The Executive Secretariat is divided into three primary sections:

One section consists of four officers, one from each of the Services, acting as Military Assistants to the Executive Secretary and liaisons with their respective Services. They also maintain account portfolios which, in their entirety, cover every activity within the Department of Defense. The senior officer in this group is designated as the Deputy Executive Secretary. This section is supported by one administrative clerk.

A second section consists of three officers and one administrative support personnel who work primarily for the planning and execution of the administrative and logistical aspects of the Secretary's and Deputy's overseas and domestic travel.

The third section, consisting of two civilian action officers, an administrative Non-Commissioned Officer and an administrative support personnel, provide oversight and coordination of requirements in a number of areas, to include: White House security programs and assignment actions, non-DoD personnel assignments, scheduling and consolidation of documents for interagency meetings, and classified document security management.