United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense (DOD) is an executive department of the federal government. It comprises the civilian chain of command over the United States Armed Forces.
Composition
The department is led by a secretary and deputy secretary. The abbreviations SECDEF and DEPSECDEF are sometimes used.
Several undersecretaries and assistant secretaries oversee offices and agencies.
These agencies report to the undersecretary of Acquisition and Sustainment (USD(A&S)):
These agencies report to the undersecretary for Intelligence and Security (USD(I&S)):
These agencies report to the undersecretary of Personnel and Readiness (USD(P&R)):
- ...
These agencies report to the undersecretary of Policy (USD(P)):
These agencies report to the undersecretary of Research and Engineering (USD(R&E)):
- ...
These agencies report to the comptroller, formally known as the Undersecretary of Defense (Comptroller)/CFO (USD(C)/CFO):
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Most undersecretaries have a deputy undersecretary, one or more assistant secretaries, and an office supporting them. These are abbreviated similarly to the undersecretaries themselves. For example:
the Office of the Undersecretary for Intelligence and Security is abbreviated as OUSD(I&S)
the deputy undersecretary for Intelligence and Security is abbreviated as DUSD(I&S)
an assistant secretary position is at least abbreviated as ASD
There are sub-cabinet departments for the Army, Navy, and Air Force. (The Marine Corps is overseen by the Department of the Navy; the Space Force is overseen by the Department of the Air Force.) These departments' secretaries report to the secretary of Defense.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff are the highest ranking uniformed members of the United States Armed Forces. While this council is led by a chief, it does not constitute a chain of command. Only the secretary of Defense (and president as commander-in-chief) has command over all branches.
History
TODO: learn some history!