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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Example Sentences

For the past few months, the Atlantic’s Clint Smith has been trying to understand what it’s like for Black service members to report to a secretary of defense like Pete Hegseth.

From Slate • Jun. 17, 2026

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

Her former colleague Pete Hegseth, now secretary of defense, sold more than 300,000 copies of his last two books, both of which were military grievance memoirs.

From Salon • Apr. 18, 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

In the wake of the Tet Offensive, Rand sent him briefly to D.C. to join a group of consultants advising Clark Clifford, the new secretary of defense.

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