The main duty of the Secretary at War was to handle all of the U.S. militaries affairs. The Secretary at War was a position that existed from 1781-1947. In 1798 the position Secretary of Navy was introduced thus reducing the duties of Secretary of War to only the affairs of the U.S. armies. Then in 1947, the Secretary of War no longer existed when it was replaced by both the Secretary of the Army and the Secretary of the Air Force. These positions, along with the Secretary of the Navy, became part of the new Department of Defense. This department is under the Secretary of Defense and continues to function today.
