Who is the Secretary of Defense (SecDef)?

• A. Secretary Peter Hegseth
• B. Secretary John Phelan
• C. Admiral Daryl Caudle
• D. General Eric Smith

Answer: (A)

The position of Secretary of Defense is the civilian head of the Department of Defense and the President’s principal defense policy adviser. This role oversees defense policy, budgets, and the armed services, and it must be filled by a civilian who is nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The current holder is Lloyd J. Austin III, a retired four-star Army general who serves as the top civilian leader guiding defense strategy and operations across the services. A key principle here is civilian leadership of the military; military officers would typically resign active duty and take on civilian status before serving as Secretary of Defense. That’s why the other names listed don’t fit the position.