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United States Secretary of the Air Force

{{short description|Statutory office and the head of the U.S. Department of the Air Force}}

{{Distinguish|Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2019}}

{{Infobox official post

| post = United States Secretary of the Air Force

| flag = Flag of the Secretary of the Air Force.svg

| flagsize = 150

| flagcaption = Flag of the secretary

| insignia = Seal of the United States Department of the Air Force.svg

| insigniasize =

| insigniacaption = Seal of the Department of the Air Force

| department = Department of the Air Force

| image = Troy E. Meink (3).jpg

| incumbent = Troy Meink

| acting = no

| incumbentsince = May 16, 2025

| reports_to = Secretary of Defense
Deputy Secretary of Defense

| style = Mr. Secretary
The Honorable
(formal address in writing)

| appointer = The President
with the advice and consent of the Senate

| termlength = No fixed term

| inaugural = Stuart Symington

| formation = {{start date and age|1947|9|18}}

| precursor = Secretary of War

| succession = 3rd in SecDef succession

| deputy = The Under Secretary
(principal civilian deputy)
The Chief of Staff
(military deputy)
The Chief of Space Operations (military deputy)

| salary = Executive Schedule, Level II

| website = {{url|https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Air-Force-Senior-Leaders/|Office of the Secretary}}

}}

The secretary of the Air Force, sometimes referred to as the secretary of the Department of the Air Force,{{Cite web |date=September 14, 2000 |title=Department of Defense Instruction Number 3100.12 |url=https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/310012p.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113193525/https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/310012p.pdf |archive-date=Nov 13, 2023 |website=Executive Services Directorate}} (SecAF, or SAF/OS) is the head of the Department of the Air Force and the service secretary for the United States Air Force and United States Space Force. The secretary of the Air Force is a civilian appointed by the president, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.{{USCSub|10|9013|a}} 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.{{USCSub|10|9013|b}}

The secretary works closely with their civilian deputy, the under secretary of the Air Force; and their military deputies, the chief of staff of the Air Force and the chief of space operations.

The first secretary of the Air Force, Stuart Symington, was sworn in on September 18, 1947, upon the split and re-organization of the Department of War and Army Air Forces into an air military department and a military service of its own, with the enactment of the National Security Act.

Responsibilities

File:Stuart Symington shown taking the oath of office as Secretary of the Air Force.jpg is sworn-in as the first Secretary of the Air Force by Chief Justice Fred M. Vinson on September 18, 1947.]]

The secretary is the head of the Department of the Air Force. The Department of the Air Force is defined as a Military Department.{{USCSub|10|101|a|8}} It is not limited to the Washington headquarters staffs, rather it is an entity which includes all the components of the United States Air Force and United States Space Force, including their reserve components:

{{blockquote|The term 'department', when used with respect to a military department, means the executive part of the department and all field headquarters, forces, reserve components, installations, activities, and functions under the control or supervision of the Secretary of the department.{{USCSub|10|101|a|6}}}}

The exclusive responsibilities of the secretary of the Air Force are enumerated in {{USCSub|10|9013|b}} of the United States Code. They include, but are not limited to:

{{blockquote|

(1) Recruiting.

(2) Organizing.

(3) Supplying.

(4) Equipping (including research and development).

(5) Training.

(6) Servicing.

(7) Mobilizing.

(8) Demobilizing.

(9) Administering (including the morale and welfare of personnel).

(10) Maintaining.

(11) The construction, outfitting, and repair of military equipment.

(12) The construction, maintenance, and repair of buildings, structures, and utilities and the acquisition of real property and interests in real property necessary to carry out the responsibilities specified in this section.}}

By direction of the secretary of defense, the secretary of the Air Force assigns military units of the Air Force and Space Force, other than those who carry out the functions listed in {{USCSub|10|9013|b}}, to the Unified and Specified Combatant Commands to perform missions assigned to those commands. Air Force and Space Force units while assigned to Combatant Commands may only be reassigned by authority of the secretary of defense.10 USC 162 (a)

However, the chain of command for Air Force and Space 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 and Space Force Commands.DODD 5100.1, 6.1. Air Force and Space 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 and Space Force service members and civilian employees, and may also change the title of any activity not statutorily designated.10 USC 8013 (f-g) The secretary has several responsibilities under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) with respect to Air Force and Space Force service members, including the 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,10 USC 8013 (d) e.g. the secretary is designated as the "DoD Executive Agent for Space", and as such:

{{blockquote|... shall develop, coordinate, and integrate plans and programs for space systems and the acquisition of DoD Space Major Defense Acquisition Programs to provide operational space force capabilities to ensure the United States has the space power to achieve its national security objectives.DODD 5101.2, 3. MISSION{{cite web | url=http://dod-executiveagent.osd.mil/agentListView.aspx?ID=55 | title=DoD Executive Agent }}}}

Office of the Secretary of the Air Force

{{Infobox government agency

| agency_name = Office of the Secretary of the Air Force

| seal = Office of the Secretary of the Air Force seal.svg

| seal_width = 140px

| formed = 1947

| preceding1 =

| jurisdiction =

| headquarters = Pentagon

| employees =

| budget =

| image =

| chief1_name =

| parent_agency = Department of the Air Force

| child1_agency =

| website =

}}

File:Chairman of The Joint Chiefs of Staff General David C. Jones and Secretary of The Air Force Verne Orr during General Robert C. Mathis retirement Ceremony at Bolling Air Force Base.jpg with Chairman of The Joint Chiefs of Staff General David C. Jones and Air Force Chief of Staff General Lew Allen and Air Force Vice Chief of Staff General Robert C. Mathis at Bolling Air Force Base on May 28, 1982]]

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 three headquarter staffs at the seat of government, with the others being the Air Staff and the Office of the Chief of Space Operations.

=Composition=

The Office of the Secretary of the Air Force is composed of:

List of secretaries of the Air Force

class="toccolours"

|{{legend|#E6E6AA|Denotes acting capacity.}}

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"

!No.

!class=unsortable |Image

!Name

!Start

!End

!Duration

!colspan=2 |President(s)

1

|100px

|{{sortname|Stuart|Symington}}

|{{dts|September 18, 1947}}

|{{dts|April 24, 1950}}

|{{ayd|September 18, 1947|April 24, 1950}}

|rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |

|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Harry S.|Truman}}
(1945–1953)

2

|100px

|{{sortname|Thomas K.|Finletter}}

|{{dts|April 24, 1950}}

|{{dts|January 20, 1953}}

|{{ayd|April 24, 1950|January 20, 1953}}

3

|100px

|{{sortname|Harold E.|Talbott}}

|{{dts|February 4, 1953}}

|{{dts|August 13, 1955}}

|{{ayd|February 4, 1953|August 13, 1955}}

|rowspan=4 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |

|rowspan=4 |{{sortname|Dwight D.|Eisenhower}}
(1953–1961)

4

|100px

|{{sortname|Donald A.|Quarles}}

|{{dts|August 15, 1955}}

|{{dts|April 30, 1957}}

|{{ayd|August 15, 1955|April 30, 1957}}

5

|100px

|{{sortname|James H.|Douglas Jr.}}

|{{dts|May 1, 1957}}

|{{dts|December 10, 1959}}

|{{ayd|May 1, 1957|December 10, 1959}}

6

|100px

|{{sortname|Dudley C.|Sharp}}

|{{dts|December 11, 1959}}

|{{dts|January 20, 1961}}

|{{ayd|December 11, 1959|January 20, 1961}}

rowspan=2 |7

|rowspan=2 |100px

|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Eugene M.|Zuckert}}

|rowspan=2 |{{dts|January 24, 1961}}

|rowspan=2 |{{dts|September 30, 1965}}

|rowspan=2 |{{ayd|January 24, 1961|September 30, 1965}}

|style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |

|{{sortname|John F.|Kennedy}}
(1961–1963)

rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |

|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Lyndon B.|Johnson}}
(1963–1969)

rowspan=2 |8

|rowspan=2 |100px

|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Harold|Brown|dab=Secretary of Defense}}

|rowspan=2 |{{dts|October 1, 1965}}

|rowspan=2 |{{dts|February 15, 1969}}

|rowspan=2 |{{ayd|October 1, 1965|February 15, 1969}}

rowspan=4 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |

|rowspan=4 |{{sortname|Richard|Nixon}}
(1969–1974)

9

|100px

|{{sortname|Robert C.|Seamans Jr.}}

|{{dts|February 15, 1969}}

|{{dts|May 15, 1973}}

|{{ayd|February 15, 1969|May 15, 1973}}

rowspan=3 |10

|rowspan=3 |100px

|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|John L.|McLucas}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|May 15, 1973}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|July 18, 1973}}

|rowspan=3 |{{ayd|May 15, 1973|November 23, 1975}}

rowspan=2 |{{dts|July 18, 1973}}

|rowspan=2 |{{dts|November 23, 1975}}

rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |

|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Gerald|Ford}}
(1974–1977)

rowspan=2 |11

|rowspan=2 |100px

|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Thomas C.|Reed}}

|rowspan=2 |{{dts|January 2, 1976}}

|rowspan=2 |{{dts|April 6, 1977}}

|rowspan=2 |{{ayd|January 2, 1976|April 6, 1977}}

rowspan=4 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |

|rowspan=4 |{{sortname|Jimmy|Carter}}
(1977–1981)

12

|100px

|{{sortname|John C.|Stetson}}

|{{dts|April 6, 1977}}

|{{dts|May 18, 1979}}

|{{ayd|April 6, 1977|May 18, 1979}}

rowspan=3 |13

|rowspan=3 |100px

|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|Hans|Mark}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|May 18, 1979}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|July 26, 1979}}

|rowspan=3 |{{ayd|May 18, 1979|February 9, 1981}}

rowspan=2 |{{dts|July 26, 1979}}

|rowspan=2 |{{dts|February 9, 1981}}

rowspan=6 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |

|rowspan=6 |{{sortname|Ronald|Reagan}}
(1981–1989)

14

|100px

|{{sortname|Verne|Orr}}

|{{dts|February 9, 1981}}

|{{dts|November 30, 1985}}

|{{ayd|February 9, 1981|November 30, 1985}}

15

|100px

|{{sortname|Russell A.|Rourke}}

|{{dts|December 9, 1985}}

|{{dts|April 6, 1986}}

|{{ayd|December 9, 1985|April 6, 1986}}

rowspan=2 |16

|rowspan=2 |100px

|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Edward C.|Aldridge Jr.}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|April 6, 1986}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|June 8, 1986}}

|rowspan=2 |{{ayd|April 6, 1986|December 16, 1988}}

{{dts|June 9, 1986}}

|{{dts|December 16, 1988}}

rowspan=2 |–

|rowspan=2 |100px

|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|James F.|McGovern}}

|rowspan=2 |{{dts|December 16, 1988}}

|rowspan=2 |{{dts|April 29, 1989}}

|rowspan=2 |{{ayd|December 16, 1988|April 29, 1989}}

rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |

|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|George H. W.|Bush}}
(1989–1993)

–

|100px

|{{sortname|John J.|Welch Jr.}}

|{{dts|April 29, 1989}}

|{{dts|May 21, 1989}}

|{{ayd|April 29, 1989|May 21, 1989}}

17

|100px

|{{sortname|Donald B.|Rice}}

|{{dts|May 21, 1989}}

|{{dts|January 20, 1993}}

|{{ayd|May 21, 1989|January 20, 1993}}

style="background:#e6e6aa;" |–

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |100px

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|Michael B.|Donley}}
{{small|Acting}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|January 20, 1993}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|July 13, 1993}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{ayd|January 20, 1993|July 13, 1993}}

|rowspan=5 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |

|rowspan=5 |{{sortname|Bill|Clinton}}
(1993–2001)

style="background:#e6e6aa;"

|–

|100px

|{{sortname|Merrill A.|McPeak}}
{{small|Acting}}

|{{dts|July 14, 1993}}

|{{dts|August 5, 1993}}

|{{ayd|July 14, 1993|August 5, 1993}}

18

|100px

|{{sortname|Sheila|Widnall}}

|{{dts|August 6, 1993}}

|{{dts|October 31, 1997}}

|{{ayd|August 6, 1993|October 31, 1997}}

rowspan=2 |19

|rowspan=2 |100px

|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|F. Whitten|Peters}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|November 1, 1997}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|July 30, 1999}}

|rowspan=2 |{{ayd|November 1, 1997|January 20, 2001}}

{{dts|July 30, 1999}}

|{{dts|January 20, 2001}}

style="background:#e6e6aa;" |–

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |100px

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|Lawrence J.|Delaney}}
{{small|Acting}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|January 21, 2001}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|May 31, 2001}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{ayd|January 21, 2001|May 31, 2001}}

|rowspan=9 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |

|rowspan=9 |{{sortname|George W.|Bush}}
(2001–2009)

20

|100px

|{{sortname|James G.|Roche}}

|{{dts|June 1, 2001}}

|{{dts|January 20, 2005}}

|{{ayd|June 1, 2001|January 20, 2005}}

style="background:#e6e6aa;"

|–

|100px

|{{sortname|Peter B.|Teets}}
{{small|Acting}}

|{{dts|January 20, 2005}}

|{{dts|March 25, 2005}}

|{{ayd|January 20, 2005|March 25, 2005}}

style="background:#e6e6aa;"

|–

|100px

|{{sortname|Michael|Montelongo}}
{{small|Acting}}

|{{dts|March 25, 2005}}

|{{dts|March 28, 2005}}

|{{ayd|March 25, 2005|March 28, 2005}}

style="background:#e6e6aa;"

|–

|100px

|{{sortname|Michael L.|Dominguez}}
{{small|Acting}}

|{{dts|March 28, 2005}}

|{{dts|July 29, 2005}}

|{{ayd|March 28, 2005|July 29, 2005}}

style="background:#e6e6aa;"

|–

|100px

|{{sortname|Pete|Geren}}
{{small|Acting}}[http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=3248 DefenseLink News Article: Army Secretary Resigns in Wake of Walter Reed Outpatient-Care Shortfalls]

|{{dts|July 29, 2005}}

|{{dts|November 4, 2005}}

|{{ayd|July 29, 2005|November 4, 2005}}

21

|100px

|{{sortname|Michael|Wynne}}{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20111221125815/http://www.airforce-magazine.com/MagazineArchive/Magazine%20Documents/2011/May%202011/0511leaders.pdf Air Force Almanac 2011]}}, Accessed on September 12, 2011

|{{dts|November 4, 2005}}

|{{dts|June 20, 2008}}

|{{ayd|November 4, 2005|June 20, 2008}}

rowspan=3 |22

|rowspan=3 |100px

|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|Michael B.|Donley}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|June 21, 2008}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|October 2, 2008}}

|rowspan=3 |{{ayd|June 21, 2008|June 21, 2013}}

rowspan=2 |{{dts|October 2, 2008}}

|rowspan=2 |{{dts|June 21, 2013}}

rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |

|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|Barack|Obama}}
(2009–2017)

style="background:#e6e6aa;"

|–

|100px

|{{sortname|Eric|Fanning}}
{{small|Acting}}

|{{dts|June 21, 2013}}

|{{dts|December 20, 2013}}

|{{ayd|June 21, 2013|December 20, 2013}}

23

|100px

|{{sortname|Deborah Lee|James}}

|{{dts|December 20, 2013}}

|{{dts|January 20, 2017}}

|{{ayd|December 20, 2013|January 20, 2017}}

style="background:#e6e6aa;" |–

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |100px

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|Lisa|Disbrow}}
{{small|Acting}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|January 20, 2017}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|May 16, 2017}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{ayd|January 20, 2017|May 16, 2017}}

|rowspan=4 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |

|rowspan=4 |{{sortname|Donald|Trump}}
(2017–2021)

24

|100px

|{{sortname|Heather|Wilson}}

|{{dts|May 16, 2017}}

|{{dts|May 31, 2019}}

|{{ayd|May 16, 2017|May 31, 2019}}

style="background:#e6e6aa;"

|–

|100px

|{{sortname|Matthew|Donovan}}
{{small|Acting}}

|{{dts|June 1, 2019}}

|{{dts|October 18, 2019}}

|{{ayd|June 1, 2019|October 18, 2019}}

25

|100px

|{{sortname|Barbara|Barrett}}

|{{dts|October 18, 2019}}

|{{dts|January 20, 2021}}

|{{ayd|October 18, 2019|January 20, 2021}}

style="background:#e6e6aa;" |–

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |100px

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|John P.|Roth}}
{{small|Acting}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|January 20, 2021}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|July 28, 2021}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{ayd|January 20, 2021|July 28, 2021}}

|rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |

|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Joe|Biden}}
(2021–2025)

26

|100px

|{{sortname|Frank|Kendall III}}

|{{dts|July 28, 2021}}

|{{dts|January 20, 2025}}

|{{ayd|July 28, 2021|January 20, 2025}}

style="background:#e6e6aa;" |–

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |100px

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|Gary|A. Ashworth}}
{{small|Acting}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|January 20, 2025}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|May 13, 2025}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{ayd|January 20, 2025|May 13, 2025}}

|rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |

|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Donald|Trump}}
(2025–present)

27

|100px

|{{sortname|Troy|Meink}}

|{{dts|May 16, 2025}}

|Incumbent

|{{ayd|May 16, 2025}}

See also

References

  • Title 10 United States Code
  • Subtitle A – General Military Law
  • CHAPTER 1 – DEFINITIONS
  • § 101. Definitions
  • CHAPTER 6 – COMBATANT COMMANDERS
  • § 162. Combatant command: assigned forces; chain of command
  • Subtitle D – Air Force
  • CHAPTER 903 – DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
  • § 9011. Organization
  • § 9013. Secretary of the Air Force
  • § 9014. Office of the Secretary of the Air Force
  • § 9015. Under Secretary of the Air Force
  • CHAPTER 905 – THE AIR STAFF
  • § 9032. The Air Staff: general duties
  • § 9033. Chief of Staff
  • [https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/executive-orders/pdf/12909.pdf Executive Order 12909], Order of Succession of Officers To Act as Secretary of the Air Force
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20110322204730/http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/510001p.pdf Department of Defense Directive (DODD) 5100.1, Functions of the Department of Defense and Its Major Components, August 1 2002].
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20110322204746/http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/510102p.pdf Department of Defense Directive (DODD) 5101.2, DoD Executive Agent for Space, June 3 2003].

Notes

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120511195330/http://www.airforce-magazine.com/MagazineArchive/Magazine%20Documents/2012/May%202012/0512leaders.pdf Leaders Through the Years, 2012 USAF Almanac]}}
  • [https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Air-Force-Senior-Leaders/ US Air Force Senior Leadership]

{{USSecAirForce}}

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{{United States Space Force}}

{{Current US Department of Defense Secretaries}}

{{US Department of Defense Secretaries}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:United States Secretary Of The Air Force}}

Category:1947 establishments in the United States

Air

United States Air Force

*