Legal Definitions - Secretary of Defense

The Secretary of Defense is a member of the President's cabinet who is responsible for leading the U.S. Department of Defense.

• Mark Esper served as the Secretary of Defense under President Donald Trump from 2019 to 2020.
• Lloyd Austin is the current Secretary of Defense under President Joe Biden.

These examples illustrate how the Secretary of Defense is a high-ranking government official who is appointed by the President to oversee the Department of Defense. They are responsible for advising the President on military matters and implementing policies related to national security.