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James V. Forrestal was the first Secretary of Defense. Forrestal was previously the Secretary of the Navy until the Department of Defense came in to being when president Truman signed the National Security Act of 1947. On September 18, 1947, the Department of War was divided into the Department of the Army and the Department of the Air Force, both of which joined the Department of the Navy as part of the new National Military Establishment (NME)--changed to Department of Defense in 1949, in part because the acronmy sounds like the word "enemy."
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What was the original name for the Department of Defense?
What is now called the Department of Defense was originally named the Department of War.
What was the original name of the Department of Defense?
Department of war was its original name.
Who was the head of the Department of Defense during Vietnam?
Robert Strange (yes, that is his middle name) McNamara was the Sectretary of Defense (SecDef) for part of the the latter half of the war, 1961-1968.
What is Met-Art's Koika's real name?
Her first name is Marie. Last name unknown. It's not Marie but Maria and the last name is usually given as Kuznetsova.
What name is given to a tidal wave?
Tsunami is the name given to a tidal wave.
What was the original name for the Department of Defense?
What is now called the Department of Defense was originally named the Department of War.
What was the name original name of the department defense?
Department of war was its original name.
What was the original name of the Department of Defense?
Department of war was its original name.
What is the original name of the department of defense?
The Department of War.
What is the name of the cabinet department that is charge of the US military?
The Department of Defense is in charge of the U.S. military.
Why was the Department of War name changed to the Department of Defense?
Many felt that the name, Department of War, was too aggresive. It was one of the four original departments in Washington's first cabinet. The name was changed when the National Security Act was passed in 1947 which combined the Department of War and the Department of the Navy, and it was called the National Military Establishment. An act to amend the NSA was passed by Congress in 1949 and the name was changed to Department of Defense. Under the act, the Secretary of Defense was created, appointed by the President with consent of the Senate. The Secretary supervises the entire military.
What was the orginal name of the department of defense?
War Dept.
What department was originally called the war department in 1789?
its Department of WarIt was renamed the Department of Defense following WWII.Defense, (originally called the War Department), 1789
What is the name of the building housing the defense department of US?
The Pentagon
What other name is the Defense Department known by?
War Department during times of declared war
The army is one department in the Department of Defense name the other two branches?
Navy and Airforce??
Who is the US secretary of war?
The position of Secretary of War refers to the leader of the War Department. This agency and position was disbanded in the US in 1947, after WWII. The most similar agency in the US is now the Department of Defense, headed by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.
