How to Address a Deputy Secretary
How to Address anUndersecretary
How to Address anAssistant Secretary
of a U.S. Executive Department
Modify these forms for andeputy, undersecretary, or assistant secretary.
—-Envelope:How to Address a Deputy Secretary
—-—-The Honorable (Full Name)
——–(Name of office held)
—-—-(Complete address)
—-Address block on a letter or email:
—-—-The Honorable (Full Name)
—-—-(Name of office held)
——–(Department)
—-—-(Complete address)
—-Salutation:
—-—-Mr./Ms./Dr. (Name)——–Note #1 Below
—-Conversation:
—-—-Mr./Ms./Dr. (Name)——–Note #1 Below
Robert Hickey author of“Honor & Respect”
Robert Hickey author of“Honor & Respect”
—-Note #1: Orally you will hear these job titles used as an honorific to emphasize or clarify his/her job in an interaction. For example, you could orally say‘Deputy Secretary (Name) will be here in five minutes.’or ‘The Secretary of (department) cannot attend. You will be greeted by Deputy Secretary (Name)’.
—-The media will frequently use the job before the name to clarify to their readers/viewers who this person is:‘According to Under Secretary of State (Name) …’. They may even call the personUnder Secretary (Name) during an interview.
—-But, traditionally and formally these job titles are not used as an honorific –in writing or conversation.
—-And deputies, unders and assistants definitely are not addressed as Mr./Madam Secretary orSecretary (Name). That’s their boss.
– Robert Hickey How to Address a Deputy Secretary How to Address an undersecretary how to address an assistant secretary
Related Offices:———Secretary of a Federal Department———Assistant Secretary, Federal———Assistant Secretary for Health, Federal———Deputy Secretary, Federal———Under Secretary, Federal———Secretary, State Cabinet———Secretary, First, Second, Third———Secretary General
Related Posts:
——–—Couples: Private Citizens
——–—Couples:Christian Clergy
——–—Couples:Rabbis
——–—Couples: Military
——–—Couples: U.S. Officials
——–—Couples: Same Sex
Robert Hickey author of“Honor & Respect”
When Should You Use the Forms on this Page?
You can use these forms of address for any mode of communication: addressing aletter, invitation, card orEmail.(If there are differences between the official and social forms of address, I will have mentioned the different forms.) The form noted in the salutation is the same form you use when you say their name in conversation or when yougreet them.
___What I don’t cover on this site aremany thingsI do cover in my book:all the rules of forms of address, about names, international titles, precedence, complimentary closes, details on invitations, place cards, all sorts of introductions,etc. I hope you’ll get acopy of the book if you’d like the further detail.
Not Finding Your Answer?
—-#1)At right ondesktops,at the bottom of every pageontablets andphones, is a list of all the offices, officials & topics covered on the site.
—-#2) If you don’t see the official you seek included or your question answeredsend me an e-mail. I am pretty fast at sending a reply: usually the next day or so (unless I am traveling.)Note: I don’t have mailing or Email addresses for any of the officials and I don’t keep track of offices that exist only in history books.
—-#3) If I think your question is of interest to others, Sometimes I post the question – but always change all the specifics.
— Robert Hickey
Robert Hickey author of“Honor & Respect”
Recommended Resources: The Protocol School of Washington (PSOW) and Protocol and Diplomacy International – Protocol Officers Association (PDI-POA) For more information see theProtocol Resources page.
