Kathleen Hicks — SPARQNOW

At-a-Glance

First Senate-confirmed woman to serve as United States Deputy Secretary of Defense (2021-2025).
Oversaw day-to-day global operations as Deputy Secretary of Defense, managing the nation's largest employer.
Launched innovation accelerators that reduced delivery timelines and tripled defense investment in artificial intelligence.
Served as Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy during the Obama administration.
Holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Served on the boards of The Aerospace Corporation and the U.S. Naval Institute.

Biography

Kathleen Anne Holland Hicks served as the 35th United States Deputy Secretary of Defense from 2021 to 2025. In this role, she made history as the first Senate-confirmed woman to hold the position and the highest-ranking woman to have served in the United States Department of Defense.

As Deputy Secretary, Hicks oversaw the day-to-day global operations of the nation’s largest employer.