Final answer:
The Secretary of the Air Force works with the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and other high-level officials within the Department of Defense and the broader executive branch of the U.S. government. They are responsible for advising the president and managing all the affairs of the U.S. Air Force.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Secretary of the Air Force works with various high-level officials and entities within the U.S. government to carry out their duties. This includes working with other military branches such as the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps, and collaborating with key cabinet members involved in foreign policy, such as the secretary of state and secretary of defense. The role also involves interaction with the president's National Security Council and possibly with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, particularly the member representing the Air Force.
The Secretary of the Air Force is a part of the Department of Defense and reports to the Secretary of Defense. They play a critical role in advising the president, managing the Air Force, and ensuring the integration of Air Force capabilities into national security and defense strategies. As they oversee the U.S. Air Force, they also collaborate with various undersecretaries and assistant secretaries as part of the large bureaucratic structure of the department.
As highlighted in memoirs by former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, such as Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War, the Secretary of the Air Force, like other cabinet secretaries, is appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Their job is to help implement policy initiatives and execute the law within their domain.