History / Offices

Secretary of Defense

32 people have held this office since Sep 17, 1947. Now: Pete Hegseth R.

Holders
32
19 R · 8 D · 4 U · 1 I
Longest tenure
7.1 years
Robert McNamara
Current
21 months
Pete Hegseth, since Jan 25, 2025
history/office/secretary-of-defenseEvery holder, newest first
+32
19501960197019801990200020102020James Forrestal · 1947-09-17 – 1949-03-28 · DemocratLouis A. Johnson · 1949-03-28 – 1950-09-19 · DemocratGeorge Marshall · 1950-09-21 – 1951-09-12Robert Abercrombie Lovett · 1951-09-17 – 1953-01-20 · RepublicanCharles Erwin Wilson · 1953-01-28 – 1957-10-08 · RepublicanNeil H. McElroy · 1957-10-09 – 1959-12-01 · RepublicanThomas S. Gates, Jr. · 1959-12-02 – 1961-01-20 · RepublicanRobert McNamara · 1961-01-21 – 1968-02-29 · RepublicanClark Clifford · 1968-02-29 – 1969-01-20 · DemocratMelvin Laird · 1969-01-21 – 1973-01-29 · RepublicanElliot Richardson · 1973-01-30 – 1973-05-24 · RepublicanJames R. Schlesinger · 1973-07-02 – 1975-11-19 · RepublicanDonald Rumsfeld · 1975-11-20 – 1977-01-20 · RepublicanHarold Brown · 1977-01-21 – 1981-01-20 · DemocratCaspar Weinberger · 1981-01-21 – 1987-11-23 · RepublicanFrank Carlucci · 1987-11-23 – 1989-01-20 · RepublicanDick Cheney · 1989-03-21 – 1993-01-20 · RepublicanLes Aspin · 1993-01-20 – 1994-02-03 · DemocratWilliam Perry · 1994-02-03 – 1997-01-23 · DemocratWilliam Cohen · 1997-01-24 – 2001-01-20 · RepublicanDonald Rumsfeld · 2001-01-20 – 2006-12-18 · RepublicanRobert Gates · 2006-12-18 – 2011-07-01 · RepublicanLeon Panetta · 2011-07-01 – 2013-02-27 · DemocratChuck Hagel · 2013-02-27 – 2015-02-17 · RepublicanAsh Carter · 2015-02-17 – 2017-01-19 · DemocratJim Mattis · 2017-01-20 – 2019-01-01Mark T. Esper · 2019-07-22 – 2020-11-09 · RepublicanChristopher C. Miller · 2020-11-09 – 2021-01-20David L. Norquist · 2021-01-20 – 2021-01-22 · RepublicanLloyd J. Austin III · 2021-01-22 – 2025-01-20 · IndependentRobert Salesses · 2025-01-20 – 2025-01-25Pete Hegseth · 2025-01-25 – present · Republican
Pete Hegseth R
Jan 25, 2025 – present · 21 months · appointed by Donald Trump
Robert Salesses
Jan 20, 2025 – Jan 25, 2025 · 5 days · appointed by Donald Trump
Lloyd J. Austin III I
Jan 22, 2021 – Jan 20, 2025 · 4 years · appointed by Joe Biden
David L. Norquist R (acting)
Jan 20, 2021 – Jan 22, 2021 · 2 days
Christopher C. Miller (acting)
Nov 9, 2020 – Jan 20, 2021 · 2 months · appointed by Donald Trump
Mark T. Esper R
Jul 22, 2019 – Nov 9, 2020 · 16 months · appointed by Donald Trump
Jim Mattis
Jan 20, 2017 – Jan 1, 2019 · 23 months · appointed by Donald Trump
Ash Carter D
Feb 17, 2015 – Jan 19, 2017 · 23 months · appointed by Barack Obama
Chuck Hagel R
Feb 27, 2013 – Feb 17, 2015 · 2 years · appointed by Barack Obama
Leon Panetta D
Jul 1, 2011 – Feb 27, 2013 · 20 months · appointed by Barack Obama
Robert Gates R
Dec 18, 2006 – Jul 1, 2011 · 4.5 years · appointed by George W. Bush
Donald Rumsfeld R
Jan 20, 2001 – Dec 18, 2006 · 5.9 years · appointed by George W. Bush
William Cohen R
Jan 24, 1997 – Jan 20, 2001 · 4 years · appointed by Bill Clinton
William Perry D
Feb 3, 1994 – Jan 23, 1997 · 3 years · appointed by Bill Clinton
Les Aspin D
Jan 20, 1993 – Feb 3, 1994 · 12 months · appointed by Bill Clinton
Dick Cheney R
Mar 21, 1989 – Jan 20, 1993 · 3.8 years · appointed by George H. W. Bush
Frank Carlucci R
Nov 23, 1987 – Jan 20, 1989 · 14 months · appointed by Ronald Reagan
Caspar Weinberger R
Jan 21, 1981 – Nov 23, 1987 · 6.8 years · appointed by Ronald Reagan
Harold Brown D
Jan 21, 1977 – Jan 20, 1981 · 4 years · appointed by Jimmy Carter
Donald Rumsfeld R
Nov 20, 1975 – Jan 20, 1977 · 14 months · appointed by Gerald Ford
James R. Schlesinger R
Jul 2, 1973 – Nov 19, 1975 · 2.4 years · appointed by Richard Nixon
Elliot Richardson R
Jan 30, 1973 – May 24, 1973 · 4 months · appointed by Richard Nixon
Melvin Laird R
Jan 21, 1969 – Jan 29, 1973 · 4 years · appointed by Richard Nixon
Clark Clifford D
Feb 29, 1968 – Jan 20, 1969 · 11 months · appointed by Lyndon B. Johnson
Robert McNamara R
Jan 21, 1961 – Feb 29, 1968 · 7.1 years · appointed by John F. Kennedy
Thomas S. Gates, Jr. R
Dec 2, 1959 – Jan 20, 1961 · 14 months · appointed by Dwight D. Eisenhower
Neil H. McElroy R
Oct 9, 1957 – Dec 1, 1959 · 2.1 years · appointed by Dwight D. Eisenhower
Charles Erwin Wilson R
Jan 28, 1953 – Oct 8, 1957 · 4.7 years · appointed by Dwight D. Eisenhower
Robert Abercrombie Lovett R
Sep 17, 1951 – Jan 20, 1953 · 16 months · appointed by Harry S. Truman
George Marshall
Sep 21, 1950 – Sep 12, 1951 · 12 months · appointed by Harry S. Truman
Louis A. Johnson D
Mar 28, 1949 – Sep 19, 1950 · 18 months · appointed by Harry S. Truman
James Forrestal D
Sep 17, 1947 – Mar 28, 1949 · 18 months · appointed by Harry S. Truman

Dates are from Wikidata, which has gaps for some historical offices. Consecutive terms of one person are merged.