During the past three years, BVA Happenings has recognized the birthdays of all the branches of the military and, where appropriate, even some of their auxiliary organizations. On Sunday, the recognition goes to the cabinet-level department that oversees each of these branches. The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) was established on August 10, 1949. Although the federal government has overseen the U.S. Armed Forces since our nation’s inception, the Department of Defense name and centralized defense department was not established until the late 1940s.

The “official” anniversary of the creation of the Department of Defense (DOD), as it is known in modern times, dates back to 1949, thanks to an amended National Security Act. The anniversary is otherwise considered to be August 10, 1947. The agency is run by the Secretary of Defense with the Joint Chiefs of Staff for the various military services operating subordinately to the Secretary.

On July 26, 1947, President Harry S. Truman signed the National Security Act, which set up a military command known as the National Military Establishment. It was established to unify and strengthen national security by placing all U.S. military branches under one governing body to allow for better supervision of U.S. forces and create a direct line of command for all military services. This change eliminated confusion among the services and provided strategic and efficient administration of defense.

The National Military Establishment, under the direction of a single United States Secretary of Defense, formally began operations on September 18. However, the National Military Establishment was renamed the “Department of Defense” on August 10, 1949, and absorbed the three cabinet-level military departments in an amendment to the original National Security Act. The renaming is alleged to be due to the Establishment’s abbreviation, NME, being pronounced “enemy”.