This work investigates the historical evolution, structural development, and administrative functions of the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) within the United States government. Alfred Goldberg, a long-serving historian within the Department of Defense, utilizes internal records and administrative archives to document the growth of the office from its inception under the National Security Act of 1947. The text provides a formal account of how the OSD adapted to the changing requirements of national security policy, civilian control of the military, and inter-service coordination throughout the mid-twentieth century.

Historians and policy researchers regard this text as a foundational reference for understanding the institutional architecture of the American defense establishment. Readers frequently note the high level of technical detail and the formal, objective tone maintained throughout the historical narrative.