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Robert M. Gates, Secretary of Defense, Defense Department

I act as the advisor of defense policies to the President.

As Secretary of Defense, I am responsible for the creation of general defense policies and other policies directly concerned with the Defense department. Because the President is only one man, he requires subordinates to carry out his duties. As Secretary of Defense, I help the President carry out his duties pertaining to National Defense.

With the consent of the President, the Secretary of Dense can exercise authority and control over the Department of Defense. When the President is unable to attend to his duties of National defense, I am given authority to rule over the department. This, allows me to take place where the President cannot, allow for optimal efficiency to continue even when the President is not present.