It was created on December 13, 1979, when President Jimmy Carter sent a letter to the U.S. Senate and nominated Luther H. Hodges Jr., who then currently held the title of under secretary of commerce.

The deputy secretary serves as the department’s chief operating officer, with responsibility for the day-to-day management of its approximately $11.4 billion budget, 13 operating units, and 46,000 employees.

In that capacity, the deputy secretary is also a member of the President’s Management Council.

The most recent deputy secretary was Don Graves, who was sworn in on May 14, 2021 and resigned January 20, 2025.

[2] Patrick D. Gallagher was appointed acting deputy secretary on June 1, 2013.