Pete Hegseth
Secretary of Defense
Office of the Secretary of Defense
9 reports
U.S. Department of Defense
U.S. Department of Defense organizational structure and leadership
Government · Matrix structure · 2.9M employees · Washington, DC
8
Agency head span
↑ wider than peers (avg 6)
4
Avg span
moderate
3
Max depth
flat for 2.9M emp
Interactive org chart
U.S. Department of Defense organizational chart
Explore the agency leadership model, component structure, and reporting layers from official public sources.
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This org chart reflects the Department of Defense leadership and major components as documented in the U.S. Government Manual, including the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and military departments.
What to model
Use the chart to test org decisions, not just view reporting lines
Start with the public baseline, then use the scenario views and source-backed changes to ask what happens when leadership, span, or team ownership shifts.
Scenario views in the chart
- Add cross-department AI coordination role Model adding a Chief Digital and AI Officer under the Deputy Secretary to coordinate AI, data, and cyber initiatives across DoD components.
Atlas work this supports
- Compare public operating models Use this official-source baseline to compare agencies, components, reporting layers, and field-office networks.
- Model vacancies and transitions Create planning scenarios for acting leaders, new offices, component moves, and cross-agency coordination changes.
- Keep an official source trail Track source URLs, leadership updates, and agency structure changes in one Atlas workspace for review.
The people
Key leaders and offices
10 senior leadership roles or offices from official public sources. Use this section as a current agency-leadership index, not a private-company filing table.
Gen. Dan Caine
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Joint Chiefs of Staff
0 reports
Kathleen H. Hicks
Deputy Secretary of Defense
Office of the Secretary of Defense
0 reports
James MacStravic
Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics
Acquisition, Technology and Logistics
0 reports
Kari Bingen
Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence
Intelligence
0 reports
Anthony M. Kurta
Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness
Personnel and Readiness
0 reports
Sasha Baker
Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
Policy
0 reports
Daniel Driscoll
Secretary of the Army
Department of the Army
0 reports
Secretary of the Navy
Secretary of the Navy
Department of the Navy
0 reports
Dr. Heather A. Wilson
Secretary of the Air Force
Department of the Air Force
0 reports
The operating model
How U.S. Department of Defense divides the work
3 offices, branches, or components organize the agency mission. Tile size scales with estimated staff where public estimates exist.
Department of the Army
1.0M employees
secarmy
Organizes, trains, and equips land forces for national defense.
Department of the Navy
900K employees
secnavy
Provides naval forces, including the Navy and Marine Corps, for maritime security and power projection.
Department of the Air Force
700K employees
secaf
Delivers air, space, and cyberspace capabilities for national defense.
The agency brief
What this U.S. agency structure tells us
The Department of Defense (DoD) is an executive department responsible for providing military forces to deter war and protect U.S. national security. Authority flows from the President to the Secretary of Defense, who exercises direction and control over military departments, combatant commands, and defense agencies. Structurally distinctive, DoD operates as a matrix organization: civilian secretariats oversee policy, resources, and administration, while uniformed leaders command operational forces through combatant commands. This dual civilian–military governance ensures democratic control while enabling global military operations.
- Operational chain of command runs President → Secretary of Defense → Combatant Commanders
- Civilian control over military services
- Matrix of civilian policy oversight and military execution
The comparison
Compare with related agencies
Compared with the Department of Homeland Security, DoD has a far larger global operational role and a formal military chain of command. Unlike civilian-focused agencies such as DHS, DoD uniquely integrates uniformed services, combatant commands, and extensive acquisition and intelligence enterprises under a single …
Senior office count
U.S. Department of Defense
10
Reporting depth
U.S. Department of Defense
3 levels
3 levels
3 levels
3 levels
Current signals
What changed recently
No recent leadership changes documented in the provided official source.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who leads the U.S. Department of Defense?
The U.S. Department of Defense is led by the Secretary of Defense, who reports directly to the President.
What does the U.S. Department of Defense do?
The Department of Defense provides the military forces needed to deter war and protect the national security of the United States.
What are the major offices or components of the U.S. Department of Defense?
Major components include the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the military departments, combatant commands, defense agencies, and field activities.
Who does the U.S. Department of Defense report to?
The Department of Defense reports to the President of the United States.
How can this org chart be used for planning or analysis?
The org chart helps policymakers and analysts understand authority, reporting relationships, and coordination across civilian and military components.
Sources
Reference
Cite this page
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APA 7th
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"U.S. Department of Defense Organizational Structure." Creately, April 1, 2026, https://creately.com/org-chart/us-government/department-of-defense/. Accessed .Chicago 17
Creately. "U.S. Department of Defense Organizational Structure." Last modified April 1, 2026. https://creately.com/org-chart/us-government/department-of-defense/.Permanent URL: https://creately.com/org-chart/us-government/department-of-defense/ · last updated 2026-04-01