United States Secretary of Defense

United States Secretary of Defense
Seal of the Department[1]
Flag of the Secretary[2]
Incumbent Lloyd Austin since January 22, 2021
United States Department of Defense Office of the Secretary of Defense
Style	Mr. Secretary (informal) The Honorable (formal)
Status	Leader and chief executive
Abbreviation	SecDef
Member of	Cabinet National Security Council
Reports to	President of the United States
Seat	The Pentagon, Arlington County, Virginia
Appointer	The President with Senate advice and consent
Term length	No fixed term
Constituting instrument	10 U.S.C. § 113 50 U.S.C. § 401
Precursor	Secretary of War Secretary of the Navy
Formation	September 17, 1947 (1947-09-17)
First holder	James Forrestal
Succession	Sixth[3]
Deputy	Deputy Secretary of Defense
Salary	Executive Schedule, level I[4]
Website	www.defense.gov

The United States Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) is the head of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). The role was made in 1947. The Secretary of Defense is sixth in line to the United States presidential line of succession.

1. ↑ Trask & Goldberg: p. 177.
2. ↑ "Positional Colors for the Department of Defense". www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil. Archived from the original on May 12, 2013. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
3. ↑ "3 U.S. Code § 19 – Vacancy in offices of both President and Vice President; officers eligible to act".
4. ↑ 5 U.S.C. § 5312