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
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical & Biological Defense Programs Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical & Biological Defense Programs The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical & Biological Defense Programs, or ASD(NCB), is the principal adviser to the Secretary of Defense, Deputy Secretary of Defense and the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics on policy and plans for nuclear, chemical, and biological defense programs. The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical & Biological Defense Programs develops policies, advice, and recommendations on: The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical & Biological Defense Programs also oversees the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA)'s Cooperative Threat