United States Deputy Secretary of Commerce

Last updated
Deputy Secretary of Commerce of the United States of America
Seal of the United States Department of Commerce.svg
Seal of the Department of Commerce
Flag of the United States Deputy Secretary of Commerce.svg
Flag of the deputy secretary of commerce
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Paul M. Dabbar.jpg
Incumbent
Paul Dabbar
since June 26, 2025
United States Department of Commerce
Member ofU.S. Department of Commerce
Reports to United States Secretary of Commerce
Seat Washington, D.C., U.S.
AppointerThe president
with Senate advice and consent
FormationJanuary 26, 1977
First holder Sidney Harman
Website www.Commerce.gov

The United States deputy secretary of commerce is a high-ranking position within the U.S. Department of Commerce. It was created on December 13, 1979, when President Jimmy Carter sent a letter to the U.S. Senate and nominated Luther H. Hodges Jr., who then currently held the title of under secretary of commerce. The deputy secretary serves as the department’s chief operating officer, with responsibility for the day-to-day management of its approximately $11.4 billion budget, 13 operating units, and 46,000 employees. In that capacity, the deputy secretary is also a member of the President’s Management Council. The most recent deputy secretary was Don Graves, who was sworn in on May 14, 2021 and resigned January 20, 2025.

Contents

History

The deputy secretary serves as the principal deputy of the secretary of commerce in all matters affecting the department and performs continuing and special duties as the secretary may assign including, as may be specified by the secretary, the exercise of policy direction and general supervision over operating units not placed under other secretarial officers or other department officials. In addition, the deputy secretary acts as secretary if the secretary has died, resigned, or is otherwise unable to perform the functions and duties of the office of secretary.

List of deputy secretaries of commerce

#ImageNameTerm beganTerm ended President(s) served under
1 Sidney Harman January 26, 1977August 28, 1980 Jimmy Carter
2 Blank.png Luther H. Hodges Jr. September 8, 1980January 20, 1981
3 Joseph Robert Wright, Jr.jpg Joseph Robert Wright Jr. January 29, 1981August 23, 1982 Ronald Reagan
4 Blank.png Guy W. Fiske August 24, 1982May 20, 1983
5 Bud Brown 97th Congress 1981.jpg Bud Brown May 20, 1983July 12, 1988
6 Blank.png Donna F. Tuttle July 12, 1988January 20, 1989
7 Thomas J. Murrin (cropped).jpg Thomas J. Murrin February 11, 1989April 17, 1991 George H. W. Bush
8 Rockwell A. Schnabel.png Rockwell A. Schnabel April 25, 1991January 20, 1993
9 David J. Barram.jpg David J. Barram January 27, 1993May 14, 1996 Bill Clinton
10 MallettRobert.jpg Robert L. Mallett May 14, 1997January 20, 2001
11 Samuel Bodman.jpg Samuel Bodman January 22, 2001July 16, 2004 George W. Bush
12 Theodore W Kassinger.jpg Theodore Kassinger August 20, 2004July 21, 2005
13 Dr Sampson R.jpg David A. Sampson July 25, 2005August 30, 2007
14 John J Sullivan.jpg John J. Sullivan September 1, 2007March 14, 2008
March 14, 2008January 20, 2009
15 DennisHightower.jpg Dennis Hightower August 11, 2009August 27, 2010 Barack Obama
16 Rebecca Blank official portrait.jpg Rebecca Blank November 28, 2010March 29, 2012
March 29, 2012June 1, 2013
Patrick D. Gallagher official photo.jpg Patrick D. Gallagher
Acting
June 1, 2013July 24, 2014
17 Bruce Andrews.jpg Bruce H. Andrews July 24, 2014January 20, 2017
18 Karen Dunn Kelley.png Karen Dunn Kelley September 22, 2017November 28, 2018 Donald Trump
November 28, 2018January 20, 2021
Wynn Coggins US Commerce Dept.jpg Wynn Coggins
Acting
March 3, 2021May 14, 2021 Joe Biden
19 DonGravesOfficialPortrait.jpg Don Graves May 14, 2021January 20, 2025
Jeremy Pelter.jpg Jeremy Pelter
Acting
February 21, 2025June 26, 2025 Donald Trump
20 U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Paul M. Dabbar.jpg Paul Dabbar June 26, 2025Incumbent Donald Trump

References