Defense, United States Department of:

The Dept. of Defense was created by the National Security Act of 1947 by combining the Depts. ofWarand Navy and was called the National Military Establishment; it became the Dept. of Defense when the act was amended (1949). James V.Forrestalpioneered in this reorganization. Under the act, the Secretary of Defense—appointed by the President with the consent of the Senate—supervises the entire military. Under the Secretary of Defense is theJoint Chiefs of Staffmade up of its chairperson, a senior military officer, the heads of the three main services, and the Commandant of theMarine Corps. The Secretary of the Army, the Secretary of the Navy, and the Secretary of the Air Force—made cabinet members by the act of 1947—were subordinated (1949) to give the Secretary of Defense full cabinet authority over the department.

Sections in this article:

• Introduction
• Creation
• History
• Bibliography

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