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

Their sense of responsibility is that they take an oath, not to a president, not to a secretary of defense, but to the Constitution.

From Slate ● Jun. 17, 2026

And an executive order signed by President Barack Obama in 2012 delegated this authority to the secretary of defense.

From Slate ● Jun. 5, 2026

The finance experts negotiate Pentagon contracts with defense companies, according to Michael Cadenazzi, an assistant secretary of defense.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 16, 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

President John Kennedy, who had appointed him secretary of defense in 1961, called McNamara the smartest man he’d ever met.

From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin