United States Secretary of Commerce

The United States Secretary of Commerce is the head of the United States Department of Commerce concerned with business and industry; the Department states its mission to be "to foster, promote, and develop the foreign and domestic commerce."[2] Until 1913 there was one Secretary of Commerce and Labor, uniting this department with the Department of Labor, which is now headed by a separate Secretary of Labor.[3]

United States Secretary of Commerce
120px
130px
Flag of the secretary
Incumbent
Howard Lutnick

since February 19, 2025
United States Department of Commerce
StyleMadam Secretary (informal)
The Honorable (formal)
Member ofCabinet
Reports toPresident of the United States
SeatHerbert C. Hoover Building, Washington, D.C.
AppointerPresident of the United States
with United States Senate advice and consent
Term lengthNo fixed term
Constituting instrument15 U.S.C. § 1501
PrecursorSecretary of Commerce and Labor
FormationMarch 5, 1913; 112 years ago (1913-03-05)
First holderWilliam C. Redfield
SuccessionTenth[1]
DeputyDeputy Secretary of Commerce
SalaryExecutive Schedule, Level I
WebsiteCommerce.gov

List of U.S. secretaries of commerce

Parties

      Independent (1)       Democratic (21)       Republican (19)

Status

     Denotes acting commerce secretary

No. Portrait Name[4] State of residence Took office Left office President(s)
1 File:WilliamCoxRedfield.jpg Redfield, William C.William C. Redfield New York March 5, 1913 October 31, 1919 Wilson, WoodrowWoodrow Wilson
(1913–1921)
2 75px Alexander, Joshua W.Joshua W. Alexander Missouri December 16, 1919 March 4, 1921
3 75px Hoover, HerbertHerbert Hoover California March 5, 1921 August 21, 1928 Harding, Warren G.Warren G. Harding
(1921–1923)
Coolidge, CalvinCalvin Coolidge
(1923-1929)
4 75px Whiting, William F.William F. Whiting Massachusetts August 22, 1928 March 4, 1929
5 75px Lamont, Robert P.Robert P. Lamont Illinois March 5, 1929 August 7, 1932 Hoover, HerbertHerbert Hoover
(1929–1933)
6 75px Chapin, Roy D.Roy D. Chapin Michigan August 8, 1932 March 3, 1933
7 75px Roper, Daniel C.Daniel C. Roper South Carolina March 4, 1933 December 23, 1938 Roosevelt, Franklin D.Franklin D. Roosevelt
(1933–1945)
8 75px Hopkins, HarryHarry Hopkins New York December 24, 1938 September 18, 1940
9 75px Jones, Jesse H.Jesse H. Jones Texas September 19, 1940 March 1, 1945
10 75px Wallace, Henry A.Henry A. Wallace Iowa March 2, 1945 September 20, 1946
Truman, Harry S.Harry S. Truman
(1945–1953)
75px Schindler, AlfredAlfred Schindler
Acting
Missouri September 20, 1946 October 7, 1946
11 75px Harriman, W. AverellW. Averell Harriman New York October 7, 1946 April 22, 1948
12 75px Sawyer, Charles W.Charles W. Sawyer Ohio May 6, 1948 January 20, 1953
13 File:CharlesSinclairWeeks.jpg Weeks, SinclairSinclair Weeks Massachusetts January 21, 1953 November 10, 1958 Eisenhower, Dwight D.Dwight D. Eisenhower
(1953–1961)
- 75px Strauss, LewisLewis Strauss New York November 13, 1958 June 30, 1959
14 75px Mueller, Frederick H.Frederick H. Mueller Michigan June 30, 1959 August 10, 1959
August 10, 1959 January 19, 1961
15 75px Hodges, Luther H.Luther H. Hodges North Carolina January 21, 1961 January 15, 1965 Kennedy, John F.John F. Kennedy
(1961–1963)
Johnson, Lyndon B.Lyndon B. Johnson
(1963–1969)
16 75px Connor, John T.John T. Connor New Jersey January 18, 1965 January 31, 1967
17 75px Trowbridge, AlexanderAlexander Trowbridge New York January 31, 1967 June 14, 1967
June 14, 1967 March 1, 1968
18 75px Smith, C. R.C. R. Smith New York March 6, 1968 January 19, 1969
19 75px Stans, MauriceMaurice Stans New York January 21, 1969 February 15, 1972 Nixon, RichardRichard Nixon
(1969–1974)
20 75px Peterson, Peter G.Peter G. Peterson Illinois February 29, 1972 February 1, 1973
21 75px Dent, Frederick B.Frederick B. Dent South Carolina February 2, 1973 March 26, 1975
Ford, GeraldGerald Ford
(1974–1977)
22 75px Morton, RogersRogers Morton Maryland May 1, 1975 February 2, 1976
23 75px Richardson, ElliotElliot Richardson Massachusetts February 2, 1976 January 20, 1977
24 File:Kreps-juanita-morris.png Kreps, Juanita M.Juanita M. Kreps North Carolina January 23, 1977 October 31, 1979 Carter, JimmyJimmy Carter
(1977–1981)
Hodges Jr., Luther H.Luther H. Hodges Jr.
Acting
North Carolina October 31, 1979 January 9, 1980
25 75px Klutznick, PhilipPhilip Klutznick Illinois January 9, 1980 January 20, 1981
26 75px Baldrige Jr., MalcolmMalcolm Baldrige Jr. Connecticut January 20, 1981 July 25, 1987 Reagan, RonaldRonald Reagan
(1981–1989)
File:Bud Brown 97th Congress 1981.jpg Brown, BudBud Brown
Acting
Ohio July 25, 1987 October 19, 1987
27 75px Verity Jr., WilliamWilliam Verity Jr. Ohio October 19, 1987 January 30, 1989
28 File:RobertAdamMosbacher.jpg Mosbacher, RobertRobert Mosbacher Texas January 31, 1989 January 15, 1992 Bush, George H. W.George H. W. Bush
(1989–1993)
75px Schnabel, Rockwell A.Rockwell A. Schnabel
Acting
California January 15, 1992 February 27, 1992
29 File:BarbaraHackmanFranklin.jpg Franklin, BarbaraBarbara Franklin Pennsylvania February 27, 1992 January 20, 1993
30 75px Brown, RonRon Brown New York January 20, 1993 April 3, 1996 Clinton, BillBill Clinton
(1993–2001)
75px Good, Mary L.Mary L. Good
Acting
Texas April 3, 1996 April 12, 1996
31 75px Kantor, MickeyMickey Kantor Tennessee April 12, 1996 January 21, 1997
32 75px Daley, William M.William M. Daley Illinois January 30, 1997 July 19, 2000
File:MallettRobert.jpg Mallett, Robert L.Robert L. Mallett
Acting
Texas July 19, 2000 July 21, 2000
33 75px Mineta, NormanNorman Mineta California July 21, 2000 January 20, 2001
34 75px Evans, DonaldDonald Evans Texas January 20, 2001 February 7, 2005 Bush, George W.George W. Bush
(2001–2009)
35 75px Gutierrez, CarlosCarlos Gutierrez Florida February 7, 2005 January 20, 2009
75px Wolff, Otto J.Otto J. Wolff
Acting
January 20, 2009 March 26, 2009 Obama, BarackBarack Obama
(2009–2017)
36 File:Gary Locke official portrait.jpg Locke, GaryGary Locke Washington March 26, 2009 August 1, 2011
75px Blank, RebeccaRebecca Blank
Acting
Minnesota August 1, 2011 October 21, 2011
37 File:John Bryson official portrait.jpg Bryson, JohnJohn Bryson New York October 21, 2011 June 11, 2012
75px Blank, RebeccaRebecca Blank
Acting
Minnesota June 11, 2012 June 1, 2013
75px Kerry, CameronCameron Kerry
Acting
Massachusetts June 1, 2013 June 26, 2013
38 75px Pritzker, PennyPenny Pritzker Illinois June 26, 2013 January 20, 2017
Vacant January 20, 2017 February 28, 2017 Trump, DonaldDonald Trump
(2017–2021)
39 75px Ross, WilburWilbur Ross Florida February 28, 2017 January 20, 2021
Wynn Coggins US Commerce Dept.jpg Coggins, WynnWynn Coggins
Acting
Virginia January 20, 2021 March 3, 2021 Biden, JoeJoe Biden
(2021–2025)
40 100x100px Raimondo, GinaGina Raimondo Rhode Island March 3, 2021 January 20, 2025
80px Pelter, JeremyJeremy Pelter
Acting

Maryland

January 20, 2025 February 19, 2025 Trump, DonaldDonald Trump
(2025–present)
41 75px Lutnick, HowardHoward Lutnick New York February 19, 2025 Incumbent

Living former secretaries of commerce

As of September 2025, there are nine living former secretaries of agriculture, the oldest being Wilbur Ross (served 2017-2021). The most recent death of a former secretary of state was that of John Bryson (served 2011-2012) on May 13, 2025.

United States Secretary Of Commerce Media

References

  1. 3 U.S.C. § 19
  2. ""US Department of Commerce, Directives Management Program"". Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved September 22, 2007.
  3. ""Department of Commerce - Milestones"". Archived from the original on October 12, 2007. Retrieved September 22, 2007.
  4. Department of Commerce: Secretaries