United States Secretary of the Air Force
Encyclopedia
The Secretary of the Air Force (SECAF, or SAF/OS) is the Head of the Department of the Air Force, a component organization within the Department of Defense
of the United States of America. The Secretary of the Air Force is appointed from civilian life by the President
, by and with the advice and consent
of the Senate
. The Secretary reports to the Secretary of Defense
and/or the Deputy Secretary of Defense
, and is by statute responsible for and has the authority to conduct all the affairs of the Department of the Air Force.
The Secretary works closely with his/her civilian deputy, the Under Secretary of the Air Force
; and his/her military deputy, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force
, who is the senior ranked uniformed officer in the United States Air Force
.
The first Secretary of the Air Force, Stuart Symington
, was sworn-in on September 18, 1947 upon the re-organization of the Army Air Forces
into a military department and a military service of its own, independent of the War Department
/Army
, with the enactment of the National Security Act
.
of a corporation. The Department of the Air Force is defined as a Military Department. It is not limited to the Washington headquarter staffs, rather it is an entity which includes all the components of the United States Air Force
and the Air National Guard
:
The exclusive responsibilities of the Secretary of the Air Force are enumerated in Title 10 Section 8013 (b) of the United States Code
. They include, but are not limited to:
By direction of the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Air Force assigns military units of the Department of the Air Force, other than those who carry out the functions listed in 10 USC 8013 (b), to the Unified and Specified Combatant Commands to perform missions assigned to those commands. Air Force units while assigned to Combatant Commands may only be re-assigned by authority of the Secretary of Defense.
However, the chain of command for Air Force units for other purposes than the operational direction goes from the President to the Secretary of Defense to the Secretary of the Air Force to the Commanders of Air Force Commands. Air Force Officers have to report on any matter to the Secretary, or the Secretary's designate, when requested. The Secretary has the authority to detail, prescribe the duties, and to assign air force service members and civilian employees, and may also change the title of any activity not statutorily designated. The Secretary has several responsibilities under the Uniform Code of Military Justice
(UCMJ) with respect to Air Force service members, including to authority to convene General Courts Martial and to commute sentences.
The Secretary of the Air Force may also be assigned additional responsibilities by the President or the Secretary of Defense, e.g. the Secretary is designated as the "DoD Executive Agent for Space", and as such:
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
of the United States of America. The Secretary of the Air Force is appointed from civilian life by the President
President of the United States
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....
, by and with the advice and consent
Advice and consent
Advice and consent is an English phrase frequently used in enacting formulae of bills and in other legal or constitutional contexts, describing a situation in which the executive branch of a government enacts something previously approved of by the legislative branch.-General:The expression is...
of the Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
. The Secretary reports to the Secretary of Defense
United States Secretary of Defense
The Secretary of Defense is the head and chief executive officer of the Department of Defense of the United States of America. This position corresponds to what is generally known as a Defense Minister in other countries...
and/or the Deputy Secretary of Defense
United States Deputy Secretary of Defense
The Deputy Secretary of Defense is the second-highest ranking official in the Department of Defense of the United States of America. The Deputy Secretary of Defense is appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate...
, and is by statute responsible for and has the authority to conduct all the affairs of the Department of the Air Force.
The Secretary works closely with his/her civilian deputy, the Under Secretary of the Air Force
United States Under Secretary of the Air Force
The Under Secretary of the Air Force is the second-highest ranking civilian official in the Department of the Air Force of the United States of America, serving directly under the Secretary of the Air Force...
; and his/her military deputy, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force
Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force
The Chief of Staff of the Air Force is a statutory office held by a four-star general in the United States Air Force, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Air Force, and as such is the principal military advisor and a deputy to the Secretary of the...
, who is the senior ranked uniformed officer in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
.
The first Secretary of the Air Force, Stuart Symington
Stuart Symington
William Stuart Symington was a businessman and political figure from Missouri. He served as the first Secretary of the Air Force from 1947 to 1950 and was a Democratic United States Senator from Missouri from 1953 to 1976.-Education and business career:...
, was sworn-in on September 18, 1947 upon the re-organization of the Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
into a military department and a military service of its own, independent of the War Department
United States Department of War
The United States Department of War, also called the War Department , was the United States Cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the United States Army...
/Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, with the enactment of the National Security Act
National Security Act
National Security Act can refer to*National Security Act , law to provide for preventive detention*National Security Act , regarding seditious activities...
.
Responsibilities
The Secretary is the head of the Department of the Air Force, analogous to that of a Chief Executive OfficerChief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of a corporation. The Department of the Air Force is defined as a Military Department. It is not limited to the Washington headquarter staffs, rather it is an entity which includes all the components of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
and the Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
:
The exclusive responsibilities of the Secretary of the Air Force are enumerated in Title 10 Section 8013 (b) of the United States Code
United States Code
The Code of Laws of the United States of America is a compilation and codification of the general and permanent federal laws of the United States...
. They include, but are not limited to:
By direction of the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Air Force assigns military units of the Department of the Air Force, other than those who carry out the functions listed in 10 USC 8013 (b), to the Unified and Specified Combatant Commands to perform missions assigned to those commands. Air Force units while assigned to Combatant Commands may only be re-assigned by authority of the Secretary of Defense.
However, the chain of command for Air Force units for other purposes than the operational direction goes from the President to the Secretary of Defense to the Secretary of the Air Force to the Commanders of Air Force Commands. Air Force Officers have to report on any matter to the Secretary, or the Secretary's designate, when requested. The Secretary has the authority to detail, prescribe the duties, and to assign air force service members and civilian employees, and may also change the title of any activity not statutorily designated. The Secretary has several responsibilities under the Uniform Code of Military Justice
Uniform Code of Military Justice
The Uniform Code of Military Justice , is the foundation of military law in the United States. It is was established by the United States Congress in accordance with the authority given by the United States Constitution in Article I, Section 8, which provides that "The Congress shall have Power . ....
(UCMJ) with respect to Air Force service members, including to authority to convene General Courts Martial and to commute sentences.
The Secretary of the Air Force may also be assigned additional responsibilities by the President or the Secretary of Defense, e.g. the Secretary is designated as the "DoD Executive Agent for Space", and as such:
Office of the Secretary of the Air Force
The Secretary of the Air Force's principal staff element, the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, has responsibility for acquisition and auditing, comptroller issues (including financial management), inspector general matters, legislative affairs, and public affairs within the Department of the Air Force. The Office of the Secretary of the Air Force is one of the Department of the Air Force's two headquarter staffs at the seat of government, the other one is the Air Staff.Composition
The Office of the Secretary of the Air Force is composed of:- Under Secretary of the Air ForceUnited States Under Secretary of the Air ForceThe Under Secretary of the Air Force is the second-highest ranking civilian official in the Department of the Air Force of the United States of America, serving directly under the Secretary of the Air Force...
- The Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force for International Affairs
- The Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force for Space Programs
- Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for AcquisitionAssistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition)The Assistant Secretary of the Air Force is a civilian office in the United States Department of the Air Force....
- Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and ComptrollerAssistant Secretary of the Air Force (Financial Management & Comptroller)The Assistant Secretary of the Air Force is a civilian official in the United States Department of the Air Force.- Responsibilities :According to U.S...
- Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and LogisticsAssistant Secretary of the Air Force (Installations, Environment & Logistics)Assistant Secretary of the Air Force is the title of a civilian office in the United States Department of the Air Force...
- Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve AffairsAssistant Secretary of the Air Force (Manpower & Reserve Affairs)Assistant Secretary of the Air Force is the title of a civilian office in the United States Department of the Air Force...
- General Counsel of the Department of the Air ForceGeneral Counsel of the Air ForceThe General Counsel of the Air Force is the general counsel of the United States Department of the Air Force.By U.S. law, the General Counsel of the Air Force is appointed from civilian life by the President of the United States upon the advice and consent of the United States Senate...
- Inspector General of the Air Force.
- Chief of Legislative Liaison.
- Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force
- Auditor General of the Department of the Air Force
- Air Reserve Forces Policy Committee.
Chronological list of Secretaries of the Air Force
| No. | Image | Name | Term of Office | Secretaries of Defense United States Secretary of Defense The Secretary of Defense is the head and chief executive officer of the Department of Defense of the United States of America. This position corresponds to what is generally known as a Defense Minister in other countries... serving under: |
President President of the United States 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.... appointed by: |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Began | Ended | Days of Service | |||||
| 1 |  |
William S. Symington Stuart Symington William Stuart Symington was a businessman and political figure from Missouri. He served as the first Secretary of the Air Force from 1947 to 1950 and was a Democratic United States Senator from Missouri from 1953 to 1976.-Education and business career:... |
September 18, 1947 | April 24, 1950 | James Forrestal Louis Johnson |
Harry S. Truman Harry S. Truman Harry 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... |
|
| 2 |  |
Thomas K. Finletter Thomas K. Finletter Thomas Knight Finletter , was an American lawyer, politician, and statesman.-Biography:Finletter was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Thomas Dickson Finletter and Helen Grill Finletter... |
April 24, 1950 | January 20, 1953 | Louis Johnson George Marshall George Marshall George Catlett Marshall was an American military leader, Chief of Staff of the Army, Secretary of State, and the third Secretary of Defense... Robert Lovett |
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| 3 |  |
Harold E. Talbott Harold E. Talbott Harold Elstner Talbott, Jr. was the third United States Secretary of the Air Force.-Biography:He was born in Dayton, Ohio, in March 1888 and died in 1957... |
February 4, 1953 | August 13, 1955 | Charles Wilson Charles Erwin Wilson Charles Erwin Wilson , American businessman and politician, was United States Secretary of Defense from 1953 to 1957 under President Eisenhower. Known as "Engine Charlie", he previously worked as CEO for General Motors. In the wake of the Korean War, he cut the defense budget significantly.-Early... |
Dwight D. Eisenhower Dwight D. Eisenhower Dwight 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... |
|
| 4 |  |
Donald A. Quarles Donald A. Quarles Donald Aubrey Quarles was a communications engineer, senior level executive with Bell Telephone Laboratories and Western Electric, and a top official in the United States Department of Defense during the Eisenhower Administration... |
August 15, 1955 | April 30, 1957 | |||
| 5 |  |
James H. Douglas, Jr. James H. Douglas, Jr. James Henderson Douglas, Jr. was a lawyer and senior-level official in the United States Government. He was Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, serving under both President Herbert Hoover and President Franklin Roosevelt... |
May 1, 1957 | December 10, 1959 | Charles Wilson Neil McElroy Thomas Gates |
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| 6 | Dudley C. Sharp Dudley C. Sharp Dudley Crawford Sharp was Secretary of the Air Force from December 11, 1959 until January 20, 1961, under president Dwight D. Eisenhower.-Biography:... |
December 11, 1959 | January 20, 1961 | Thomas Gates | |||
| 7 |  |
Eugene M. Zuckert Eugene M. Zuckert Eugene Martin Zuckert was the seventh Secretary of the Air Force from January 23, 1961 to September 30, 1965. During his service as secretary, he witnessed the shifting of decision-making powers from the military departments to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, a process that continued... |
January 24, 1961 | September 30, 1965 | Robert McNamara Robert McNamara Robert Strange McNamara was an American business executive and the eighth Secretary of Defense, serving under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson from 1961 to 1968, during which time he played a large role in escalating the United States involvement in the Vietnam War... |
John F. Kennedy John F. Kennedy John 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.... |
|
| 8 |  |
Harold Brown Harold Brown (Secretary of Defense) Harold Brown , American scientist, was U.S. Secretary of Defense from 1977 to 1981 in the cabinet of President Jimmy Carter. He had previously served in the Lyndon Johnson administration as Director of Defense Research and Engineering and Secretary of the Air Force.While Secretary of Defense, he... |
October 1, 1965 | February 15, 1969 | Robert McNamara Clark Clifford Mel Laird |
Lyndon B. Johnson Lyndon B. Johnson Lyndon 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... |
|
| 9 |  |
Robert C. Seamans, Jr. | February 15, 1969 | May 15, 1973 | Mel Laird Elliot Richardson Elliot Richardson Elliot Lee Richardson was an American lawyer and politician who was a member of the cabinet of Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. As U.S... |
Richard M. Nixon | |
| (acting) | John L. McLucas John L. McLucas John Luther McLucas was United States Secretary of the Air Force from 1973 to 1975, becoming Secretary of the Air Force on July 19, 1973. He had been Acting Secretary of the Air Force since May 15, 1973, and Under Secretary of the Air Force since March 1969... |
May 15, 1973 | July 18, 1973 | Elliot Richardson James Schlesinger |
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| 10 | July 18, 1973 | November 23, 1975 | James Schlesinger Donald Rumsfeld Donald Rumsfeld Donald Henry Rumsfeld is an American politician and businessman. Rumsfeld served as the 13th Secretary of Defense from 1975 to 1977 under President Gerald Ford, and as the 21st Secretary of Defense from 2001 to 2006 under President George W. Bush. He is both the youngest and the oldest person to... |
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| (acting) | James W. Plummer James W. Plummer James W. Plummer is a retired engineer who served as the fifth Director of the National Reconnaissance Office. Mr. Plummer was the first Director NRO to come from private industry. He previously served as the Lockheed Corporation program manager for the CORONA and LANYARD imaging systems. Mr.... |
November 24, 1975 | January 1, 1976 | Donald Rumsfeld | Gerald Ford Gerald Ford Gerald 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... |
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| 11 | Thomas C. Reed Thomas C. Reed Thomas Care Reed was the 11th Secretary of the Air Force from January 2, 1976 - April 6, 1977 under Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter.-Early life:... |
January 2, 1976 | April 6, 1977 | Donald Rumsfeld Harold Brown |
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| 12 | John C. Stetson | April 6, 1977 | May 18, 1979 | Harold Brown Harold Brown (Secretary of Defense) Harold Brown , American scientist, was U.S. Secretary of Defense from 1977 to 1981 in the cabinet of President Jimmy Carter. He had previously served in the Lyndon Johnson administration as Director of Defense Research and Engineering and Secretary of the Air Force.While Secretary of Defense, he... |
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... |
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| (acting) | Hans Mark Hans Mark Hans Michael Mark is a former Secretary of the Air Force and a former Deputy Administrator of NASA. He is an expert and consultant in aerospace design and national defense policy... |
May 18, 1979 | July 26, 1979 | ||||
| 13 | July 26, 1979 | February 9, 1981 | Harold Brown Caspar Weinberger |
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| 14 | Verne Orr Verne Orr Verne Orr was the 14th Secretary of the Air Force, appointed by President Ronald Reagan. From California, he was a businessman and educator who served in both state and national government positions.-Early life:Verne Orr was born on November 12, 1916 in Des Moines, Iowa... |
February 9, 1981 | November 30, 1985 | Caspar Weinberger Caspar Weinberger Caspar Willard "Cap" Weinberger , was an American politician, vice president and general counsel of Bechtel Corporation, and Secretary of Defense under President Ronald Reagan from January 21, 1981, until November 23, 1987, making him the third longest-serving defense secretary to date, after... |
Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan Ronald 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.... |
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| 15 | Russell A. Rourke Russell A. Rourke Russell A. Rourke was a lawyer and public official. He served in key staff positions on Capital Hill and in senior executive positions within the Federal Government... |
December 9, 1985 | April 6, 1986 | ||||
| (acting) | Edward C. Aldridge Jr. Edward C. Aldridge Jr. Edward "Pete" Cleveland Aldridge Jr. has served in many top U.S. Defense Department and defense industry jobs, including as Under Secretary of the Air Force from 1981–1986, Director of the National Reconnaissance Office 1981-1988, and as the Secretary of the Air Force from 1986-1988... |
April 6, 1986 | June 8, 1986 | ||||
| 16 | June 9, 1986 | December 16, 1988 | Caspar Weinberger Frank Carlucci Frank Carlucci Frank Charles Carlucci III is a former official in the United States Government, associated with the Republican Party. The most prominent office held by Carlucci was as Secretary of Defense from 1987 until 1989 in the Reagan Administration.-Early life and career:Carlucci was born in Scranton,... |
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| (acting) | James F. McGovern James F. McGovern James F. McGovern was United States Under Secretary of the Air Force from 1986 to 1989.-Biography:James F. McGovern was born in Dayton, Ohio on November 28, 1946. He was educated at the United States Naval Academy, receiving a B.S. in 1969... |
December 16, 1988 | April 29, 1989 | Frank Carlucci Dick Cheney |
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| (acting) | John J. Welch, Jr. John J. Welch, Jr. John James "Jack" Welch, Jr. was a United States scientist and businessman who served as Assistant Secretary of the Air Force from 1987 to 1992.-Biography:... |
April 29, 1989 | May 21, 1989 | Dick Cheney Dick Cheney Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney served as the 46th Vice President of the United States , under George W. Bush.... |
George H. W. Bush George H. W. Bush George 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... |
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| 17 | Donald B. Rice | May 1, 1989 | January 20, 1993 | ||||
| (acting) |  |
Michael B. Donley Michael B. Donley Michael Bruce Donley is the 22nd Secretary of the United States Air Force. Donley has 30 years of experience in the national security community, including service on the staff of the United States Senate, White House and The Pentagon... |
January 20, 1993 | July 13, 1993 | Les Aspin Les Aspin Leslie "Les" Aspin, Jr. was a United States Representative from 1971 to 1993, and the United States Secretary of Defense under President Bill Clinton from January 21, 1993 to February 3, 1994.-Early life:... |
Bill Clinton Bill Clinton William 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... |
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| (acting) |  |
Merrill A. McPeak Merrill A. McPeak Merrill Anthony "Tony" McPeak was the 14th Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. He retired from the service on November 1, 1994.-Education:McPeak was born in Santa Rosa, California... |
July 14, 1993 | August 5, 1993 | |||
| 18 |  |
Sheila E. Widnall Sheila E. Widnall Sheila Marie Evans Widnall is an American aerospace researcher and Institute Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She served as United States Secretary of the Air Force between 1993 and 1997, making her the first female Secretary of the Air Force and first woman to lead an... |
August 6, 1993 | October 31, 1997 | Les Aspin William Perry William Perry William James Perry is an American businessman and engineer who was the United States Secretary of Defense from February 3, 1994, to January 23, 1997, under President Bill Clinton... William Cohen |
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| (acting) |  |
F. Whitten Peters | November 1, 1997 | July 30, 1999 | William Cohen William Cohen William Sebastian Cohen is an author and American politician from the U.S. state of Maine. A Republican, Cohen served as Secretary of Defense under Democratic President Bill Clinton.-Early life and education:... |
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| 19 | July 30, 1999 | January 20, 2001 | |||||
| (acting) | Lawrence J. Delaney Lawrence J. Delaney Lawrence John Delaney is a United States scientist and businessman who served as Assistant Secretary of the Air Force from 1999 to 2001, and briefly as Acting United States Secretary of the Air Force in 2001.-Biography:Lawrence J... |
January 21, 2001 | May 31, 2001 | Donald Rumsfeld Donald Rumsfeld Donald Henry Rumsfeld is an American politician and businessman. Rumsfeld served as the 13th Secretary of Defense from 1975 to 1977 under President Gerald Ford, and as the 21st Secretary of Defense from 2001 to 2006 under President George W. Bush. He is both the youngest and the oldest person to... |
George W. Bush George W. Bush George 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.... |
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| 20 |  |
James G. Roche James G. Roche Dr. James G. Roche was the 20th Secretary of the Air Force, serving from January 20, 2001 to January 20, 2005. Prior to serving as secretary, Roche served in the United States Navy for 23 years, and as an executive with Northrop Grumman.... |
June 1, 2001 | January 20, 2005 | |||
| (acting) | Peter B. Teets Peter B. Teets Peter B. Teets was the thirteenth Director of the National Reconnaissance Office and the Under Secretary of the Air Force.... |
January 20, 2005 | March 25, 2005 | ||||
| (acting) | Michael Montelongo Michael Montelongo Michael Montelongo was nominated by Pres George W. Bush as the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management. He was formerly a Senior Project Manager with Cap Gemini Ernst & Young in Atlanta, Georgia, and has been with Ernst & Young since 1999... |
March 25, 2005 | March 28, 2005 | ||||
| (acting) |  |
Michael L. Dominguez Michael L. Dominguez Michael L. Dominguez retired as the Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness within the United States Department of Defense... |
March 28, 2005 | July 29, 2005 | |||
| (acting) | Pete Geren Pete Geren Preston M. "Pete" Geren, III served as the 20th United States Secretary of the Army from July 16, 2007 to September 16, 2009... |
July 29, 2005 | November 4, 2005 | ||||
| 21 |  |
Michael Wynne Michael Wynne Michael W. Wynne is an American business executive and was the 21st United States Secretary of the Air Force. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates asked for and received his resignation Michael W. Wynne (born September 4, 1944) is an American business executive and was the 21st United States... |
November 4, 2005 | June 20, 2008 | Donald Rumsfeld Robert Gates |
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| (acting) | |
Michael B. Donley Michael B. Donley Michael Bruce Donley is the 22nd Secretary of the United States Air Force. Donley has 30 years of experience in the national security community, including service on the staff of the United States Senate, White House and The Pentagon... |
June 21, 2008 | October 2, 2008 | Robert Gates Leon Panetta Leon Panetta Leon Edward Panetta is the 23rd and current United States Secretary of Defense, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama since 2011. Prior to taking office, he served as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency... |
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| 22 | October 2, 2008 | Incumbent |
External links
- Air Force History: Secretaries of the Air Force
- US Air Force Senior Leadership
- Executive Order 12909, Order of Succession of Officers To Act as Secretary of the Air Force