Defense Secretary of Zeprana

Defense Secretary of Zeprana
Incumbent Franklin Smith since August 19th, 2021
Style	Mr. Secretary (informal) His Excellency (formal)
Member of	Parliament
Reports to	Parliament & The President of Zeprana
Residence	Government House
Nominator	President of Zeprana
Inaugural holder	Franklin Smith
Formation	August 19th, 2021
First holder	Franklin Smith

Much like in the United States, The Secretary of Defense or Defense Secretary, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Parliament, is the President's chief military affairs adviser. The Secretary carries out the President's military policies through the Defense Department and the Military Services of the Republic of Zeprana.

Franklin Smith is an Zepranan government official and diplomat serving as the Incumbent and 1st Secretary of Defense  of the Republic of Zeprana who is the former Prime Minister of the Empire of Runnymede and former Vice President of the Republic of Worrell. He is one of the founding fathers of Zeprana is was appointed to the position by Terry McKeen III on the date of the nations founding, August 19, 2021 and is a former United Micronations Councilman. The Secretary of Defense  is the most senior member of the Cabinet in the 1st Terry McKeen Presidential Advisory Cabinet (TMPAC) and is the chief leader of diplomatic staff within the Department of State of the Republic of Zeprana.

The Secretary of Defense  is fifth in line for the Presidency of Zeprana just behind the State Secretary of Zeprana who is followed by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Zeprana. The Secretary of Defense  acting in his or her capacity as such also appoint ambassadors and diplomatic envoy leaders across the world and the Supreme Council of the State Department.

The Secretary of Defense  also typically is the commander of the cabinet, with them acting as a lead figure within the Cabinet. The Secretary of Defense  is also the chief of diplomatic staff. The Secretary of Defense  must be at least 13 years old and a natural born Zepranan citizen. The voters and citizens indirectly elect the Secretary of Defense  via Parliament of Zeprana elections and elections for the Presidency of Zeprana.

As the highest-ranking member of the cabinet, the Secretary of Defense is the fourth-highest official of the executive branch of the Republic of Zeprana.

#	Name	Birth-Death	Portrait	Assumed Office	Departed Office	Term-Length	President	Notes
1	Franklin Smith	29 December 2000 - Living		August 19, 2021	Incumbent	Incumbent	Terry McKeen (2021–present)	First Secretary of Defense of the Republic of Zeprana, founding father of the nation and oversaw the creation and development of the Armed Forces of Zeprana.