Katana VentraIP

United States Assistant Secretary of Defense

Assistant Secretary of Defense is a title used for many high-level executive positions in the Office of the Secretary of Defense within the U.S. Department of Defense. The Assistant Secretary of Defense title is junior to Under Secretary of Defense. Reorganization Plan No. 6 of 30 June 1953 increased the number of assistant secretaries. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 added three new Assistant Secretary positions under the Under Secretary for Research and Engineering. The list of Assistant Secretaries of Defense includes:

The deputy to an Assistant Secretary of Defense has the title Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense.


Former Assistant Secretary of Defense positions include:

Assistant Secretary of the Army

Assistant Secretary of the Navy

Assistant Secretary of the Air Force

There are also several assistant secretaries in each of the three Military Departments: Department of the Army, Department of the Navy, and the Department of the Air Force.

the number two position, next to the Secretary of Defense

Deputy Secretary of Defense

Assistant Secretary of War

Office of the Secretary of Defense