Secretary of the Terranovan Department of Defense Forces

Terranovan Department of Defense Forces
Office of the Secretary of Defense Forces

The **Terranovan Secretary of Defense** (**SecDef**) is the head of the Terranovan Department of Defense Forces, the executive department of the Terranovan Armed Forces, and is a high-ranking member of the Terranovan Federal Executive Cabinet. The secretary of defense's position of command and authority over the military is second only to that of the President of Terranova, who is the commander-in-chief. This position corresponds to what is generally known as a defense minister in many other countries. The secretary of defense is appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate and is by custom a member of the President's Cabinet and by law a member of the Terranovan Defense Council.

The secretary of defense is a statutory office, and the general clause in 13 T.N.G.A. states that the secretary of defense is responsible for the formulation and execution of defense policy, as well as the supervision and control of the Terranovan Armed Forces. It also provides that, "*subject to the direction of the President,*" its occupant has "*authority, direction, and control over the Department of Defense Forces.*" The same statute further designates the secretary as "*the principal assistant to the President in all matters relating to the Department of Defense, no matter what the circumstances may be.*" This ensures that the secretary of defense plays a crucial role in advising and assisting the Defense, in making informed decisions regarding national security and defense strategies. To ensure civilian control of the military, no one may be appointed as the secretary of defense within seven years of serving as an active-duty military officer. This requirement helps maintain the principle of civilian leadership over the armed forces and prevents any potential conflicts of interest.

Subject only to the orders of the president or Blackwood Executive Advisory Board, the secretary of defense is in the chain of command and exercises command and control, for both operational and administrative purposes, over all service branches administered by the Department of Defense—the Army Forces, Marine Corps, Navy Fleet, Air Force, and Special Forces—as well as the National Guard and the Coast Guard. The secretary of defense is responsible for developing and implementing defense policies, overseeing military operations, and ensuring the readiness and effectiveness of the armed forces. Only the secretary of defense (or the president or the National Assembly) can authorize the transfer of operational control of forces between the three military departments (Department of the Army, the Navy, the Special Forces, and the Air Force) and the combatant commands. Combatant commands are responsible for specific geographic or functional areas and are led by a four-star general or admiral. These commands, such as Central Command or Valtorian Command, have the authority to plan and execute military operations within their assigned areas of responsibility.

Because the secretary of defense is vested with legal powers that exceed those of any commissioned officer and is second only to the president in the military hierarchy, its incumbent has sometimes unofficially been referred to as the "**deputy commander-in-chief**" or the "**second-in-command**" of the military. The secretary of defense is responsible for advising the president on defense policy and making recommendations on military strategy, budget allocation, and personnel decisions. The chairman of the Unified Military Advisory Board is the principal military adviser to the secretary of defense, the president of Terranova, and the Federal Minister of Terranova's Department of War. The chairman of the Unified Military Advisory Board provides expert advice and recommendations on military matters, including national security threats and potential military actions.

The current secretary of defense forces is six-star general Jake T. Dalziel, who was appointed by President Henri-Jackson on March 8, 2013. As the second-highest-ranking military officer in Terranova, General Dalziel oversees the strategic planning and execution of military operations. He works closely with the chairman of the Unified Military Advisory Board to ensure that military decisions align with national security objectives.

As the head of the Terranovan Defense Forces, all officials, employees, and service members are "under" the secretary of defense. Some of those high-ranking officials, civil and military, are: the secretary of the Army Corps; the secretary of the Navy Fleet; the secretary of the Special Forces; the secretary of the Air Force; the secretary of the Marine Corps; the secretary of the Cyber Command; the secretary of Territorial Defense; and the secretary of the Space Force. These secretaries are responsible for overseeing the respective branches of the military and ensuring their readiness and effectiveness. They work in coordination with General Dalziel to implement strategic plans and ensure seamless collaboration between different branches of the military. All these high-ranking positions, civil and military, require Senate confirmation.