The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Global Strategic Affairs, or ASD(GSA), is a position in the Office of the Secretary of Defense

Office of the Secretary of Defense

The Office of the Secretary of Defense is a headquarters-level staff of the Department of Defense of the United States of America. It is the principal civilian staff element of the Secretary of Defense, and it assists the Secretary in carrying out authority, direction and control of the Department...

 that develops policy for the Secretary on countering weapons of mass destruction, nuclear forces and missile defense, cyber security and space issues. ASD(GSA) is currently tasked with three major congressionally mandated reviews: the Nuclear Posture Review, the Ballistic Missile Defense Review, and the Space Posture Review. In addition, GSA is the Defense Department's lead in developing the DoD's cybersecurity strategy, and for crafting the policy for the standup of the new Cyber Command. ASD(GSA) answers to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy

Under Secretary of Defense for Policy

The Under Secretary of Defense for Policy is a high level civilian official in the United States Department of Defense. The Under Secretary of Defense for Policy is the principal staff assistant and adviser to both the Secretary of Defense and the Deputy Secretary of Defense for all matters...

. Although ASD(GSA) is a recently configured office, its functional responsibilities can be traced back in part to a position eliminated in early 2008, the 'Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy

History

The ASD(GSA) can trace its origins partially back to a related office, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy, or ASD(ISP). This position was created in 1981, and through the end of the George H. W. Bush administration was responsible for all political-military activity involving NATO, other European countries, and the USSR, responsibilities now under the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs. The exact title and responsibilities of the ASD(ISP) have changed over time, but the office has typically dealt with nuclear counterproliferation, arms control and space policy. For example, in March 2005, DoD Directive 5111.14 designated the ASD(ISP) as "the principal advisor to the Secretary of Defense and the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy (USD(P)) on political/military policy and issues of DOD interest that relate to select foreign regions and nations and to the functional areas of arms control, space, technology and information security, nonproliferation and counterproliferation." According to his NATO biography, Peter Flory, who held the position of ASD(ISP) from mid-2005 to late 2006, "served as the principal advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and the Secretary of Defense on nonproliferation and counterproliferation, security cooperation with nations of Europe, Eurasia, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization; oversight over the Cooperative Threat Reduction Program and arms control negotiations; and policy for nuclear and advanced non-nuclear deterrent forces, space-related capabilities, and ballistic missile defenses."

Following Flory's departure, ASD(ISP) appears to have been scrapped, since no further appointees have been made to that position. In 2008, a new post, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Global Security Affairs was created within USD(P). The Global Security Affairs office was responsible for defense-related issues concerning building the capability of partners and allies; coalition affairs; technology security policy; security cooperation; counternarcotics, counterproliferation, and countering global threats; detainee affairs; and POW/MIA issues.

Under the Obama Administration, ASD for Global Security Affairs was retitled Assistant Secretary of Defense for Global Strategic Affairs, or ASD(GSA). With respect to regional defense policy toward Europe and Eurasia, the ASD(ISP)'s responsibilities seem to have been absorbed by the ASD(ISA) and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian & Pacific Security Affairs, respectively. Meanwhile, the ASD(GSA) is now largely responsible for the functional elements of the ASD(ISP)'s former portfolio, including countering Weapons of Mass Destruction, nuclear & missile defense policy, and space policy, in addition to the new responsibility of cyber policy.

Office Holders

Assistant Secretaries of Defense (International Security Policy)

Name	Tenure	SecDef(s) Served Under	President(s) Served Under
Assistant Secretary of Defense (International Security Policy)
Richard N. Perle Richard Perle Richard Norman Perle is an American political advisor, consultant, and lobbyist who began his career in government, a senior staff member to Senator Henry “Scoop” Jackson on the Senate Armed Services Committee in the 1970’s...	August 5, 1981 - May 8, 1987	Caspar W. Weinberger	Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
Frank J. Gaffney, Jr. Frank Gaffney Frank J. Gaffney, Jr. is the founder and president of the American Center for Security Policy, columnist at the Washington Times, blogger at Big Peace and radio host on Secure Freedom Radio....  (Acting)	May 8, 1987 - November 1987	Caspar W. Weinberger	Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
Ronald F. Lehman Ronald F. Lehman Ambassador Ronald F. Lehman, II is currently Director of the Center for Global Security Research at the United States Department of Energy's Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory...	February 18, 1988 - May 11, 1989	Frank C. Carlucci III  William H. Taft IV William Howard Taft IV William Howard Taft IV is an attorney who has served in the United States government under several Republican administrations. He is the son of William Howard Taft III and the great-grandson of U.S. President William Howard Taft....  (Acting) Richard B. Cheney	Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....   George H. W. Bush George H. W. Bush George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
Stephen J. Hadley Stephen Hadley Stephen John Hadley was the 21st U.S. Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs , serving under President George W. Bush....	June 23, 1989 - January 20, 1993	Richard B. Cheney	George H. W. Bush George H. W. Bush George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
Assistant Secretary of Defense (Nuclear Security and Counterproliferation)
Ashton B. Carter Ashton Carter Ashton Baldwin Carter is a United States national security professional. He is is the United States Deputy Secretary of Defense. Prior to that, He served as Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics for President Barack Obama. He is currently on leave from his post as...	June 30, 1993 - June 13, 1994	Leslie Aspin, Jr. Les Aspin Leslie "Les" Aspin, Jr. was a United States Representative from 1971 to 1993, and the United States Secretary of Defense under President Bill Clinton from January 21, 1993 to February 3, 1994.-Early life:...   William J. Perry	William Clinton William Clinton Bill Clinton is the 42nd President of the United States. William Clinton may also refer to:*William de Clinton, 1st Earl of Huntingdon , English nobleman from prominent Norman family dating to William the Conqueror; Lord High Admiral as of 1333*William Henry Clinton , British general from...
Assistant Secretary of Defense (International Security Policy)
Ashton B. Carter Ashton Carter Ashton Baldwin Carter is a United States national security professional. He is is the United States Deputy Secretary of Defense. Prior to that, He served as Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics for President Barack Obama. He is currently on leave from his post as...	June 13, 1994 - September 14, 1996	William J. Perry	William Clinton William Clinton Bill Clinton is the 42nd President of the United States. William Clinton may also refer to:*William de Clinton, 1st Earl of Huntingdon , English nobleman from prominent Norman family dating to William the Conqueror; Lord High Admiral as of 1333*William Henry Clinton , British general from...
Franklin C. Miller (Acting)	September 14, 1996–1998	William J. Perry  William S. Cohen	William Clinton William Clinton Bill Clinton is the 42nd President of the United States. William Clinton may also refer to:*William de Clinton, 1st Earl of Huntingdon , English nobleman from prominent Norman family dating to William the Conqueror; Lord High Admiral as of 1333*William Henry Clinton , British general from...
Position Vacant	1998–2001	William S. Cohen	William Clinton William Clinton Bill Clinton is the 42nd President of the United States. William Clinton may also refer to:*William de Clinton, 1st Earl of Huntingdon , English nobleman from prominent Norman family dating to William the Conqueror; Lord High Admiral as of 1333*William Henry Clinton , British general from...
J.D. Crouch II Jack Dyer Crouch, II Jack Dyer Crouch II was appointed Deputy National Security Advisor by U.S. President George W. Bush in March 2005. He previously served as U.S...	August 6, 2001 - October 31, 2003	Donald H. Rumsfeld	George W. Bush George W. Bush George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
Peter C. W. Flory	August 2, 2005 - December 2006	Donald H. Rumsfeld	George W. Bush George W. Bush George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
Assistant Secretary of Defense (Global Security Affairs)
Joseph A. Benkert Joseph Benkert Joseph A. Benkert is an American citizen who served as an officer in the United States Navy, and as an appointed official in the George W. Bush Administration...	July 23, 2008 - January 20, 2009	Robert M. Gates	George W. Bush George W. Bush George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
Assistant Secretary of Defense (Global Strategic Affairs)
Michael Nacht	May 2009 -	Robert M. Gates	Barack Obama Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...