Is Ash Carter A-List?
NoD
No — Ash Carter is currently ranked D tier — a minor public figure with limited fame outside a small audience.
Reached A-list in 2015
Secretary of Defense Appointment
Lost A-list status in 2017
Dropped to B tier — Returns to Harvard
Ranking Timeline
2009B$0.5M
Deputy Secretary of Defense
Appointed Deputy Secretary under Obama.
2015A▲$2M+$1.5M
Secretary of Defense Appointment
Becomes the 25th Secretary of Defense.
2017B▼$4M+$2M
Returns to Harvard
Returns to academia at Harvard Kennedy School.
2022D▼▼$5M+$1M
Sudden Death at 68
Carter dies unexpectedly at the age of 68.
2026D$5M
Remembered Security Expert
Legacy as a national security expert and public servant.
Last updated: February 25, 2026