Secretary of the Army
Overview
The Secretary of the Army (SecArmy) is a senior civilian official within the Department of Defense of the United States of America. The Secretary of the Army is responsible for all affairs relating to the United States Army, including recruitment, organization, training, equipping, and care of personnel. The position was established by the National Security Act of 1947 and is analogous to the foreign ministers of army.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Secretary of the Army has statutory responsibility for all matters relating to the Army: manpower, personnel, reserve affairs, installations, environmental issues, weapons systems and equipment acquisition, communications, and financial management. The Secretary is responsible for establishing and implementing policies to effect the strategic direction of the Army and for overseeing the overall direction, operation, and management of the Army.
Appointment and Tenure
The Secretary of the Army is nominated by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate. The Secretary serves at the pleasure of the President and has no fixed tenure. The longest-serving Secretary of the Army was Robert T. Stevens, who served for over five years during the Eisenhower administration.
Office of the Secretary of the Army
The Office of the Secretary of the Army is composed of the Under Secretary of the Army, four Assistant Secretaries, the General Counsel of the Army, the Inspector General of the Army, and several other key administrative personnel. The Under Secretary of the Army is the Secretary's principal deputy and senior advisor, and exercises the Secretary's authority in his or her absence.
History
The position of Secretary of the Army was established by the National Security Act of 1947, which also established the Department of Defense. The first Secretary of the Army was Kenneth Claiborne Royall, who served from 1947 to 1949. The position has been held by a number of notable individuals, including Gordon R. England, Pete Geren, and John M. McHugh.