The United States secretary of defense (SecDef) is the head of the United States Department of Defense,the executive department of the US Armed Forces,and is a high-ranking member of the federal cabinet. The secretary of defense's position of command and authority over the military is second only to that of the president of the United States,who is the commander-in-chief. This position corresponds to what is generally known as a defense minister in many other countries. The secretary of defense is appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate,and is by custom a member of the Cabinet and by law a member of the National Security Council.
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 secretary of the Army is a senior civilian official within the United States Department of Defense,with statutory responsibility for all matters relating to the United States Army:manpower,personnel,reserve affairs,installations,environmental issues,weapons systems and equipment acquisition,communications and financial management.
The United States Department of the Air Force (DAF) is one of the three military departments within the Department of Defense of the United States of America. The Department of the Air Force was formed on September 18,1947,per the National Security Act of 1947 and it is the military department within which the United States Air Force and the United States Space Force are organized.
The military budget of the United States is the largest portion of the discretionary federal budget allocated to the Department of Defense (DoD),or more broadly,the portion of the budget that goes to any military-related expenditures. The military budget pays the salaries,training,and health care of uniformed and civilian personnel,maintains arms,equipment and facilities,funds operations,and develops and buys new items. The budget funds five branches of the US military:the Army,Navy,Marine Corps,Air Force,and Space Force.
The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) is an agency of the United States Department of Defense (DOD),headquartered in Indianapolis,Indiana. DFAS was established in 1991 under the authority,direction,and control of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)/Chief Financial Officer to strengthen and reduce costs of financial management and operations within DOD. DFAS is responsible for all payments to servicemembers,employees,vendors,and contractors. It provides business intelligence and finance and accounting information to DOD decisionmakers. DFAS is also responsible for preparing annual financial statements and the consolidation,standardization,and modernization of finance and accounting requirements,functions,processes,operations,and systems for DOD.
The United States Department of Defense is an executive branch department of the federal government of the United States charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the U.S. government directly related to national security and the United States Armed Forces. As of June 2022,the U.S. Department of Defense is the largest employer in the world,with over 1.34 million active-duty service members,including soldiers,marines,sailors,airmen,and guardians. The Department of Defense also maintains over 778,000 National Guard and reservists,and over 747,000 civilians bringing the total to over 2.87 million employees. Headquartered at the Pentagon in Arlington County,Virginia,just outside Washington,D.C.,the Department of Defense's stated mission is to provide "the military forces needed to deter war and ensure our nation's security".
Michael Bruce Donley is a United States government official who is the director of administration and management in the Office of the Secretary of Defense since May 2021,having served in the same position from 2005 to 2008. In the Bush and Obama administrations,Donley served as the 22nd secretary of the Air Force,amongst other positions. Donley has 30 years of experience in the national security community,including service on the staff of the United States Senate,White House and The Pentagon.
John Holden Gibson II is an American businessman and government official. Gibson is the former Chief Management Officer of the United States Department of Defense. Prior to serving as CMO,Gibson served as the Deputy Chief Management Officer for the Defense Department from November 2017 to February 2018. He has been chief financial officer,chief operating officer,and managing director for several companies including a national consulting group. Gibson previously served as Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Management Reform and as Assistant Secretary of the Air Force.
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.
Jamie Michael Morin is a former senior official in the United States Department of Defense. He was a private sector economist and research consultant before earning a Doctorate degree in political science from Yale University. He then served as a professional staff member on the United States Senate Committee on the Budget. Morin was Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation at the Department of Defense. Previously,he was Assistant Secretary of the Air Force,and served concurrently as Acting Under Secretary of the Air Force from 3 July 2012 to 28 April 2013. He joined The Aerospace Corporation in 2017 as executive director of the Center for Space Policy and Strategy and vice president of Defense Systems Operations.
The under secretary of the Air Force,sometimes referred to as the under secretary of the Department of the Air Force,is the second-highest ranking civilian official in the Department of the Air Force of the United States of America,serving directly under the secretary of the Air Force. In the absence of the secretary,the under secretary exercises all the powers and duties of the secretary and serves as acting secretary when the position of secretary is vacant. The under secretary of the Air Force is appointed by the President,by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
The Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller (SAF/FM) is a civilian official in the United States Department of the Air Force.
Matthew P. Donovan is a United States Air Force veteran and government official who served as the United States Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness from March 23,2020 to January 20,2021. He also served as United States Under Secretary of the Air Force from August 3,2017 to March 23,2020. He had simultaneously served as the Acting United States Secretary of the Air Force from June 1,2019 to October 18,2019. Donovan previously served as majority policy director for the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services. Donovan served 31 years in the U.S. Air Force,retiring as a colonel. His service included tours as commander of the U.S. Air Force Officer Training School and of the 95th Fighter Squadron.
Larry Oneil Spencer is a retired United States Air Force general who served in many command,comptroller,and leadership roles during the course of his career. Some of his leadership roles included being the Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force,commander of the 75th Air Base Wing at Hill AFB,commander of the 72nd Support Group at Tinker AFB,and the commander of the 4th Comptroller Squadron at Seymour Johnson AFB. He retired 1 October 2015 after more than 44 years of service. He received the Defense Distinguished Service Medal,the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal,the Defense Superior Service Medal,and the Legion of Merit.
Lisa Stephens Disbrow is the former United States Under Secretary of the Air Force. From January 20 to May 16,2017,she served as the Acting United States Secretary of the Air Force until Heather Wilson assumed the office. Previously,Disbrow served as Acting Under Secretary of the Air Force from January 2015 until she was confirmed by the Senate as the Under Secretary in January 2016. She was also confirmed by the Senate and served as the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller from 2014 to 2016.
David L. Norquist is an American financial management professional and former government official who served as the 34th United States deputy secretary of defense from 2019 to 2021. In May of 2022,Norquist was selected as the president and chief executive officer of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA).
John Euler Whitley is an American government official who served as the acting United States Secretary of the Army from January 20,2021,to May 28,2021. He previously serviced as Assistant Secretary of the Army and acting director of cost assessment and program evaluation for the Department of Defense.
Caral Elizabeth Spangler (née Erickson;is an American government official who has served as the Assistant Secretary of the Army since August 17,2021.
