United States Secretary of Defense to die was Frank Carlucci (1987–1989), on 3 June 2018. United States Secretary of Defense The Secretary of Defense (SecDef) is the leader and chief executive officer of the United States Department of Defense, the executive department of the Armed Forces of the United States. The Secretary of Defense's position of command and authority over the United States' military is second only to that of the President and Congress, respectively. This position corresponds to what is generally known as a Defense Minister in many other countries. The Secretary of Defense is appointed by the President with the advice and consent
Frank Carlucci the Iberian Peninsula, is named for him. Carlucci was Deputy Director of the CIA from 1978 until.1981, under CIA Director Stansfield Turner. Carlucci was United States Deputy Secretary of Defense from 1981 until 1983. He later served as United States National Security Advisor from 1986 until 1987. Carlucci became United States Secretary of Defense in 1987, following the resignation of Caspar Weinberger due to his involvement in the Iran-Contra Affair. He served as Secretary of Defense until the end of the Reagan administration on January 20, 1989. He was notable during the administration for advocating an arms build-up to hasten