United States Under Secretary of the Air Force

Last updated
Under Secretary of
the Air Force
Seal of the United States Department of the Air Force.svg
Seal of the Department of the Air Force
Flag of the Under Secretary of the Air Force.svg
Flag of the Under Secretary of the Air Force
Melissa G. Dalton (3).jpg
Incumbent
Melissa Dalton
since May 29, 2024
Department of the Air Force
Style Madam Under Secretary
The Honorable
Reports to Secretary of the Air Force
Seat The Pentagon, Arlington County, Virginia, United States
NominatorThe President
with the advice and consent of the Senate
Term length No fixed term
Constituting instrument 10 U.S.C.   § 9015
Inaugural holder Arthur S. Barrows
FormationSeptember 18, 1947
Succession 17th in SecDef succession by seniority of appointment
DeputyDeputy Under Secretary of the Air Force (Management) and Deputy Chief Management Office
Salary Executive Schedule, level III
Website www.af.mil

The under secretary of the Air Force (USECAF, or SAF/US), sometimes referred to as the under secretary of the Department of the Air Force, [1] 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. [2] The under secretary of the Air Force is appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.

Contents

The secretary and under secretary, together with two military officers (the Chief of Staff of the Air Force and the Chief of Space Operations), constitute the senior leadership team of the Department of the Air Force.

The under secretary of the Air Force supervises the following officials:

List of under secretaries of the Air Force

No.PortraitUnder SecretaryTook officeLeft officeTime in office
1
Portrait gray.png
Arthur S. Barrows
(1884–1963)
September 18, 1947April 21, 19502 years, 215 days
2
John McCone.jpg
John A. McCone
(1902–1991)
June 15, 1950October 12, 19511 year, 119 days
3
Roswell Gilpatric.PNG
Roswell L. Gilpatric
(1906–1996)
October 19, 1951February 5, 19531 year, 109 days
4
James H. Douglas, Jr..jpg
James H. Douglas, Jr.
(1899–1988)
March 3, 1953April 30, 19574 years, 58 days
5
Portrait gray.png
Malcolm A. MacIntyre
(1908–1992)
June 5, 1957July 31, 19592 years, 56 days
6
The Air Force Role In Developing International Outer Space Law (Terrill, 1999) Page 022-1.jpg
Dudley C. Sharp
(1905–1987)
August 3, 1959December 10, 1959129 days
7
Joseph V. Charyk.jpg
Joseph V. Charyk
(1920–2016)
January 28, 1960March 1, 19633 years, 32 days
8
Brockway McMillan.jpg
Brockway McMillan
(1915–2016)
June 12, 1963September 30, 19652 years, 110 days
9
Portrait gray.png
Norman S. Paul
(1919–1978)
October 1, 1965September 30, 19671 year, 364 days
10
Portrait gray.png
Townsend Hoopes
(1922–2004)
October 2, 1967February 3, 19691 year, 124 days
11
John L McLucas.jpg
John L. McLucas
(1920–2002)
March 17, 1969July 18, 1973~4 years, 123 days
12
James W. Plummer.jpg
James W. Plummer
(1920–2013)
December 20, 1973November 5, 19762 years, 321 days
-
Portrait gray.png
John Joseph Martin
(1922–1997)
Acting
April 6, 1977July 21, 1977106 days
13
Hans Mark.jpg
Hans M. Mark
(1929–2021)
July 22, 1977May 18, 19791 year, 300 days
-
AntoniaHandlerChayes1980.jpeg
Antonia Handler Chayes
(born 1929)
Acting
May 19, 1979July 26, 197968 days
14
AntoniaHandlerChayes1980.jpeg
Antonia Handler Chayes
(born 1929)
July 26, 1979January 20, 19811 year, 178 days
15
Edward C. Aldridge Jr.jpg
Edward C. Aldridge, Jr.
(born 1938)
August 3, 1981June 8, 19864 years, 343 days
16
Portrait of James F. McGovern, Under Secretary of the Air Force.jpg
James F. McGovern
(born 1946)
November 19, 1986May 1, 19892 years, 163 days
17
Anne N. Foreman (1989).png
Anne N. Foreman
(born 1947)
May 1, 1989January 20, 19933 years, 264 days
18
Rudy de Leon, official military photo, 1997.jpg
Rudy de Leon
(born 1952)
May 5, 1994August 5, 19973 years, 92 days
19
F. Whitten Peters 01.jpg
F. Whitten Peters
(born 1946)
November 13, 1997August 1, 19991 year, 261 days
20
Carol DiBattiste, Under Secretary of the Air Force.jpg
Carol A. DiBattiste
(born 1951)
August 5, 1999January 8, 20011 year, 156 days
-
Dr Lawrence J Delaney, Acting Secretary of the Air Force.jpg
Lawrence J. Delaney
(born 1935)
Acting
January 20, 2001May 31, 2001~131 days
21
Peter B. Teets, Under Secretary of the Air Force.jpg
Peter B. Teets
(1942–2020)
April 15, 2001March 25, 20053 years, 344 days
22
Ronald M Sega, Under Secretary of the Air Force.jpg
Ronald M. Sega
(born 1952)
August 4, 2005August 2007~2 years, 11 days
23
Erin C Conaton, Under Secretary of the Air Force, official portrait.jpg
Erin C. Conaton
(born 1970)
March 11, 2010July 6, 20122 years, 117 days
-
Dr Jamie M. Morin, USAF.jpg
Jamie M. Morin
(born 1975)
Acting
July 6, 2012April 28, 2013296 days
24
Eric Fanning.jpg
Eric Fanning
(born 1968)
April 18, 2013February 17, 20151 year, 305 days
25
Lisa S. Disbrow, USAF, 2014.JPG
Lisa S. Disbrow
(born 1962)
March 30, 2015June 30, 20172 years, 92 days
-
Patricia Zarodkiewicz official photo.jpg
Patricia Zarodkiewicz
Acting
June 30, 2017August 3, 201734 days
26
Matthew Donovan official photo.jpg
Matthew Donovan
(born 1958)
August 3, 2017December 27, 20192 years, 146 days
-
John P. Roth.jpg
John P. Roth
(born 1952/1953)
Acting
June 1, 2019October 18, 2019139 days
-
Shon Manasco official photo.jpg
Shon J. Manasco
(born 1970)
Acting
December 27, 2019January 20, 20211 year, 24 days
-
Anthony P. Reardon.jpg
Anthony P. Reardon
Acting
February 2, 2021July 26, 2021174 days
27
UnderSecAF Gina Ortiz Jones portrait.jpg
Gina Ortiz Jones
(born 1981)
July 26, 2021March 6, 20231 year, 223 days
-
Kristyn E. Jones.jpg
Kristyn E. Jones
Acting
March 6, 2023May 29, 20241 year, 84 days
28
Melissa G. Dalton (3).jpg
Melissa Dalton May 29, 2024Incumbent21 days

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Secretary of Defense</span> Leader of the US armed forces following the president

The United States secretary of defense (SecDef) is the head of the United States Department of Defense, the executive department of the U.S. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Secretary of the Army</span> Statutory office and the head of the U.S. Department of the Army

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Secretary of the Air Force</span> Statutory office and the head of the U.S. Department of the Air Force

The Secretary of the Air Force, sometimes referred to as the Secretary of the Department of the Air Force, is the head of the Department of the Air Force and the service secretary for the United States Air Force and United States Space Force. The secretary of the Air Force is a civilian appointed by the president, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The secretary reports to the secretary of defense and/or the deputy secretary of defense, and is by statute responsible for and has the authority to conduct all the affairs of the Department of the Air Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Department of the Air Force</span> Military department for the Air Force and Space Force, U.S. Department of Defense

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Office of the Secretary of Defense</span> United States government agency management and oversight body

The Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) is a headquarters-level staff of the United States Department of Defense. It is the principal civilian staff element of the U.S. Secretary of Defense, and it assists the Secretary in carrying out authority, direction and control of the Department of Defense in the exercise of policy development, planning, resource management, fiscal, and program evaluation responsibilities. OSD is the Secretary of Defense's support staff for managing the Department of Defense, and it corresponds to what the Executive Office of the President of the U.S. is to the U.S. president for managing the whole of the Executive branch of the federal government.

Executive Schedule is the system of salaries given to the highest-ranked appointed officials in the executive branch of the U.S. government. The president of the United States appoints individuals to these positions, most with the advice and consent of the United States Senate. They include members of the president's Cabinet, several top-ranking officials of each executive department, the directors of some of the more prominent departmental and independent agencies, and several members of the Executive Office of the President.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)</span>

The Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)/Chief Financial Officer, abbreviated USD(C)/CFO, is a high level civilian official in the United States Department of Defense. The Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) is the principal staff assistant and adviser to both the Secretary of Defense and the Deputy Secretary of Defense for all budgetary and fiscal matters, including the development and execution of the Defense Department's annual budget.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John H. Gibson</span> American government official (born 1959)

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert F. Hale</span>

Robert F. Hale was the United States Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) from 2009 until 2014 and before that the Comptroller and Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management. Hale has over thirty years of experience as a professional financial manager serving in a wide range of national defense related roles. In addition to his most recent position as Under Secretary of Defense and his previous appointment as Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Hale has also served in the National Security Division of the Congressional Budget Office and as Executive Director of the American Society of Military Comptrollers. Hale is a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration and a former member of the Defense Business Board. He was appointed to the National Commission on the Future of the Army by Representative Adam Smith (D-WA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamie M. Morin</span> American government official (born 1975)

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Under Secretary of the Army</span> United States government office

The United States under secretary of the Army is the second-highest-ranking civilian official of the United States Department of the Army, serving directly under the United States Secretary of the Army. The Secretary and Under Secretary, together with two military officers, the Chief of Staff of the United States Army and the Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army, constitute the senior leaders of the United States Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John W. Douglass</span> United States Air Force general

John Wade Douglass is a retired Brigadier General, United States Air Force. He served as the United States Navy's Assistant Secretary of the Navy from 1995 to 1998. In 2012, Douglass ran for election to the United States House of Representatives for Virginia's 5th congressional district as a Democrat, losing to incumbent congressman Robert Hurt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Financial Management & Comptroller)</span> Chief Financial Officer of the Department of the Air Force

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wendy M. Masiello</span> United States general

Wendy Lee Motlong Masiello retired as a lieutenant general in the United States Air Force on May 24, 2017. From May 2014 to May 24, 2017, she was the director of the Defense Contract Management Agency, based in Fort Lee, Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Larry O. Spencer</span> US Air Force general

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donna D. Shipton</span> U.S. Air Force general officer

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen G. Purdy</span> U.S. Space Force general

Stephen G. Purdy Jr. is a United States Space Force major general who serves as the military deputy to the assistant secretary of the Air Force for space acquisition and integration. He previously served as commander of Space Launch Delta 45, program executive officer for assured access to space, director of the Eastern Range, and director of launch and range operations of Space Systems Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steven P. Whitney</span> U.S. Space Force general

Steven P. Whitney is a United States Space Force major general who serves as the director of staff of the United States Space Force. He previously served as the military deputy to the assistant secretary of the Air Force for space acquisition and integration from 2021 to 2023.

References

  1. https://facebook.com/USairforce/videos/416675599780986/ [ user-generated source ]
  2. "10 U.S. Code § 9015 - Under Secretary of the Air Force". LII / Legal Information Institute. Retrieved 5 July 2021.

Sources