Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty discussions, cyber and space domains involving the United States Space Force and the United States Cyber Command, and personnel policies affecting service members in contexts like the Don't Ask, Don't Tell repeal and enhancements to the Tricare system. Initiatives have included partnerships with the Defense Innovation Unit, coalition efforts in Operation Enduring Freedom (2001–2014), and modernization strategies responding to the People's Republic of China's military developments.

Controversies and Criticism

The office has faced scrutiny over procurement cost overruns in programs such as the F-35 Lightning II and Arleigh Burke-class destroyer variants, debates over acquisition transparency highlighted by congressional investigations, and controversies involving interactions with defense contractors and lobbying firms including Celero Strategies-linked actors. Critics have cited challenges in civil-military relations in episodes involving the Iran-Contra affair and post-conflict reconstruction lessons from Iraq War (2003–2011). Oversight debates have referenced reports by bodies such as the Government Accountability Office and hearings before the House Oversight Committee.

Category:United States Department of Defense offices