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In 1945 the Department of Defense was suggested by the Army, Navy, and the Joints Chiefs
of Staff. On December 19, 1945 a message from President Harry Truman, said to create a
unified Department of Defense. The proposal was sent to Congress in 1946, but there were
objections about the large concentration of power in one department.
The original name for the DOD was the National Military Establishment. Unfortunately the
obvious pronunciation is "enemy" (NME) so the name was changed to The Department of
Defense in 1949.
The Department Of Defense |
|
Established |
July 26, 1947 (by the National Security Act of 1947) |
Activated |
September 18, 1947 |
Renamed |
August 10, 1949 |
Secretary |
Robert M. Gates |
Deputy Secretary |
Gordon R. England |
U.S. Military Budget |
532.8 Billion (2007 official) |
Employees |
700,000 civilian 2,300,000 military |
