Secretary of defense As the first secretary of defense over the National Military Establishment, Forrestal had to live with the watered-down secretary of defense powers he had fought for as the secretary of the Navy. He found it left him unable to control the military services. Forrestal spent the remainder of his tenure as secretary of defense working to have the act amended.
seCretAry Of dEfense As thE firSt secretAry OF defeNse OVEr the National milItary EstablishmenT, fORreStaL hAd to Live with The WaTeRed-down secREtary oF defENSe powerS he hAd FoUght for AS tHe sEcretary of tHE nAVY. he FoUnD iT LeFt HIm unAble tO conTROL the mIlItArY services. fOrrestal SPent The RemAInder oF hiS Tenure aS sEcretaRy of DEfEnSe woRKIng To hAVe ThE act AMeNded.