Back when I was in the Army, we were required to know the chain of command from LBJ down to the company first shirt. "The Honorable Robert STRANGE MacNamara" was there. (Yes, we used all three names, emphasis on the middle--we heartily despised him.)
The NYT making stuff up? Would they do that?
Naaawwww.
Woman: King of the who?
Arthur: The Britons.
Woman: Who are the Britons?
Arthur: Well we all are... We are all Britons... And I am your king.
(From Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail.)
We were also required to know the chain of command but as far as a Secretary of Defense being replaced, it meant nothing to us.