The United States order of precedence is an advisory document maintained by the Ceremonials Division of the Office of the Chief of Protocol of the United States which lists the ceremonial order,or relative preeminence,for domestic and foreign government officials at diplomatic,ceremonial,and social events within the United States and abroad. The list is used to mitigate miscommunication and embarrassment in diplomacy,and offer a distinct and concrete spectrum of preeminence for ceremonies. Often the document is used to advise diplomatic and ceremonial event planners on seating charts and order of introduction. Former presidents,vice presidents,first ladies,second ladies,and secretaries of state and retired Supreme Court justices are also included in the list.
The Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) is a postgraduate institution and provider of professional and continuing education for the United States Armed Forces and is part of the United States Air Force. It is in Ohio at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base,near Dayton. AFIT is a component of the Air University and Air Education and Training Command.
Michael Walter Wynne is an American politician and business executive and was the 21st United States Secretary of the Air Force. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates asked for and received his resignation on June 5,2008,in the wake of the 2007 United States Air Force nuclear weapons incident and the mistaken shipment of Minuteman III parts to Taiwan in 2006,followed by an investigation by and a critical report from Admiral Kirkland H. Donald regarding the Minuteman incident.
The United States Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM),and its subordinate Life Cycle Management Command (LCMC),headquartered at the Detroit Arsenal in Warren,Michigan,is part of the United States Army Materiel Command (AMC).
The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment,or USD (A&S),is the Principal Staff Assistant (PSA) and advisor to the Secretary of Defense for all matters relating to acquisition and sustainment in the Department of Defense. This includes the DoD Acquisition System;system design and development;production;logistics and distribution;installation maintenance,management,and resilience;military construction;procurement of goods and services;material readiness;maintenance;environment and energy resilience;utilities;business management modernization;International Armaments Cooperation,Cooperative Acquisition and International Agreements,Promoting exportability of military components to allies and partners;nuclear,chemical and biological defense programs;and nuclear command,control,and communications.
Lieutenant General Ted Francis Bowlds is a former Commander,Electronic Systems Center,Hanscom Air Force Base,Mass. The center's mission is to acquire command and control systems for the Air Force. The organization comprises more than 12,000 people located at six sites throughout the United States. The men and women of the ESC manage more than $3 billion in programs annually in support of the Air Force,and joint and coalition forces.
The Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (SAF/AQ) is a civilian position in the Department of the Air Force that is appointed by the president of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate. This position is established under Title 10 US Code Section 9016 and is one of five Assistant Secretary positions under the Secretary of the Air Force. The Assistant Secretary reports to the Secretary of the Air Force.
Donald Joseph Hoffman is a former United States Air Force four-star general who served as the 7th Commander,Air Force Materiel Command. He previously served as Military Deputy,Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition from August 2005 to November 20,2008. As Air Force Materiel Command's commander,he leads the command's 74,000 Air Force and civilian personnel,manage $59 billion annually in research,development,test and evaluation. He also oversees the acquisition management services and logistics support which is required to develop,procure and sustain Air Force weapon systems. Hoffman assumed his command on November 21,2008. He retired from the Air Force on July 1,2012.
Frank Kendall III is an American engineer,lawyer and executive who served as the 26th United States secretary of the Air Force from 2021 to 2025. He has served in several senior positions in the U.S. Department of Defense. A West Point graduate,he retired as a lieutenant colonel from the U.S. Army Reserve. From 2011 to 2017,Kendall served as the under secretary of defense for acquisition,technology and logistics in the Obama administration. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
Susan K. Mashiko is a retired United States Air Force major general who served as the Deputy Director,National Reconnaissance Office,Chantilly,Virginia. Her responsibilities include assisting the director and principal deputy director in managing the strategic and tactical operations of the NRO. Also,as the commander,Air Force Space Command Element,she manages all air force personnel and resources assigned to the NRO and serves as the senior adviser to the DNRO on all military matters. Mashiko is the first Japanese American woman to be promoted to flag rank.
Margaret Grun Kibben is an American Presbyterian minister who is the acting chaplain of the United States House of Representatives. Speaker Mike Johnson appointed Kibben as acting House chaplain on January 3,2025. Johnson also stated that he is going to be replacing Kibben in the coming weeks.
The Chief Scientist of the Air Force is the most senior science and technology representative in the United States Department of the Air Force. The current Chief Scientist of the United States Air Force is Victoria Coleman,sworn in on April 6,2021.
Lieutenant General Clyde Dewey Moore II is a retired United States Air Force officer who served as Commander,Air Force Life Cycle Management Center,Wright-Patterson Air Force Base,Ohio. The organization is the single center responsible for total life cycle management covering all aircraft,engines,munitions,and electronic systems.
Assistant Secretary of Defense is a title used for many high-level executive positions in the Office of the Secretary of Defense within the U.S. Department of Defense. The Assistant Secretary of Defense title is junior to Under Secretary of Defense. Reorganization Plan No. 6 of 30 June 1953 increased the number of assistant secretaries. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 added three new Assistant Secretary positions under the Under Secretary for Research and Engineering. The list of Assistant Secretaries of Defense includes:
Paul Garrett Kaminski is a technologist and former U.S. government official,best known for his leading role in the development of stealth aircraft.
Donna D. Shipton is a United States Air Force lieutenant general who serves as commander of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center. The center is responsible for total life cycle management for aircraft,engines,munitions,electronic,computer,network,cyber and agile combat support systems. The center employs more than 28,000 people and has a budget of over $300 billion. Previously she served as military deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition,Technology and Logistics.
The United States Space Force is organized by different units:the Space Staff,the field commands,and the space deltas.
The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition,or ASD (A),is one of three assistant secretaries reporting to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. The position is the principal advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment,the Deputy Secretary of Defense,and the Secretary of Defense on matters relating to acquisition program management;the Department of Defense Acquisition System;and the development of strategic,space,intelligence,tactical warfare,command and control,and business systems.
John Daniel Caine is a retired United States Air Force lieutenant general who served as the associate director for military affairs of the Central Intelligence Agency from 2021 to 2024. He served as the director of Special Access Program Central Office of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment from 2019 to 2021. Previously,he was the deputy commanding general of the Special Operations Joint Task Force –Operation Inherent Resolve.
