of the United States of America with statutory responsibility for all matters relating to the
: manpower, personnel, reserve affairs, installations, environmental issues, weapons systems and equipment acquisition, communications, and financial management. The Secretary of the Army is nominated by the
. This position was created on September 18, 1947, replacing the
The Senior Leadership of the United States Army consists of two civilians - the Secretary of the Army and the
of the Department of the Army, and the Chief of Staff of the Army works directly for the Secretary of the Army. The Secretary presents and justifies Army policies, plans, programs, and budgets to the Secretary of Defense, other executive branch officials, and to the
Defense Committees. The Secretary also communicates Army policies, plans, programs, capabilities, and accomplishments to the public. As necessary, the Secretary convenes meetings with the senior leadership of the Army to debate issues, provide direction, and seek advice. The Secretary is a member of the
Another responsibility of the Secretary of the Army is the management of the Civilian Aides to the Secretary of the Army Program.
, the General Counsel of the Department of the Army, the Inspector General of the Army, the Chief of Legislative Liaison, and the Army Reserve Forces Policy Committee. Other offices may be established by law or by the Secretary of the Army. No more than 1,865 officers of the Army on the active-duty list may be assigned or detailed to permanent duty in the Office of the Secretary of the Army and on the Army Staff.
took effect and was the last Army secretary to hold the cabinet status, which was henceforth assigned to the Secretary of Defense. The current Secretary of the Army,
| Photo |
Name |
Term of Office |
President(s) The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
served under |
|---|
 |
Kenneth Claiborne RoyallKenneth Claiborne Royall was a United States Army general and the last person to hold the office of Secretary of War...
|
September 18, 1947 – April 27, 1949 |
Harry S. TrumanHarry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
|
|
Gordon Gray |
April 28, 1949 – April 12, 1950 |
Harry S. TrumanHarry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
|
| Frank Pace Frank Pace, Jr. was a the 3rd United States Secretary of the Army and business executive.-Biography:Pace was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, and attended The Hill School, Pottstown, Pennsylvania...
|
April 12, 1950 – January 20, 1953 |
Harry S. TrumanHarry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
|
|
Earl D. Johnson Earl D. Johnson was the 4th United States Under Secretary of the Army from 1952 to 1954.-Biography:Earl D. Johnson was born in Hamilton, Ohio on December 14, 1905. He was educated at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, receiving a B.A. in 1928...
(acting) |
January 20, 1953 – February 4, 1953 |
Dwight D. EisenhowerDwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
|
 |
Robert Ten Broeck Stevens Robert Ten Broeck Stevens was a U.S. businessman and former chairman of J.P. Stevens and Company, which was one of the most established textile manufacturing plants in the U.S...
|
February 4, 1953 – July 21, 1955 |
Dwight D. EisenhowerDwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
|
 |
Wilber Marion BruckerWilber Marion Brucker was an American Republican politician. Born in Saginaw, Michigan, he served as the 32nd Governor of Michigan from 1931 to 1933 and as the United States Secretary of the Army between July 21, 1955 and January 19, 1961.-Early life:Brucker was born in Saginaw, Michigan, the son...
|
July 21, 1955 – January 19, 1961 |
Dwight D. EisenhowerDwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
|
 |
Elvis Jacob Stahr, Jr. |
January 24, 1961 – June 30, 1962 |
John F. KennedyJohn Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
|
 |
Cyrus Roberts VanceCyrus Roberts Vance was an American lawyer and United States Secretary of State under President Jimmy Carter from 1977 to 1980...
|
July 5, 1962 – January 21, 1964 |
John F. KennedyJohn Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
, Lyndon B. JohnsonLyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
|
 |
Stephen Ailes Stephen Ailes was a prominent member of the District of Columbia Bar and a partner in the firm of Steptoe & Johnson. He served as the United States Under Secretary of the Army from February 9, 1961 to January 28, 1964 and as United States Secretary of the Army from January 28 ,1964 to July 1, 1965...
|
January 28, 1964 – July 1, 1965 |
Lyndon B. JohnsonLyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
|
 |
Stanley R. ResorStanley Rogers Resor is a former lawyer, U.S. military officer, and government official.Born in New York City, he was the son of Stanley B. Resor , president of the J. W. Thompson advertising agency and one of the originators of the modern advertising industry...
|
July 2, 1965 – June 30, 1971 |
Lyndon B. JohnsonLyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
, Richard NixonRichard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
|
 |
Robert F. Froehlke Robert Frederick Froehlke was a United States administrator. He served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Administration from January 1969 to June 1971, and as United States Secretary of the Army from July 1971 until May 1973....
|
July 1, 1971 – May 14, 1973 |
Richard NixonRichard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
|
 |
Howard H. CallawayHoward Hollis "Bo" Callaway is a businessman and former politician from the state of Georgia.-Early life and education:Callaway was born in LaGrange, Georgia, west of Atlanta. His grandfather was Fuller Earle Callaway. He attended Georgia Tech and graduated from the United States Military Academy...
|
May 15, 1973 – July 3, 1975 |
Richard NixonRichard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
, Gerald FordGerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
|
|
Norman R. Augustine Norman Ralph Augustine is a U.S. aerospace businessman who served as Under Secretary of the Army from 1975-77. Augustine currently serves as chairman of the Review of United States Human Space Flight Plans Committee.-Career:...
(acting) |
July 3, 1975 – August 5, 1975 |
Gerald FordGerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
|
 |
Martin R. Hoffmann Martin Richard Hoffmann is a U.S. administrator. He served as the United States Secretary of the Army between 1975 and 1977.-Government Career:...
|
August 5, 1975 – January 20, 1977 |
Gerald FordGerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
|
 |
Clifford L. Alexander, Jr.Clifford Leopold Alexander, Jr. is an American lawyer, businessman and public servant. He was the first African-American Secretary of the Army.-Life and career:...
|
February 14, 1977 – January 20, 1981 |
Jimmy CarterJames 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...
|
|
Percy A. Pierre (acting) |
January 21, 1981 – January 29, 1981 |
Jimmy CarterJames 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...
|
 |
John O. Marsh, Jr. John Otho Marsh, Jr. served as the United States Secretary of the Army between 1981 and 1989. He also served in the United States House of Representatives from Virginia from 1963 to 1971. He graduated from Washington and Lee University, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity...
|
January 30, 1981 – August 14, 1989 |
Ronald ReaganRonald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
, George H. W. BushGeorge Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
|
|
Michael P. W. Stone |
August 14, 1989 – January 20, 1993 |
George H. W. BushGeorge Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
|
|
John W. Shannon John W. Shannon was United States Under Secretary of the Army from 1989 to 1993.-Biography:John W. Shannon was born in Louisville, Kentucky on September 13, 1933. He was educated at Central State University, graduating with a B.S. in 1955....
(acting) |
January 20, 1993 – August 26, 1993 |
Bill ClintonWilliam Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
|
 |
Gen. In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, general is a four-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-10. General ranks above lieutenant general and below General of the Army or General of the Air Force; the Marine Corps does not have an...
Gordon R. SullivanGeneral Gordon Russell Sullivan is a retired Army general officer, who served as the 32nd Chief of Staff of the United States Army and as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.-Background and education:...
(acting) |
August 28, 1993 – November 21, 1993 |
Bill ClintonWilliam Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
|
|
Togo D. West, Jr.Togo Dennis West, Jr. is an American attorney and public official who was the third person to occupy the post of Secretary of Veterans Affairs. He was nominated by President Bill Clinton on January 27, 1998, during Clinton's second term, and was confirmed by the Senate on May 5, 1998. He had...
|
November 22, 1993 – May 4, 1997 |
Bill ClintonWilliam Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
|
|
Robert M. Walker Robert Michael Walker was United States Under Secretary of the Army 1997-1998.-Biography:Robert M. Walker was born in Martin, Tennessee, in 1948. He attended the University of Tennessee. From 1969-1976, he worked as a staff assistant to Rep. Joe L. Evins .Walker joined the staff of Senator Jim...
(acting) |
December 2, 1997 – July 1, 1998 |
Bill ClintonWilliam Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
|
|
Louis Caldera Louis Caldera was Director of the White House Military Office from January 20, 2009, until May 22, 2009, and served as the 17th United States Secretary of the Army from July 2, 1998, until January 20, 2001.-Family and education:...
|
July 2, 1998 – January 20, 2001 |
Bill ClintonWilliam Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
|
|
Gregory R. Dahlberg Gregory Robert Dahlberg was United States Under Secretary of the Army from 2000 to 2001.-Biography:Gregory R. Dahlberg was raised in the Minneapolis – Saint Paul area. After high school, he attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, receiving a B.A. in Business Administration and Political Science...
(acting) |
January 20, 2001 – March 4, 2001 |
George W. BushGeorge Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
|
|
Joseph W. Westphal Joseph W. Westphal is the United States Under Secretary of the Army in the United States Department of the Army.Westphal was born in Santiago, Chile. Joseph Westphal served as Chancellor of the University of Maine System and Professor of Political Science at the University of Maine...
(acting) |
March 5, 2001 – May 31, 2001 |
George W. BushGeorge Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
|
|
Thomas E. WhiteThomas E. White, Jr. is an American businessman and former United States Army officer who served as senior executive at the now collapsed Enron and as the United States Secretary of the Army from May 31, 2001 until April 25, 2003.-Military career and education:In 1963 White graduated from Cass...
|
May 31, 2001 – May 9, 2003 |
George W. BushGeorge Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
|
 |
Les BrownleeRomie Leslie "Les" Brownlee served as the Acting United States Secretary of the Army from 10 May 2003 until his resignation effective 2 December 2004....
(acting) |
May 10, 2003 – November 18, 2004 |
George W. BushGeorge Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
|
 |
Francis J. HarveyFrancis Joseph Harvey served as the 19th Secretary of the United States Army from November 19, 2004 to March 9, 2007.-Education and family:Harvey was born and raised in Latrobe, Pennsylvania...
|
November 19, 2004 – March 9, 2007 |
George W. BushGeorge Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
|
 |
Pete GerenPreston M. "Pete" Geren, III served as the 20th United States Secretary of the Army from July 16, 2007 to September 16, 2009...
|
March 9, 2007 – September 21, 2009 |
George W. BushGeorge Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
, Barack ObamaBarack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
|
|
John M. McHughJohn Michael McHugh is the 21st United States Secretary of the Army and a former Republican politician from the state of New York, formerly representing the state's 23rd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives.On June 2, 2009, President Barack Obama nominated him to...
|
September 21, 2009 – Present |
Barack ObamaBarack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
|