Who is the Secretary of Defense, current, as listed in the material?

• A. The Honorable Chuck Hagel
• B. The Honorable Ashton Carter
• C. The Honorable James Mattis
• D. The Honorable Lloyd Austin

Answer: (C)

The position of Secretary of Defense is the top civilian leader of the Department of Defense, chosen by the President and confirmed by the Senate. This person advises the President on defense policy, oversees the armed services and defense agencies, and manages the defense budget and overall strategy.

In the material, the Secretary of Defense is listed as James Mattis. He served in that role during the Trump administration, bringing a background as a retired Marine Corps general and former commander of U.S. Central Command. The other names provided—Chuck Hagel, Ashton Carter, and Lloyd Austin—were, at different times, Secretaries of Defense in other administrations or periods, but not the current secretary as described in this material.