An official website of the United States Government 
Here's how you know

Official websites use .gov

A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock ( lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Secretary of War HON Pete Hegseth

The secretary of war oversees the War Department and acts as the principal war policy maker and advisor.

About

The Honorable Pete Hegseth is the secretary of war. He was sworn in on Jan. 25, 2025, as the 29th secretary of defense before the department's name was changed on Sept. 5, 2025. A graduate of Princeton University in 2003, Hegseth was commissioned as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army National Guard. He participated in a number of active-duty deployments during his time in service, including operations in Guantanamo Bay, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Full Biography

Photos

... loading ...
View Photos On Flickr

Leaders

Choose a leader below to learn more:
Pete Hegseth

Secretary of War

HON Pete Hegseth

Deputy Secretary of War

HON Steve Feinberg

Joint Chief of Staff Logo

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Air Force Gen.

Dan Caine
Christopher J. Mahoney

Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Marine Corps Gen.

Christopher J. Mahoney
DOW Seal

Office of the Secretary of War

Top civilian decision-makers work with the secretary to develop policy, operational and fiscal plans, manage resources and evaluate programs.

More Info
Biographies