United States Department of Defense: Timeline

1947   Cold War Cold War

The Cold War was the protracted geopolitical [i], ideological [i], and economic [i] ... 

: U.S. President Harry S. Truman Harry S. Truman

Harry S. [i] Truman was the thirty-third President of the United States [i]; as ... 

 signs the National Security Act into United States law creating the Central Intelligence Agency Central Intelligence Agency

The Central Intelligence Agency is an intelligence agency [i] of the United States Government [i]. ... 

, Department of Defense United States Department of Defense

The United States Department of Defense is the federal department charged with coordinating and supervi... 

, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the National Security Council.

1964   The U.S. Defense Department United States Department of Defense

The United States Department of Defense is the federal department charged with coordinating and supervi... 

 announces the closing of 95 military bases and facilities, including the Brooklyn Navy Yard, the Brooklyn Army Terminal, and Fort Jay, New York.

1968   Vietnam War Vietnam War

The Vietnam War was a conflict in which the Democratic Republic of Vietnam [i] and its al ... 

: The United States Department of Defense announces that the United States Army United States Army

The United States Army is the largest branch of the United States armed forces [i] ... 

 and United States Marines will be sending about 24,000 troops back to Vietnam Vietnam

Vietnam, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, is a country in Southeast Asia [i]. ... 

 for involuntary second tours.

1986   President Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan

Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President [i] of the United States [i] ... 

 signs the Goldwater-Nichols Act into law, making official the largest reorganization of the United States Department of Defense since the Air Force United States Air Force

The United States Air Force is the aerospace [i] branch of the United States armed forces [i] and one o ... 

 was made a separate branch of service in 1947.

2005   The United States Department of Defense issues a list of bases to be closed as part of the Base Realignment and Closure process (BRAC 2005).