secretary of defense

Cultural  

1. The civilian head of the United States Department of Defense and a member of the cabinet, appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. The secretary of defense works with civilian and military advisers to formulate American military policies and make foreign policy recommendations to the president.

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secretary of defense

Tillis, who told me that the president’s beloved Florsheims might be a little too “flashy” for the Senate, supplied the decisive vote to confirm Hegseth, a former Fox host, as secretary of defense.

From Slate ● Jun. 5, 2026

Federal statutes require the secretary of defense, or secretary of one of the services, to jump through various hoops in order to delay the promotion of an officer.

From Slate ● Jun. 5, 2026

Mara Karlin, who served as assistant secretary of defense for strategy during the Biden administration, said the priority then was beefing up the military presence in the Pacific.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 1, 2026

On Veep, he played a comical version of the US secretary of defense, who runs for office against the main character, played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

From BBC ● Dec. 30, 2025

He called in his new secretary of defense, Clark Clifford, recently appointed to replace Robert McNamara.

From "Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam" by Elizabeth Partridge