A similar position, called either "Secretary at War" or "Secretary of War", had been appointed to serve the Congress of the Confederation under the Articles of Confederation between 1781 and 1789.
En tilsvarende stilling, med titlen "Secretary at War" eller "Secretary of War" blev udpeget til at tjene Konføderationskongressen under den forudgående forfatning mellem 1781 og 1789.