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Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs

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United States
Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs
Seal of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs
since February 22, 2022
United States Department of Defense
Reports toUnited States Secretary of Defense
AppointerThe President
with Senate advice and consent
Term lengthAppointed
Websitehttps://policy.defense.gov/OUSDP-Offices/ASD-for-International-Security-Affairs/

In the United States, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs or ASD (ISA) is the principal advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy (USD (P)) and the United States Secretary of Defense on international security strategy and policy on issues of Department of Defense (DoD) interest related to the governments and defense establishments of the nations and international organizations of Europe (including the North Atlantic Treaty Organization), the Middle East, Africa, and the Western Hemisphere. The ASD (ISA) also oversees security cooperation programs and foreign military sales programs in these regions.[1] Despite the broad title of the office, the ASD (ISA) does not develop policy related to Asia, the Pacific region, Latin America, or South America.

Responsibilities

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According to a description provided by the Office of the USD (P),[1] the ASD (ISA) shall:

  • Conduct and manage day-to-day, multilateral, regional, and bilateral defense relations with all foreign governments in assigned areas of responsibility.
  • Develop regional security and defense strategy and policy, provide advice, and issue guidance to translate global and functional policies into regional-specific country strategies, and oversee their implementation in coordination with cognizant DoD officials.
  • For countries in assigned areas of responsibility, develop, coordinate, and oversee the implementation of:
    • Defense security policy and management of defense and military relations
    • Policy, plans, and activities, as well as uses of DoD resources engaged in encouraging the development of military capabilities, constitutional democracy and respect for human rights, including civilian control of the military, institutionalizing an appropriate role for the military in a constitutional democracy, and encouraging the development of standards of military professionalism that promote respect for elected civilian authorities and human rights.
    • DoD policy and recommendations concerning security cooperation programs and organizations, foreign military sales, military education and training, and other missions pertaining to security cooperation program relationships.
  • Develop, coordinate, and oversee the implementation of policy related to NATO, Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, the Partnership for Peace, and other institutions with a security dimension including the European Union, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and the African Union.
  • Provide policy guidance and oversight to the Defense Advisor, U.S. Mission to NATO, and Representative of the Secretary of Defense Representative to the OSCE on behalf of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. Promote coordination, cooperation, and joint planning on nuclear policy and strategy with NATO Allies, in coordination with the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict and Interdependent Capabilities.
  • Support the NATO Nuclear Planning Group and its subordinate body, the High Level Group and chair the High Level Group.
  • Represent the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and the Secretary of Defense in interagency policy deliberations and international negotiations dealing with assigned areas of responsibility.
  • Monitor and provide policy recommendations related to the conduct of U.S. military operations in the countries or regions of focus or on the participation of such countries in operations outside of the region.
  • Perform such other functions as the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy or the Secretary of Defense may prescribe.

Office holders

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The table below includes both the various titles of this post over time, as well as all the holders of those offices.

Assistant Secretaries of Defense (International Security Affairs)[2]
Name Tenure SecDef(s) Served Under President(s) Served Under
Assistant to the Secretary of Defense (International Security Affairs)
John H. Ohly March 27, 1949 – December 1, 1949 Louis A. Johnson Harry S. Truman
Maj. Gen. James H. Burns (USA) December 6, 1949 – August 27, 1951 Louis A. Johnson
George Marshall
Harry S. Truman
Frank C. Nash August 28, 1951 – February 10, 1953 George Marshall
Robert A. Lovett
Charles E. Wilson
Harry S. Truman
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Assistant Secretary of Defense (International Security Affairs)
Frank C. Nash February 11, 1953 – February 28, 1954 Charles E. Wilson Dwight D. Eisenhower
H. Struve Hensel March 5, 1954 – June 30, 1955 Charles E. Wilson Dwight D. Eisenhower
Gordon Gray July 14, 1955 – February 27, 1957 Charles E. Wilson Dwight D. Eisenhower
Mansfield D. Sprague February 28, 1957 – October 3, 1958 Charles E. Wilson
Neil H. McElroy
Dwight D. Eisenhower
John N. Irwin II October 4, 1958 – January 20, 1961 Neil H. McElroy
Thomas S. Gates Jr.
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Paul Nitze January 29, 1961 – November 29, 1963 Robert McNamara John F. Kennedy
Lyndon B. Johnson
William Bundy November 29, 1963 – March 14, 1964 Robert McNamara Lyndon B. Johnson
John T. McNaughton July 1, 1964 – July 19, 1967 Robert McNamara Lyndon B. Johnson
Paul Warnke August 1, 1967 – February 15, 1969 Robert McNamara
Clark Clifford
Melvin Laird
Lyndon B. Johnson
Richard Nixon
G. Warren Nutter March 4, 1969 – January 30, 1973 Melvin Laird
Elliot Richardson
Richard Nixon
Lawrence Eagleburger (Acting) January 31, 1973 – May 10, 1973 Elliot Richardson Richard Nixon
Robert C. Hill May 11, 1973 – January 5, 1974 Elliot Richardson
James R. Schlesinger
Richard Nixon
Vice Adm. Raymond E. Peet (Acting) January 6, 1974 – April 1, 1974 James R. Schlesinger Richard Nixon
Amos Jordan (Acting) April 2, 1974 – June 4, 1974 James R. Schlesinger Richard Nixon
Robert Ellsworth June 5, 1974 – December 22, 1975 James R. Schlesinger
Donald Rumsfeld
Richard Nixon
Gerald Ford
Amos Jordan (Acting) December 23, 1975 – May 5, 1976 Donald Rumsfeld Gerald Ford
Eugene V. McAuliffe May 6, 1976 – April 1, 1977 Donald Rumsfeld
Harold Brown
Gerald Ford
Jimmy Carter
David E. McGiffert April 4, 1977 – January 20, 1981 Harold Brown Jimmy Carter
Bing West April 4, 1981 – April 1, 1983 Caspar Weinberger Ronald Reagan
Richard Armitage April 2, 1983 – June 5, 1983 (Acting)
June 5, 1983 – June 5, 1989
Caspar Weinberger
Frank Carlucci
William Howard Taft IV (Acting)
Dick Cheney
Ronald Reagan
George H. W. Bush
Harry Rowen June 26, 1989 – July 31, 1991 Dick Cheney George H. W. Bush
James R. Lilley December 12, 1991 – January 20, 1993 Dick Cheney George H. W. Bush
Assistant Secretary of Defense (Regional Security Affairs)
Charles W. Freeman Jr. July 6, 1993 – April 11, 1994 Les Aspin
William Perry
Bill Clinton
Assistant Secretary of Defense (International Security Affairs)
Charles W. Freeman Jr. April 11, 1994 – September 14, 1994 William Perry Bill Clinton
Joseph Nye September 15, 1994 – December 16, 1995 William Perry Bill Clinton
Franklin D. Kramer March 29, 1996 – February 16, 2001 William Perry
William Cohen
Donald Rumsfeld
Bill Clinton
George W. Bush
Peter Rodman[3] July 16, 2001 – March 2, 2007 Donald Rumsfeld
Robert Gates
George W. Bush
Mary Beth Long[4] March 3, 2007 – December 21, 2007 (Acting)
December 21, 2007 – January 20, 2009
Robert Gates George W. Bush
Michael W. Coulter (Acting) January 20, 2009 – April 3, 2009 Robert Gates Barack Obama
Alexander Vershbow April 3, 2009 – February 2012 Robert Gates Barack Obama
Derek Chollet[5] June 1, 2012 – November 14, 2014 Chuck Hagel Barack Obama
Elissa Slotkin (Acting) November 14, 2014 – January 20, 2017 Chuck Hagel

Ash Carter

Barack Obama
Kenneth B. Handelman (Acting) January 20, 2017 – June 7, 2017[6] Jim Mattis Donald Trump
Robert Karem June 7, 2017 – October 31, 2018 [7] Jim Mattis Donald Trump
Kathryn L. Wheelbarger (Acting) October 31, 2018 – July 4, 2020 Jim Mattis
Mark Esper
Donald Trump
Michael C. Ryan (Acting) July 5, 2020 – August 31, 2020 Mark Esper Donald Trump
Michael Cutrone (Acting) September 1, 2020 – January 20, 2021 Mark Esper Donald Trump
Laura Cooper (Acting) January 20, 2021 – December 17, 2021 Lloyd Austin Joe Biden
Ilan Goldenberg (Acting) December 17, 2021 – February 22, 2022 Lloyd Austin Joe Biden
Celeste Wallander February 22, 2022 – present Lloyd Austin Joe Biden

Structure

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This office can trace its roots back to the early days of the modern national security establishment. It was created in 1949, two years after the National Security Act established the Department of Defense.

The ASD (ISA) is supported by seven Deputy Assistant Secretaries (DASDs), each with coverage of a different region or international organization. The DASDs manage "principal directors" who in turn oversee "country directors" with more narrow geographic portfolios:

  • Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs
  • Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Europe and NATO
  • Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Middle East
  • Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine, & Eurasia
  • Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Western Hemisphere
  • Secretary of Defense Representative in the U.S. Mission to NATO
  • Secretary of Defense Representative to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe

DASDs are appointed by the Secretary of Defense. Some are appointed from civilian life, while others are career defense officials. Once at the DASD level, the latter are considered a part of the DoD Senior Executive Service.

The ASD (ISA) is also supported by a Principal Deputy, or PDASD, who helps manage the day-to-day operations.

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretaries for International Security Affairs

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Name Tenure ASD (ISA) Served Under USD(P) Served Under SecDef(s) Served Under President(s) Served Under
Lincoln P. Bloomfield Jr.[8] 1988–1989 Richard Armitage vacant Frank Carlucci Ronald Reagan
Carl W. Ford Jr.[9] April 1989 – February 1993 Henry S. Rowen
James R. Lilley
Paul Wolfowitz Dick Cheney George H. W. Bush
Frederick C. Smith[10] ? – ? Charles W. Freeman, Jr.
Joseph Nye
Franklin D. Kramer
Frank G. Wisner
Walter B. Slocombe
Les Aspin
William Perry
William Cohen
Bill Clinton
Peter C. W. Flory[11] July 2001 – August 2005 Peter Rodman Douglas Feith Donald Rumsfeld George W. Bush
Mary Beth Long[12] August 2005 – December 2007 Peter Rodman Eric Edelman Donald Rumsfeld
Robert Gates
George W. Bush
Michael W. Coulter[13] ? – 2009 Mary Beth Long Eric Edelman Robert Gates George W. Bush
Joseph McMillan[14] May 2009 – October 2012 Alexander R. Vershbow
Derek Chollet
Michele Flournoy
James Miller
Robert M. Gates
Leon Panetta
Barack Obama
Elissa Slotkin[15][16] October 2012 – January 2015 Derek Chollet Christine Wormuth Ash Carter Barack Obama
Kenneth B. Handelman[6] July 2015 – ? Elissa Slotkin Christine Wormuth
Brian P. McKeon
Theresa Whelan (acting)
Robert S. Karem (acting)
Ash Carter
James Mattis
Barack Obama
Donald Trump
Kathryn L. Wheelbarger[17] July 2017 – July 2020 Robert S. Karem John Rood James Mattis
Mark Esper
Donald Trump
Michael Cutrone September 2020 – January 2021 vacant James H. Anderson (acting) Mark Esper Donald Trump
Ilan Goldenberg[18] December 2021 – September 2022 Celeste A. Wallander Colin Kahl Lloyd Austin Joe Biden
Tressa Guenov[19] October 2022 – Present Celeste A. Wallander Colin Kahl Lloyd Austin Joe Biden

Deputy Assistant Secretaries of Defense Reporting to the ASD (ISA)

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The list below details the current and former DASDs in this office.

Name Tenure ASD (ISA) served under USD(P) served under SecDef(s) served under President(s) served under
Active offices
DASD (ISA), African Affairs
Vicki J. Huddleston June 2009 – December 2011 Alexander Vershbow Michèle Flournoy Robert Gates
Leon Panetta
Barack Obama
Alan Patterson[20][21] December 2017 – October 31, 2018[22] Robert Karem John Rood James Mattis Donald Trump
Chidi Blyden May 2021 – present Celeste Wallander Colin Kahl Lloyd Austin Joe Biden
DASD (ISA), European & NATO Policy
Thomas Goffus[23][24] May 2017 – October 31, 2018[22] Robert Karem John Rood James Mattis Donald Trump
Spencer Boyer[25] February 2021 – present Celeste Wallander Colin Kahl Lloyd Austin Joe Biden
DASD (ISA), Middle East
Andrew Exum 2015–2016 Elissa Slotkin Christine Wormuth
Brian P. McKeon
Ash Carter Barack Obama
Michael Patrick Mulroy[26][27] November 2017 – December 2019 Robert Karem John Rood James Mattis
Mark Esper
Donald Trump
Dana Stroul February 2021 – present Celeste Wallander Colin Kahl Lloyd Austin Joe Biden
DASD (ISA), Russia, Ukraine & Eurasia
Evelyn Farkas[28] 2012 – September 2015 Derek Chollet
Elissa Slotkin
James Miller
Michael D. Lumpkin
Christine Wormuth
Leon Panetta
Chuck Hagel
Ash Carter
Barack Obama
Michael Carpenter[29] 2016–2017 Elissa Slotkin Christine Wormuth Ash Carter Barack Obama
Laura K. Cooper[30] January 20, 2017 – present[31] Robert Karem
Celeste Wallander
John Rood
Colin Kahl
James Mattis
Mark Esper
Lloyd Austin
Donald Trump
Joe Biden
DASD (ISA), Western Hemisphere
Daniel P. Erikson March 2021 – February 2024 Celeste Wallander Colin Kahl Lloyd Austin Joe Biden

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs". Policy.defense.gov. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  2. ^ "Department of Defense Key Officials" (PDF). Historical Office, OSD. 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 21, 2011. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
  3. ^ "Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs". Policy.defense.gov. Archived from the original on September 9, 2010. Retrieved September 17, 2011.
  4. ^ John Pike. "DoD News: Mary Beth Long Sworn in as Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved September 17, 2011.
  5. ^ "Derek Chollet: Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs". Department of Defense. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  6. ^ a b "Kenneth B. Handelman". defense.gov. U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  7. ^ "Three Senior Pentagon Officials Leave in Quick Succession". December 18, 2023.
  8. ^ "Biography: Lincoln P. Bloomfield, Jr". U.S. Department of State. September 30, 2001. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  9. ^ "Biography: Carl W. Ford, Jr". U.S. Department of State. October 16, 2003. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  10. ^ "An Interview with Frederick C. Smith". Springfield, Illinois: Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library. April 2, 2010. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  11. ^ "Peter C. W. Flory". North Atlantic Treaty Organization. February 12, 2009. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  12. ^ "Biographical Sketch of Mary Beth Long". Nominations Before the Senate Armed Services Committee, First Session, 110th Congress (PDF). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. 2008. p. 1233. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  13. ^ United States Government Policy and Supporting Positions (Plum Book) (PDF). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. November 12, 2008. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  14. ^ "Senior Executive Service Appointments". DoD Public Affairs. May 6, 2009. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
  15. ^ "Elissa Slotkin". LinkedIn. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  16. ^ "Elissa Slotkin" (PDF). U.S. House of Representatives Document Repository.
  17. ^ "Biographies".
  18. ^ "CNAS's Ilan Goldenberg Named Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs".
  19. ^ "Tressa Steffen Guenov — Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs". defense.gov. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  20. ^ "Senior Executive Service Announcements Release No: NR-423-17". U.S. Department of Defense. December 14, 2017.
  21. ^ "Biographies".
  22. ^ a b "Three Senior Pentagon Officials Leave in Quick Succession".
  23. ^ "Pentagon names three new senior officials". Inside Defense. May 10, 2017.
  24. ^ "Biographies".
  25. ^ Mehta, Aaron (February 17, 2021). "Spencer Boyer tapped as deputy assistant secretary for Europe and NATO". DefenseNews.com. Sightline Media Group. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  26. ^ "Senior Executive Service Announcements Release No: NR-353-17". U.S. Department of Defense. October 17, 2017.
  27. ^ "Biographies".
  28. ^ "Senior Executive Service Appointments And Reassignments". DoD Public Affairs. June 9, 2009. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
  29. ^ "Biography of Dr. Michael Carpenter" (PDF). U.S. House of Representatives Document Depository.
  30. ^ "Laura K. Cooper".
  31. ^ "Read Laura Cooper's Prepared Opening Statement from the Impeachment Hearing". The New York Times. November 21, 2019.