Secretaries of Defense

Peter B. Hegseth
Peter B. Hegseth
Donald J. Trump Administration
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Lloyd J. Austin III
Lloyd J. Austin III
Joseph Biden Administration
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Mark T. Esper
Mark T. Esper
Donald Trump Administration
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20 January 2017-31 December 2018
James N. Mattis
Donald Trump Administration
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Barack Obama 17 February 2015-19 January 2017
Ashton B. Carter
Barack Obama Administration
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Barack Obama Administration February 27, 2013 – February 17, 2015
Chuck Hagel
Barack Obama Administration
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Barack Obama Administration July 1, 2011 – February 26, 2013
Leon E. Panetta
Barack Obama Administration
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Obama Administration December 18, 2006 – June 30, 2011
Robert M. Gates
George W. Bush / Barack Obama Administration
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George W. Bush Administration January 20, 2001 – December 18, 2006
Donald H. Rumsfeld
George W. Bush Administration
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William J. Clinton Administration January 24, 1997 – January 20, 2001
William S. Cohen
William Clinton Administration
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William J. Clinton Administration February 3, 1994 – January 23, 1997
William J. Perry
William Clinton Administration
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William J. Clinton Administration January 21, 1993 – February 3, 1994
Leslie Aspin
William Clinton Administration
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George H.W. Bush Administration March 21, 1989 – January 20, 1993
Richard B. Cheney
George H.W. Bush Administration
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Ronald Reagan Administration November 23, 1987 – January 20, 1989
Frank C. Carlucci
Ronald Reagan Administration
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Ronald Reagan Administration January 21, 1981 – November 23, 1987
Caspar W. Weinberger
Ronald Reagan Administration
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James Carter Administration January 21, 1977 – January 20, 1981
Harold Brown
James Carter Administration
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Gerald Ford Administration November 20, 1975 – January 20, 1977
Donald H. Rumsfeld
Gerald Ford Administration
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Richard Nixon / Gerald Ford Administration July 2, 1973 – November 19, 1975
James R. Schlesinger
Richard Nixon / Gerald Ford Administration
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Richard Nixon Administration January 30, 1973 – May 24, 1973
Elliot L. Richardson
Richard Nixon Administration
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Richard Nixon Administration January 22, 1969 – January 29, 1973
Melvin R. Laird
Richard Nixon Administration
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Lyndon Johnson Administration March 1, 1968 – January 20, 1969
Clark M. Clifford
Lyndon Johnson Administration
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John F. Kennedy / Lyndon Johnson Administration January 21, 1961 – February 29, 1968
Robert S. McNamara
John F. Kennedy / Lyndon Johnson Administration
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Dwight D. Eisenhower Administration December 2, 1959 – January 20, 1961
Thomas S. Gates, Jr.
Dwight Eisenhower Administration
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Dwight D. Eisenhower Administration October 9, 1957 – December 1, 1959
Neil H. McElroy
Dwight Eisenhower Administration
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Dwight D. Eisenhower Administration January 28, 1953 – October 8, 1957
Charles E. Wilson
Dwight Eisenhower Administration
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Harry S. Truman Administration September 17, 1951 – January 20, 1953
Robert A. Lovett
Harry Truman Administration
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Harry S. Truman Administration September 21, 1950 – September 12, 1951
George C. Marshall
Harry Truman Administration
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Harry S. Truman Administration March 28, 1949 – September 19, 1950
Louis A. Johnson
Harry Truman Administration
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Harry S. Truman Administration September 17, 1947 – March 28, 1949
James V. Forrestal
Harry Truman Administration
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