The secretary of national defense (Filipino: kalihim ng tanggulang pambansa) is the head of the Department of National Defense and is a member of the president's Cabinet. The current acting secretary is Jose Faustino Jr., who assumed office on June 30, 2022. This cabinet post is considered one of the stepping stones of the Philippine presidency. Two secretaries of defense were elected president: Ramon Magsaysay in 1953 and Fidel V. Ramos in 1992. Several others have run for president, such as Alejo Santos, Juan Ponce Enrile, Renato de Villa, Norberto Gonzales and Gilbert Teodoro.