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Department of Defense - 1 (U.S.)

DOD

Unofficial Flags
Secretary of Defense
Deputy Secretary of Defense
Under Secretaries of Defense
Deputy Under Secretaries of Defense
Assistant Secretaries of Defense
DOD Inspector General
Detail of Seal
Display of flags within Defense Department
Construction sheets

See also:

Unofficial Flags

There is no official Department of Defense flag, just the flags of the executive-level officials.
Joe McMillan, 4 April 2003

I can safely report that DOD flags do in fact exist, I own two. One made by the Paramount Flag Co. of San Francisco and one made by Annin & Co. I have been told they may not be de jure, but they are de facto DOD flag. I was told by Annin & Co. that they were made for the DOD for internal use. The Paramount flags are auto size.
Jim Ferrigan, 7 April 2003

I have also seen the unofficial flags for the Dept of Defense. The National Capital Flag company has made ones that are DOD blue field with the DOD seal centered. Typically they were made for use in displays of a number of departments or agencies together. Of course, the requestors were civilians, since a member of the armed forces would know better. The same request often comes for a Dept of State flag. The compromise is to put the seal on the flag, since it isn't appropriate to use either the SecDef or Sec of State's personal flag. Perhaps they should officially create a flag for the department like the dept of Treasury and others and continue to use a secretary flag as well.
John Niggley, 7 April 2003

Here is an image of a DOD flag - recognised as unofficial.
Valentin Poposki, 19 September 2005

I show all the flags below in naval proportions (~7:10). They also exist as 52 x 66 inch colors with fringe, cord, and tassels, as well as in other Army standard sizes.
Joe McMillan, 27 December 2002

Just in my work inbox this morning, from the Director of Administration and Management of the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD). It clarifies the rules for who in OSD gets to use a positional flag and provides the only official authority I know of for the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense flag.

October 31, 2003
Memorandum for [All senior officials of OSD, by title]
Subject: Positional Flags for Senior Civilian Officials in the Office of the Secretary of Defense

Positional flags are authorized for civilian officials in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) who occupy positions to which they have been appointed by the President, with Senate confirmation.

OSD civilian positional flags and the officials for whom they are authorized are shown on the attachment to this memorandum. These flags are purchased with federal funds and, as such, are the property of the U.S. Government. They shall be displayed only in the office of the person to whom they are issued, or at official ceremonies when the principal serves as host. The use or display of civilian positional flags by individuals not listed on the attachment is prohibited.

For honors and ceremonial occasions, the Military Departments and the Combatant Commands shall follow their respective regulations for displaying OSD civilian positional flags in concert with the flags of their respective organizations.
[signed]
Raymond F. DuBois, Director

The memorandum extends the use of the Assistant Secretary of Defense flag--white with the DoD eagle and four red stars--to several additional officials not previously known to use it: the Director of Defense Research and Engineering, the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation, and the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense (Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Defense Programs).

One other point: there are two kinds of Deputy Under Secretaries of Defense--those who are Presidentially-appointed/Senate-confirmed and those who are appointed by the Secretary of Defense. The first paragraph of the memorandum makes clear that only the first group are entitled to use flags.
Joe McMillan, 4 November 2003