U.S. Secretary of War

The U.S. Secretary of War was the government official responsible for overseeing the nation's military forces and defense policy before the role was renamed the Secretary of Defense in 1947. They managed the Army and, historically, other branches of the military, directing strategy, resources, and operations. The position played a key role in shaping U.S. military policy, procurement, and logistics, working under the President and Cabinet. Today, the responsibilities are handled by the Secretary of Defense, but historically, the Secretary of War was a crucial figure in U.S. military governance during the nation's earlier years.