<Tr> <Th> Website </Th> <Td> www.state.gov/secretary/ </Td> </Tr> <P> The Secretary of State is a senior official of the federal government of the United States of America, and as head of the U.S. Department of State, is principally concerned with foreign policy and is considered to be the U.S. government's equivalent of a Minister for Foreign Affairs . </P> <P> The Secretary of State is nominated by the President of the United States and, following a confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, is confirmed by the United States Senate . The Secretary of State, along with the Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of Defense, and Attorney General, are generally regarded as the four most important Cabinet members because of the importance in their respective departments . Secretary of State is a Level I position in the Executive Schedule and thus earns the salary prescribed for that level (currently $205,700). </P> <P> The current Secretary of State is former ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson, the 69th person to hold office since its creation in 1789 . </P>

Who answers directly to the speaker of the house