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| Established: | July 26, 1947 |
| Activated: | September 18, 1947 |
| Renamed: | August 10, 1949 |
| Secretary: | Donald H. Rumsfeld |
| Deputy Secretary: | Gordon R. England |
| Budget: | $419.3 billion (2006 official) |
| Employees: | 700,000 civilian 2.3 million military (2004) |
History
Proposals to coordinate the activities of the military services were initially considered by Congress in 1944. Specific plans were put forth in 1945 by the Army, the Navy and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In a special message to Congress on December 19, 1945, President Harry Truman proposed creation of a unified Department of National Defense. A proposal reached Congress in April 1946, but was held up by the Naval Affairs Committee held hearings in July 1946 due to objections to the concentration of power in a single department. Truman eventually sent new legislation to Congress in February 1947, where it was debated and amended for several months.
On July 26, 1947, Truman signed the National Security Act of 1947, which set up the National Military Establishment to begin operations on September 18, 1947, the day after the Senate confirmed James V. Forrestal as the first Secretary of Defense. The Establishment had the unfortunate abbreviation 'NME' (the obvious pronunciation being "enemy"), and was renamed the "Department of Defense" (abbreviated as DOD or DoD) on August 10, 1949; in addition, the Secretary of Defense was given greater authority over the three military departments (Army, Navy, and Air Force). Prior to the creation of the National Military Establishment / Department of Defense, the Armed Forces of the United States were separated into different cabinet-level departments without much central authority.
More on [ United States Department of Defense ]
Pentagon :: Installations
Military Science :: Technology
04/26/2006-Circus Performers Join DoD for "Bring Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day" Event
Wed, 26 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0000
Press Advisories announce media events, briefings, publications and other opportunities.
04/25/2006-Senior Defense Officials Discuss U.S. Military Realignment in Japan
Tue, 25 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0000
Press Advisories announce media events, briefings, publications and other opportunities.
04/20/2006-1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division Commander to Brief Live from Iraq
Thu, 20 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0000
Press Advisories announce media events, briefings, publications and other opportunities.
04/13/2006-Commander of 3rd Corps Support Command to Brief Live From Iraq
Thu, 13 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0000
Press Advisories announce media events, briefings, publications and other opportunities.
04/06/2006-1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division Commander to Brief Live from Iraq
Thu, 06 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0000
Press Advisories announce media events, briefings, publications and other opportunities.
DefenseLINK - The official website for the Department of Defense of the United States. Links to military and other resources supporting all branches of the military in all services.
Meta Description: [ DefenseLink.mil - The official website of the United States Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Defense, DoD, Defense, Defence, Military ]
Anthrax Vaccine Info Site - News as it happens, newsletter, documents, policies, links.
Meta Description: [ The Official DoD Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program (AVIP) Web Site. Your definitive source for information about anthrax - the disease, the threat, the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine and the implementation of the Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program. A reference guide for our troops, ... ]
BosniaLINK - U.S. military activities in Operation JOINT GUARD, the NATO peacekeeping mission in Bosnia: news, photos, briefings, links. Latest information is maintained by Task Force Eagle in Bosnia. Also Pentagon archives. Visitors may send messages to the troops.
DoD Almanac 1999 - Development version - Factbook by AFIS: organization, money, people, and forces and weapons.
Kosovo Air Strike Videos (RM format) - At DefenseLink, three spectacular gun camera videos from USAFE of the NATO bombings of Nis Airfield, Podgorica Airfield, and Pristina Ammunition Storage. In streaming RealMedia at 28.8 and 56 Kbps.
Operation Desert Fox - Policy on Iraq, map, chronology, articles, weapons systems fact sheets, links.
Per Diem, Travel and Transportation Allowance Committee - Ensures that uniform travel and transportation regulations are issued. Has categorized, up-to-date rates and allowances.
Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense - Biographies, press releases and photographs of the Secretary of Defense and the Deputy Secretary of Defense.
Meta Description: [ The home page for the Department of Defense ]
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