secretary of defense

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.

Example Sentences

The announcement was made during a visit by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.

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At one point in the film, a junior official points out that U.S. interceptors have failed almost half their tests, and the secretary of defense responds by bellowing: “That’s what $50 billion buys us?”

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As a result, neither DOJ’s statement, nor the still-unavailable OLC opinion, nor the say-so of the president, the attorney general, or the secretary of defense is the last word.

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Daniel Shapiro said he was familiar with the talks between Washington and the U.A.E. over the plane when he served as deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East in the Biden administration.

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Loyal wingman drones would likely be essential in any such conflict, according to Michael Horowitz, who served as U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense in charge of emerging capabilities under the Biden administration.

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