The civilian head of the U.S. War Department)responsible to the President for the organization, maintenance, equipment, and operations of the U.S. Army (and, from 1789 to 1798, of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps). Established pursuant to the Act of August 7, 1789, the office of Secretary of War was abolished on September 18, 1947, pursuant to the National Security Act of 1947, which separated the U.S. Air Force from the U.S. Army and created separate Departments and Secretaries for each service. The present Secretary of the Army is the lineal descendant of the Secretary of War.
See the Introduction, Abbreviations and Pronunciation for further details.
