Deputy Secretary of Defense

Hon. Stephen Feinberg

Responsibilities

On March 17, 2025, Feinberg became the nation’s 36th Deputy Defense Secretary, succeeding former DSD Kathleen Hicks. Feinberg is responsible for the management and budget of Pentagon operations and for implementing the vision of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Reportedly a private individual, Feinberg is stepping into a high intensity spotlight. In Hegseth’s congratulatory statement he wrote that the “appointment is well-deserved, and he’s the right man for the job, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Let’s get to work.”

Priorities

• Pass the DoD audit. Called the “essential building blocks of meeting the priorities outlined in the National Defense Strategy” by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon has consistently failed to pass its audit since the requirement first became legal in 2018. While DoD leadership has openly prioritized its commitment to consolidating financial systems and “enforcing the integrity of data at the enterprise level,” the task of providing an accurate accounting of one of the world’s largest organizations under which the Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force budgetarily reside, still remains a challenge, often igniting political firestorms.
• In his new role, Feinberg, a self-made billionaire, proposes to use his experience in private enterprise as his calling card to lead DoD toward an enterprise-level operation. “Initially, it’s difficult, but the top people will step up,” he told the Senate Armed Services Committee. In a show of his commitment, Feinberg said he is prepared to assemble a “war room” to comb through programs and their related costs “line by line, with an army of people, until it’s done.” The audit categories to be addressed: Workforce Modernization, Improved Business Operations, Reliable Networks, Quality Decision-Making, Enhanced Public Confidence.

Quote

“Our supply chain is definitely weak. Our workforce needs to be improved,” said Feinberg during his confirmation hearing. “A big piece of improving our supply chain is working more closely with our private sector. We need people inside of government who understand their issues, understand what drives their boards, what drives the pressure they get from shareholders.”

Political Career

• Chaired President Trump’s Intelligence Advisory Board during his first administration (2018 to 2021), giving counsel on national security related intelligence.
• Served on the Trump Economic Advisory Council during his presidential campaign in 2016.

Business Career

• Trader for Drexel Burnham (1982), and later, for Gruntal & Co.
• Co-founded Cerberus Capital Management at age 32. Since its inception in 1992, the Manhattan-based investment firm, named after the three-headed, Greek mythological dog who guards the gates of Hades, credits itself as “a global leader in alternative investing with approximately $65 billion in assets across complementary credit, real estate, and private equity strategies.” Under Feinberg’s leadership, the firm has grown significantly, although some investments have drawn criticism along the way, such as the bid to amass a portfolio of gun-related companies. In 2006, Cerberus bought Bushmaster Firearms (known for its AR-15-style rifles), then went on to purchase the venerable Remington Arms in 2007, and Marlin Firearms in 2008. The investments were inopportune as they came against the public backlash over the mass school shootings at the time. Remington went into bankruptcy in 2018 when it was still part of Cerberus’ holding company.
• Cerberus has multiple investments with defense contractors. From 2010 to 2020, it owned DynCorp, a major private security contractor. Amid concerns over any political conflicts of interest, Feinberg divested himself from Cerberus before joining the DoD.

Education

Graduated with a B.A. from Princeton University (1982). Captain of the tennis team. While in school, he joined the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps.

Personal

Stephen Andrew Feinberg was born March 29, 1960, and raised in The Bronx, NY, until age 8, when his father, a steel salesman, moved the family out to the suburb of Spring Valley. He lives with his wife, Gisela (née Sanchez) and three daughters in Greenwich, CT, and Manhattan. His interests range from game hunting to motorcycle riding.