United States Deputy Secretary of State

The deputy secretary of state of the United States is the principal deputy to the secretary of state. As of February 2024, the position is held by Kurt M. Campbell, who is serving under United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken. If the secretary of state resigns or dies, the deputy secretary of state becomes acting secretary of state until the president nominates and the Senate confirms a replacement. The position was created in 1972. Prior to July 13, 1972, the under secretary of state had been the second ranking officer of the Department of State.

Deputy Secretary of State of the United States of America
Seal of the Department of State
Flag of the Deputy Secretary of State
Incumbent Kurt M. Campbell since February 12, 2024
Department of State
Reports to	The United States Secretary of State
Seat	Washington, D.C.
Appointer	The President of the United States with Senate advice and consent
Term length	No fixed term
Formation	July 13, 1972
First holder	John N. Irwin II
Salary	Executive Schedule, Level 2
Website	Official website

The State Department is the only federal cabinet-level agency to have two co-equal deputy secretaries. The second deputy secretary of state, the deputy secretary of state for management and resources, serves as the "first assistant" for the purposes of the Vacancies Reform Act, but both deputy secretaries have full delegated authority to act for the secretary, if not otherwise prohibited by law.

Certain deputy secretaries of state went on to become appointed as the secretary of state, such as Lawrence Eagleburger in 1992,^[1] Warren Christopher in 1993,^[2] and Antony Blinken in 2021.^[3]