Donald Rumsfeld was the 13th Secretary of Defense under President Gerald Ford from 1975 to 1977, and the 21st Secretary of Defense under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2006. He is both the youngest and the oldest person to have held the position, as well as the only person to have held the position for two non-consecutive terms, and the second longest serving, behind Robert McNamara.
Career
Rumsfeld served in various positions under President Nixon, served four terms in the United States House of Representatives, and served as United States Ambassador to NATO. Rumsfeld was an aviator in the United States Navy between 1954 and 1957 before transferring to the Reserve.
Iraq War
Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, Rumsfeld led the military planning and execution of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan and the 2003 invasion of Iraq. In a concept referred to as the Rumsfeld Doctrine, he pushed hard to send as small a force as possible to both conflicts.
Donald Rumsfeld Timeline
July 9, 1932: Born in Chicago, Illinois
1954: Joins the U.S. Navy
1970: Named Counselor to President Nixon
1977-1985: CEO and Chairman of G.D. Searle and Company
Jaunary 29, 1998: Co-signs historic PNAC letter sent to President Bill Clinton
January 1, 2001: Named as Defense Secretary for incoming president George W. Bush
November 8, 2006: Resigns as Defense Secretary
