United States Secretary of Education

The United States Secretary of Education is the head of the Department of Education. The Secretary is a member of the President's Cabinet, and 16th in line of United States presidential line of succession. The United States Secretary of Education deals with Education.

In 1979, President Jimmy Carter established the Department of Education as a cabinet-level agency. Previously, Education had been handled by the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, henceforth known as the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Chronological list
Source
No.PortraitNameState of residenceTook officeLeft officePresident75pxCaliforniaNovember 30, 1979January 20, 1981(1977–1981)75pxUtahJanuary 22, 1981January 20, 1985(1981–1989)75pxNorth CarolinaFebruary 6, 1985September 20, 198875pxTexasSeptember 20, 1988December 12, 1990(1989–1993)–75pxIllinoisDecember 12, 1990March 22, 199175pxTennesseeMarch 22, 1991January 20, 199375pxSouth CarolinaJanuary 21, 1993January 20, 2001(1993–2001)75pxTexasJanuary 20, 2001January 20, 2005(2001–2009)75pxJanuary 20, 2005January 20, 200975pxIllinoisJanuary 21, 2009January 1, 2016(2009–2017)75pxNew YorkJanuary 1, 2016March 14, 2016March 14, 2016January 20, 2017–75pxVirginiaJanuary 20, 2017February 7, 2017 (2017–2021)75pxMichiganFebruary 7, 2017January 8, 2021–75pxSouth CarolinaJanuary 8, 2021January 20, 2021–75pxVirginiaJanuary 20, 2021March 2, 2021(2021–2025)75pxConnecticutMarch 2, 2021January 20, 2025–75pxJanuary 20, 2025March 3, 2025 (2025–present) frameless|75px Linda McMahon Connecticut March 3, 2025 Incumbent

 Living former secreatries of education 
As of January 2026, there are ten living former secretaries of education, the oldest being Joseph A. Califano Jr. (served 1977-1979). The most recent death of a former Secretary of Education was that of Rod Paige (served 2001-2005) on December 9, 2025. The current oldest living person who has held the position of Secreatry of Education since its creation in October 1979 is Richard Riley (served 1993-2001)

However, two former secreatries, F. David Mathews (served 1975-1977) and Joseph A. Califano Jr. (served 1977-1979) served prior to the implention and founding of the Department of Education, thus being recognized as former Secreatries of Education but also Secreatries of Health, Education, and Welfare (now the Secreatry of Health and Human Services)

 References 

Secretary of Education

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Category:1979 establishments in the United States