The Secretary of the Army (SA or SECARMY) is a civilian official within the Department of Defense

United States Department of Defense

The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...

 of the United States of America with statutory responsibility for all matters relating to the United States 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...

: 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 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....

 and confirmed by the U.S. 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 of the Army is a non-Cabinet position serving under 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...

. This position was created on September 18, 1947, replacing the Secretary of War

United States Secretary of War

The Secretary of War was a member of the United States President's Cabinet, beginning with George Washington's administration. A similar position, called either "Secretary at War" or "Secretary of War," was appointed to serve the Congress of the Confederation under the Articles of Confederation...

, when the Department of War

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...

 became the Department of the Army

United States Department of the Army

The Department of the Army is one of the three military departments within the Department of Defense of the United States of America. The Department of the Army is the Federal Government agency which the United States Army is organized within, and it is led by the Secretary of the Army who has...

 and was made a department within the new Department of Defense.

The Senior Leadership of the United States Army consists of two civilians - the Secretary of the Army and the Under Secretary of the Army

United States Under Secretary of the Army

The United States Under Secretary of the Army is the second-highest ranking civilian official of the United States Department of the Army, serving directly under the United States Secretary of the Army...

 - and two military officers - the Chief of Staff of the Army

Chief of Staff of the United States Army

The Chief of Staff of the Army is a statutory office held by a four-star general in the United States Army, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Army, and as such is the principal military advisor and a deputy to the Secretary of the Army; and is in...

 and the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army

Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army

The Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army is the principal advisor and assistant to the Army Chief of Staff, the second-highest ranking officer in the US Army. He handles the day to day administration of the Army bureaucracy, freeing the Chief of Staff to attend to the interservice...

.

Responsibilities

The Secretary of the Army (SECARM) is in effect the Chief Executive Officer

Chief 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 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 Congressional

United States Congress

The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....

 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 Defense Acquisition Board

Defense Acquisition Board

The Defense Acquisition Board is the senior advisory board for defense acquisitions in the Department of Defense of the United States of America. The board includes the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Service Secretaries , and a number of Under Secretaries of Defense...

.

The Secretary of the Army 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 . ....

, including the authority to convene courts-martial.

Another responsibility of the Secretary of the Army is the management of the Civilian Aides to the Secretary of the Army Program.

Office of the Secretary of the Army

The Office of the Secretary of the Army is composed of the Under Secretary of the Army

United States Under Secretary of the Army

The United States Under Secretary of the Army is the second-highest ranking civilian official of the United States Department of the Army, serving directly under the United States Secretary of the Army...

, the Assistant Secretaries of the Army, the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army

Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army

The Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army has a primary mission, as specified in Title 10 of the United States Code and reiterated in General Orders #3 and Regulations, to provide direct support to the Secretary of the Army, the Under Secretary of the Army and other...

, 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.

Chronological list of Secretaries of the Army

Kenneth Claiborne Royall

Kenneth Claiborne Royall

Kenneth Claiborne Royall was a United States Army general and the last person to hold the office of Secretary of War...

, the last Secretary of War

United States Secretary of War

The Secretary of War was a member of the United States President's Cabinet, beginning with George Washington's administration. A similar position, called either "Secretary at War" or "Secretary of War," was appointed to serve the Congress of the Confederation under the Articles of Confederation...

, became the first Secretary of the Army when the National Defense Act of 1947

National Defense Act of 1947

The National Defense Act of 1947 is a United States federal law. Sections 207-209 of the Act created the United States Air Force within the National Military Establishment , established the Department of the Air Force, and created the office of Secretary of the Air Force, to be "appointed from...

 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, John M. McHugh

John M. McHugh

John 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...

, took office on September 21, 2009.

Photo	Name	Term of Office	President(s) 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....  served under
	Kenneth Claiborne Royall Kenneth Claiborne Royall Kenneth 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. 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...
	Gordon Gray	April 28, 1949 – April 12, 1950	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...
	Frank Pace 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. 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...
	Earl D. Johnson 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. 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...
	Robert Ten Broeck Stevens 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. 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...
	Wilber Marion Brucker Wilber Marion Brucker Wilber 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. 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...
	Elvis Jacob Stahr, Jr.	January 24, 1961 – June 30, 1962	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....
	Cyrus Roberts Vance Cyrus Vance Cyrus 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. 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.... , 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...
	Stephen Ailes 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. 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...
	Stanley R. Resor Stanley Rogers Resor Stanley 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. 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... , Richard Nixon Richard Nixon Richard 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 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 Nixon Richard Nixon Richard 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. Callaway Howard Callaway Howard 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 Nixon Richard Nixon Richard 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 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...
	Norman R. Augustine Norman Ralph 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 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...
	Martin R. Hoffmann Martin Richard 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 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...
	Clifford L. Alexander, Jr. Clifford 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 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...
	Percy A. Pierre (acting)	January 21, 1981 – January 29, 1981	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...
	John O. Marsh, Jr. John Otho 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 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.... , 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...
	Michael P. W. Stone	August 14, 1989 – January 20, 1993	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...
	John W. Shannon 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 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...
	Gen. General (United States) 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. Sullivan Gordon R. Sullivan General 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 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...
	Togo D. West, Jr. 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 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...
	Robert M. Walker 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 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...
	Louis Caldera 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 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...
	Gregory R. Dahlberg 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. 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....
	Joseph W. Westphal 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. 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....
	Thomas E. White Thomas E. White Thomas 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. 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....
	Les Brownlee Les Brownlee Romie 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. 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....
	Francis J. Harvey Francis J. Harvey Francis 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. 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....
	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...	March 9, 2007 – September 21, 2009	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.... , Barack Obama Barack Obama Barack 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. McHugh John M. McHugh John 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 Obama Barack Obama Barack 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...