United States Secretary of the Army



The United States Secretary of the Army is a civilian office within the Department of Defense with statutory responsibility for all matters relating to the United States Army: manpower, personnel, reserve affairs, installations, environmental issues, weapons systems and equipment acquisition, communications, and financial management. Nominated by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, the Secretary of the Army is a non-Cabinet position serving under the Secretary of Defense. This position was created September 18, 1947, when the Department of War became the Department of the Army and made a branch of the new Department of Defense.

The Secretary of the Army is responsible for advising the Secretary of Defense and the executive branch of the Federal Government on the capabilities and requirements of the Army to perform its missions. The Secretary presents and justifies Army policies, plans, programs, and budgets to the Secretary of Defense, executive branch, and Congress. 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. Another responsibility of the Secretary of the Army is the management of the Civilian Aides to the Secretary of the Army Program.

The Office of the Secretary of the Army is composed of the Under Secretary of the Army, the Assistant Secretaries of the Army, the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army, 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.

Kenneth Claiborne Royall, the last Secretary of War, became the first Secretary of the Army when the National Defense Act of 1947 took effect and was the last Army secretary to hold the cabinet status, which was henceforth assigned to the Secretary of Defense. On March 9, 2007, following the resignation of Francis J. Harvey, Pete Geren, then the Undersecretary of the Army, became Acting Secretary of the Army. Pete Geren was sworn in as Secretary of the Army on August 30, 2007.