United States Deputy Secretary of Commerce
Encyclopedia
The Deputy Secretary of Commerce is a high ranking position within the United States Department of Commerce
. It was created
on December 13, 1979 when President Jimmy Carter
sent a letter to the U.S. Senate and nominated Luther H. Hodges, Jr.
, who then currently held the title of Under Secretary of Commerce. The Deputy Secretary serves as the Department’s chief operating officer, with responsibility for the day-to-day management of its approximately $6.5 billion budget, 13 operating units, and 38,000 employees. In that capacity, the Deputy Secretary is also a member of the President’s Management Council
.
The Deputy Secretary serves as the principal deputy of the Secretary of Commerce in all matters affecting the Department and performs continuing and special duties as the Secretary may assign including, as may be specified by the Secretary, the exercise of policy direction and general supervision over operating units not placed under other Secretarial Officers or other Department officials. In addition, the Deputy Secretary acts as Secretary if the Secretary has died, resigned, or is otherwise unable to perform the functions and duties of the office of Secretary. Rebecca M. Blank has been the Acting Deputy Secretary of Commerce since November 18, 2010. She replaced Dennis F. Hightower
, who was Deputy Secretary of Commerce from August 2009 to August 2010.
United States Department of Commerce
The United States Department of Commerce is the Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with promoting economic growth. It was originally created as the United States Department of Commerce and Labor on February 14, 1903...
. It was created
on December 13, 1979 when President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
sent a letter to the U.S. Senate and nominated Luther H. Hodges, Jr.
Luther H. Hodges, Jr.
Luther Hartwell Hodges Jr. is a retired American Democratic politician and banker. He was the first United States Deputy Secretary of Commerce , appointed under Jimmy Carter. Previously Under Secretary of Commerce, he had been tipped to replace Juanita M...
, who then currently held the title of Under Secretary of Commerce. The Deputy Secretary serves as the Department’s chief operating officer, with responsibility for the day-to-day management of its approximately $6.5 billion budget, 13 operating units, and 38,000 employees. In that capacity, the Deputy Secretary is also a member of the President’s Management Council
President’s Management Council
The President’s Management Council is an executive branch reform group in the United States. Although established by the Administration of President Bill Clinton in 1993, the concept for this council, and its purpose, has existed in various forms since the Reagan administration...
.
The Deputy Secretary serves as the principal deputy of the Secretary of Commerce in all matters affecting the Department and performs continuing and special duties as the Secretary may assign including, as may be specified by the Secretary, the exercise of policy direction and general supervision over operating units not placed under other Secretarial Officers or other Department officials. In addition, the Deputy Secretary acts as Secretary if the Secretary has died, resigned, or is otherwise unable to perform the functions and duties of the office of Secretary. Rebecca M. Blank has been the Acting Deputy Secretary of Commerce since November 18, 2010. She replaced Dennis F. Hightower
Dennis Hightower
Dennis Fowler Hightower is an American businessman and politician who served as United States Deputy Secretary of Commerce from August 11, 2009 to August 27, 2010....
, who was Deputy Secretary of Commerce from August 2009 to August 2010.
List of Deputy Secretaries of Commerce
| Name | Term |
|---|---|
| Sidney Harman Sidney Harman Sidney Harman was an American businessman active in education, government, industry, and publishing. He was the Chairman Emeritus of Harman International Industries, Inc. Harman served as the U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce in 1977 and 1978. As of August 2010 Harman was also the publisher of... |
1977–1980 |
| Luther H. Hodges, Jr. Luther H. Hodges, Jr. Luther Hartwell Hodges Jr. is a retired American Democratic politician and banker. He was the first United States Deputy Secretary of Commerce , appointed under Jimmy Carter. Previously Under Secretary of Commerce, he had been tipped to replace Juanita M... |
1980–1981 |
| Joseph F. Wright | 1981–1982 |
| Guy W. Fiske | 1982–1983 |
| Clarence J. Brown, Jr. | 1983–1988 |
| Donna F. Tuttle | 1988–1989 |
| Thomas J. Murrin | 1989–1991 |
| Rockwell A. Schnabel | 1991–1993 |
| John A. Rollwagen | 1993–1997 |
| Robert L. Mallett | 1997–2001 |
| Samuel W. Bodman Samuel W. Bodman Samuel Wright Bodman III was a United States Secretary of Energy and was previously Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Treasury Department.-Early life, career, and family:... |
2001–2003 |
| Theodore W. Kassinger Theodore Kassinger Theodore W. Kassinger is an international trade attorney who is a partner in the Washington DC office of O'Melveny & Myers, LLP. He was formerly the Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce from 2004-2005 and General Counsel to the U.S. Department of Commerce from 2001-2004 during the... |
2004–2005 |
| David A. Sampson | 2005–2007 |
| John J. Sullivan John J. Sullivan (American lawyer) John J. Sullivan is an American lawyer. He served as Deputy Secretary of the United States Department of Commerce from 2008 to 2009 in the George W. Bush administration.... |
2008–2009 |
| Dennis F. Hightower Dennis Hightower Dennis Fowler Hightower is an American businessman and politician who served as United States Deputy Secretary of Commerce from August 11, 2009 to August 27, 2010.... |
2009–2010 |
| Rebecca Blank Rebecca Blank Rebecca M. Blank is the United States Undersecretary of Commerce for Economic Affairs. She was appointed the Deputy Secretary of the United States Department of Commerce on November 1, 2011, a position she has held in an acting role since October 21, 2011. From July 2011 until October 2011,... |
2010–present |