Who is the highest ranking person at the Pentagon?
Asked by: scraper | Last update: August 12, 2026Score: 0/5 (0 votes)
The President of the United States, as Commander in Chief, is ultimately over the Pentagon. Day-to-day leadership and operational control of the Department of Defense is managed by the Secretary of Defense. The current Secretary of Defense is Pete Hegseth.
Who is the highest rank in the Pentagon?
DOD's Top Leaders. The secretary of defense is the highest ranking leader in the department and serves as the principal advisor to the president, the commander in chief of the armed forces, on defense policy. The deputy secretary of defense is the second-highest ranking DOD leader.
What was Pete Hegseth's rank in the military?
Pete Hegseth reached the rank of Major in the United States Army National Guard before he retired in 2021.
Who is the only 6 star General?
George Washington is the only person to hold the U.S. military rank of six-star general, officially titled General of the Armies.
Which U.S. president was a 5 star general?
Dwight D. Eisenhower was the only U.S. President who was a five-star general. As a General of the Army, he was the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force during World War II before serving as the 34th President from 1953 to 1961.
Trump fires nation’s top-ranking military officer in latest job cuts
What is the most feared army unit?
The US Delta Force is one of the most secret and deadly special operations units in the world. Officially known as 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment Delta, it operates directly under US Army Special Operations Command and often answers to the highest levels of US leadership.
Why did Pete Hegseth leave the military?
Pete Hegseth left active duty in 2003, transitioning to the National Guard, and officially resigned from the Individual Ready Reserve in January 2024. His departure from the military culminated over a 2021 incident where he was barred from guarding President Joe Biden's inauguration after being flagged as a potential "insider threat" by his unit due to his Christian tattoos.
What did JD Vance do in the military?
JD Vance served in the United States Marine Corps from 2003 to 2007 as a combat correspondent (military journalist) and public affairs specialist. He achieved the rank of corporal and was deployed to Iraq for six months from late 2005 to early 2006.
Who is the head of the Pentagon for Trump?
Pete Hegseth. Peter Brian Hegseth (born June 6, 1980) is an American government official and former television personality who has served since 2025 as the 29th United States secretary of defense.
What rank was Donald Trump in military school?
Donald Trump reached the rank of cadet captain during his senior year at the New York Military Academy (NYMA), where he graduated in 1964. As a senior, he was appointed captain of Company A, which was one of the top leadership positions on campus, following his role as a supply sergeant during his junior year.
How many pull ups did Pete Hegseth have?
In a viral fitness routine known as the "Pete and Bobby Challenge," Pete Hegseth performed 50 pull-ups. The challenge—completed alongside HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at the Pentagon—also required 100 push-ups, all to be completed in under 10 minutes.
Did Pete Hegseth go to a military academy?
No, Pete Hegseth did not go to a military academy. Although he was admitted to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, he chose not to attend and instead earned his bachelor's degree at Princeton University, where he played on the men's basketball team.
Who is the head of security at the Pentagon?
Chris Bargery currently serves as the Director of the Pentagon Force Protection Agency.
Who are the only 5 star generals?
Only five men have held the rank of five-star general (officially titled "General of the Army") in the U.S. Army. Additionally, one of these men also held the equivalent five-star rank in the U.S. Air Force.
Who is the no. 1 Army rank in the world?
The United States is universally ranked as having the number one military in the world. This dominance is driven by an unmatched defense budget, technological superiority, vast logistical capabilities, and a massive arsenal across all branches.
What did Pete Hegseth do in the army?
Pete Hegseth served as an infantry officer and counterinsurgency instructor in the Army National Guard, ultimately reaching the rank of major. His deployments included guard duty at Guantanamo Bay and combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
What degree does Karoline Leavitt have?
Karoline Leavitt earned a Bachelor of Arts in politics and communication from Saint Anselm College in 2015.
What happened to Kellyanne Conway?
Kellyanne Conway left the White House in August 2020 to focus on her family. Since then, she has worked as a media commentator, publishing a 2022 memoir titled Here's the Deal and joining Fox News as a contributor. She also does political polling and consulting.
Did Donald Trump ever attend a military school?
Yes, Donald Trump attended the New York Military Academy (NYMA) for five years.
Did Joe Biden ever serve in the military?
In April 1968, he received a draft notice as he was about to graduate from law school; but after a medical examination he was reclassified by the Selective Service System as "1-Y", not available for service except in national emergency, due to having had asthma as a teenager.
What was JD Vance's birth name?
JD Vance was born James Donald Bowman.
How many pull ups did Pete Hegseth do?
In a viral fitness routine known as the "Pete and Bobby Challenge," Pete Hegseth performed 50 pull-ups. The challenge—completed alongside HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at the Pentagon—also required 100 push-ups, all to be completed in under 10 minutes.
What rank did Pete Hegseth hold when he left the military?
Pete Hegseth held the rank of Major (O-4) in the Army National Guard when he left active military service in 2021.
How many natural children does Pete Hegseth have?
Pete Hegseth has four biological children. He shares three sons with his ex-wife Samantha Deering (Gunner, Peter Boone, and Rex) and one daughter with his current wife Jennifer Rauchet (Gwendolyn).