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
Seal of the United States Department of Commerce.svg
Flag of the United States Secretary of Commerce.svg
Flag of the secretary
Howard Lutnick 2025.jpg
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 WilliamCoxRedfield.jpg Redfield, William C.William C. Redfield New York March 5, 1913 October 31, 1919 Wilson, WoodrowWoodrow Wilson
(1913–1921)
2 JoshuaWillisAlexander.jpg Alexander, Joshua W.Joshua W. Alexander Missouri December 16, 1919 March 4, 1921
3 President Hoover portrait.jpg Hoover, HerbertHerbert Hoover California March 5, 1921 August 21, 1928 Harding, Warren G.Warren G. Harding
(1921–1923)
Coolidge, CalvinCalvin Coolidge
(1923-1929)
4 WilliamFairfieldWhiting.jpg Whiting, William F.William F. Whiting Massachusetts August 22, 1928 March 4, 1929
5 RobertPattersonLamont.jpg Lamont, Robert P.Robert P. Lamont Illinois March 5, 1929 August 7, 1932 Hoover, HerbertHerbert Hoover
(1929–1933)
6 RobertDikemanChapin.jpg Chapin, Roy D.Roy D. Chapin Michigan August 8, 1932 March 3, 1933
7 Daniel Calhoun Roper pers0178.jpg Roper, Daniel C.Daniel C. Roper South Carolina March 4, 1933 December 23, 1938 Roosevelt, Franklin D.Franklin D. Roosevelt
(1933–1945)
8 Harry Lloyd Hopkins.jpg Hopkins, HarryHarry Hopkins New York December 24, 1938 September 18, 1940
9 Jesse Holman Jones pers0174.jpg Jones, Jesse H.Jesse H. Jones Texas September 19, 1940 March 1, 1945
10 HenryAgardWallace.jpg Wallace, Henry A.Henry A. Wallace Iowa March 2, 1945 September 20, 1946
Truman, Harry S.Harry S. Truman
(1945–1953)
Alfred-Schindler.jpg Schindler, AlfredAlfred Schindler
Acting
Missouri September 20, 1946 October 7, 1946
11 William Averell Harriman.png Harriman, W. AverellW. Averell Harriman New York October 7, 1946 April 22, 1948
12 CharlesSawyer.jpg Sawyer, Charles W.Charles W. Sawyer Ohio May 6, 1948 January 20, 1953
13 CharlesSinclairWeeks.jpg Weeks, SinclairSinclair Weeks Massachusetts January 21, 1953 November 10, 1958 Eisenhower, Dwight D.Dwight D. Eisenhower
(1953–1961)
- Lewis Lichtenstein Strauss pers0164.jpg Strauss, LewisLewis Strauss New York November 13, 1958 June 30, 1959
14 Frederick Henry Mueller pers0162.jpg Mueller, Frederick H.Frederick H. Mueller Michigan June 30, 1959 August 10, 1959
August 10, 1959 January 19, 1961
15 Luther Hodges.jpg 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 JohnThomasConnor.jpg Connor, John T.John T. Connor New Jersey January 18, 1965 January 31, 1967
17 AlexanderBuelTrowbridge.jpg Trowbridge, AlexanderAlexander Trowbridge New York January 31, 1967 June 14, 1967
June 14, 1967 March 1, 1968
18 Cyrus Rowlett Smith pers0154.jpg Smith, C. R.C. R. Smith New York March 6, 1968 January 19, 1969
19 Maurice Stans.jpg Stans, MauriceMaurice Stans New York January 21, 1969 February 15, 1972 Nixon, RichardRichard Nixon
(1969–1974)
20 PeterGeorgePeterson.jpg Peterson, Peter G.Peter G. Peterson Illinois February 29, 1972 February 1, 1973
21 FrederickBailyDent.jpg Dent, Frederick B.Frederick B. Dent South Carolina February 2, 1973 March 26, 1975
Ford, GeraldGerald Ford
(1974–1977)
22 RogersClarkBallardMorton.jpg Morton, RogersRogers Morton Maryland May 1, 1975 February 2, 1976
23 ElliotLeeRichardson.jpg Richardson, ElliotElliot Richardson Massachusetts February 2, 1976 January 20, 1977
24 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 PhilipMorrisKlutznick.jpg Klutznick, PhilipPhilip Klutznick Illinois January 9, 1980 January 20, 1981
26 Malcolm Baldridge pers0138.jpg Baldrige Jr., MalcolmMalcolm Baldrige Jr. Connecticut January 20, 1981 July 25, 1987 Reagan, RonaldRonald Reagan
(1981–1989)
Bud Brown 97th Congress 1981.jpg Brown, BudBud Brown
Acting
Ohio July 25, 1987 October 19, 1987
27 CalvinWilliamVerity.jpg Verity Jr., WilliamWilliam Verity Jr. Ohio October 19, 1987 January 30, 1989
28 RobertAdamMosbacher.jpg Mosbacher, RobertRobert Mosbacher Texas January 31, 1989 January 15, 1992 Bush, George H. W.George H. W. Bush
(1989–1993)
Rockwell A. Schnabel.png Schnabel, Rockwell A.Rockwell A. Schnabel
Acting
California January 15, 1992 February 27, 1992
29 BarbaraHackmanFranklin.jpg Franklin, BarbaraBarbara Franklin Pennsylvania February 27, 1992 January 20, 1993
30 RonBrownUS.JPG Brown, RonRon Brown New York January 20, 1993 April 3, 1996 Clinton, BillBill Clinton
(1993–2001)
Mary Lowe Good - ACS2004 crop.jpg Good, Mary L.Mary L. Good
Acting
Texas April 3, 1996 April 12, 1996
31 MichaelKantor.jpg Kantor, MickeyMickey Kantor Tennessee April 12, 1996 January 21, 1997
32 DaleyWilliam.jpg Daley, William M.William M. Daley Illinois January 30, 1997 July 19, 2000
MallettRobert.jpg Mallett, Robert L.Robert L. Mallett
Acting
Texas July 19, 2000 July 21, 2000
33 NormanYoshioMineta.jpg Mineta, NormanNorman Mineta California July 21, 2000 January 20, 2001
34 Donald Evans.jpg Evans, DonaldDonald Evans Texas January 20, 2001 February 7, 2005 Bush, George W.George W. Bush
(2001–2009)
35 Carlos Gutierrez official portrait.jpg Gutierrez, CarlosCarlos Gutierrez Florida February 7, 2005 January 20, 2009
WolffOtto-c.jpg Wolff, Otto J.Otto J. Wolff
Acting
January 20, 2009 March 26, 2009 Obama, BarackBarack Obama
(2009–2017)
36 Gary Locke official portrait.jpg Locke, GaryGary Locke Washington March 26, 2009 August 1, 2011
Rebecca Blank official portrait.jpg Blank, RebeccaRebecca Blank
Acting
Minnesota August 1, 2011 October 21, 2011
37 John Bryson official portrait.jpg Bryson, JohnJohn Bryson New York October 21, 2011 June 11, 2012
Rebecca Blank official portrait.jpg Blank, RebeccaRebecca Blank
Acting
Minnesota June 11, 2012 June 1, 2013
Cameron Kerry official portrait.jpeg Kerry, CameronCameron Kerry
Acting
Massachusetts June 1, 2013 June 26, 2013
38 Penny Pritzker official portrait.jpg Pritzker, PennyPenny Pritzker Illinois June 26, 2013 January 20, 2017
Vacant January 20, 2017 February 28, 2017 Trump, DonaldDonald Trump
(2017–2021)
39 Wilbur Ross headshot.jpg 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 Gina Raimondo (cropped 2).jpg Raimondo, GinaGina Raimondo Rhode Island March 3, 2021 January 20, 2025
Jeremy Pelter.jpg Pelter, JeremyJeremy Pelter
Acting

Maryland

January 20, 2025 February 19, 2025 Trump, DonaldDonald Trump
(2025–present)
41 Howard Lutnick 2025 (cropped1).jpg 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