Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
Encyclopedia
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 concerning the formation of national security
and defense policy. The position is considered the number three office in the Department of Defense, after the Secretary of Defense and Deputy Secretary of Defense.
It was created by Carter Defense Secretary Harold Brown
in 1977. The current Under Secretary of Defense for Policy is Michèle Flournoy
, who was appointed by President Barack Obama
in February 2009.
*Date of presidential appointment is not the start of one's tenure in office, since this post requires Senate confirmation.
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
. The Under Secretary of Defense for Policy is the principal staff assistant and adviser to both the Secretary of Defense
United States Secretary of Defense
The Secretary of Defense is the head and chief executive officer of the Department of Defense of the United States of America. This position corresponds to what is generally known as a Defense Minister in other countries...
and the Deputy Secretary of Defense
United States Deputy Secretary of Defense
The Deputy Secretary of Defense is the second-highest ranking official in the Department of Defense of the United States of America. The Deputy Secretary of Defense is appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate...
for all matters concerning the formation of national security
National security
National security is the requirement to maintain the survival of the state through the use of economic, diplomacy, power projection and political power. The concept developed mostly in the United States of America after World War II...
and defense policy. The position is considered the number three office in the Department of Defense, after the Secretary of Defense and Deputy Secretary of Defense.
It was created by Carter Defense Secretary Harold Brown
Harold Brown (Secretary of Defense)
Harold Brown , American scientist, was U.S. Secretary of Defense from 1977 to 1981 in the cabinet of President Jimmy Carter. He had previously served in the Lyndon Johnson administration as Director of Defense Research and Engineering and Secretary of the Air Force.While Secretary of Defense, he...
in 1977. The current Under Secretary of Defense for Policy is Michèle Flournoy
Michele Flournoy
Michèle Angelique Flournoy is Under Secretary of Defense for Policy of the United States. She was confirmed in the position by the U.S. Senate on February 9, 2009 and was at the time the highest-ranking woman to hold a post at the Pentagon in the facility's history. She founded and was named...
, who was appointed by President 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...
in February 2009.
Overview
The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy is the principal staff element of the Secretary of Defense in the exercise of policy development, planning, resource management, fiscal, and program evaluation responsibilities.Reporting Officials
Officials reporting to the USD(P) include:- Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
- Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Integration & Chief of Staff
- Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, & Forces
- Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security AffairsAssistant Secretary of Defense for International Security AffairsIn America, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs or ASD is the principal advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and the Secretary of Defense on international security strategy and policy on issues of DoD interest related to the governments and defense...
- Defense Security Cooperation Agency
- Assistant Secretary of Defense for Global Strategic AffairsAssistant Secretary of Defense for Global Strategic AffairsThe Assistant Secretary of Defense for Global Strategic Affairs, or ASD, is a position in the Office of the Secretary of Defense that develops policy for the Secretary on countering weapons of mass destruction, nuclear forces and missile defense, cyber security and space issues...
- Defense Technology Security Agency
- Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Americas' Security AffairsAssistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Americas' Security AffairsThe Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Americas' Security Affairs, or ASD, is responsible for the supervision of DoD homeland defense activities, defense support of civil authorities, and Western Hemisphere security affairs for the Department of Defense. The position was...
- Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict & Interdependent Capabilities
- Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security AffairsAssistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security AffairsThe Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs, or ASD is the principal advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and the Secretary of Defense on international security strategy and policy on issues of DoD interest that relate to the governments and defense...
- Defense Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Office (abbreviated DPMO)
- Rep to Post-START Negotiations
Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
The USD(P) is supported by a principal deputy. Originally established as the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Policy) by the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 1992-93 (P.L. 102-190), the post was re-designated Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Policy), or PDUSD(P) in December 1999 by DoD Directive 5111.3. The PDUSD(P) provides advice and assistance to the Secretary of Defense, Deputy Secretary of Defense, and USD(P) on national security policy, military strategy, and defense policy.Office holders
| Portrait | Name | Date Appointed* | Tenure | SecDef(s) Served Under | President(s) Served Under |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Stanley Rogers Resor Stanley Rogers Resor Stanley Rogers Resor is a former lawyer, U.S. military officer, and government official.Born in New York City, he was the son of Stanley B. Resor , president of the J. W. Thompson advertising agency and one of the originators of the modern advertising industry... |
July 12, 1978 | August 14, 1978 - April 1, 1979 | Harold Brown Harold Brown (Secretary of Defense) Harold Brown , American scientist, was U.S. Secretary of Defense from 1977 to 1981 in the cabinet of President Jimmy Carter. He had previously served in the Lyndon Johnson administration as Director of Defense Research and Engineering and Secretary of the Air Force.While Secretary of Defense, he... |
Jimmy Carter Jimmy Carter James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office... |
| Robert W. Komer Robert Komer Robert William "Blowtorch Bob" Komer was a key figure in the pacification effort to win South Vietnamese "hearts and minds" during the Vietnam War, heading Civil Operations and Revolutionary Development Support.... |
September 27, 1979 | October 24, 1979 - January 20, 1981 | Harold Brown Harold Brown (Secretary of Defense) Harold Brown , American scientist, was U.S. Secretary of Defense from 1977 to 1981 in the cabinet of President Jimmy Carter. He had previously served in the Lyndon Johnson administration as Director of Defense Research and Engineering and Secretary of the Air Force.While Secretary of Defense, he... |
Jimmy Carter Jimmy Carter James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office... |
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| Fred C. Ikle Fred Ikle Dr. Fred Charles Iklé was a United States Department of Defense official during the presidency of Ronald Reagan who is credited with a key role in increasing U.S. aid to anti-Soviet rebels in the Soviet War in Afghanistan... |
- | April 2, 1981 - February 19, 1988 | Caspar W. Weinberger Frank C. Carlucci III Frank Carlucci Frank Charles Carlucci III is a former official in the United States Government, associated with the Republican Party. The most prominent office held by Carlucci was as Secretary of Defense from 1987 until 1989 in the Reagan Administration.-Early life and career:Carlucci was born in Scranton,... |
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.... |
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Paul Wolfowitz Paul Wolfowitz Paul Dundes Wolfowitz is a former United States Ambassador to Indonesia, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense, President of the World Bank, and former dean of the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University... |
- | May 15, 1989 - January 19, 1993 | Richard B. Cheney | George H.W. Bush |
| Frank G. Wisner Frank G. Wisner Frank George Wisner II is an American businessman and former diplomat. He is the son of Frank Wisner . On 31 January 2011, he was sent to Egypt by President Barack Obama to negotiate a resolution to the popular protests against the regime that have swept the country... |
February 23, 1993 | July 6, 1993 - June 9, 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 |
Bill Clinton Bill Clinton William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation... |
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| Walter B. Slocombe Walter B. Slocombe Walter Becker Slocombe is a former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and was the Senior Advisor for Security and Defence to the Coalition Provisional Authority in Baghdad .... |
July 13, 1994 | September 15, 1994 - January 19, 2001 | William J. Perry William S. Cohen |
Bill Clinton Bill Clinton William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation... |
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Douglas Feith Douglas Feith Douglas J. Feith served as the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy for United States President George W. Bush from July 2001 until August 2005. His official responsibilities included the formulation of defense planning guidance and forces policy, United States Department of Defense relations... |
April 30, 2001 | July 16, 2001 - August 8, 2005 | 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.... |
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Eric S. Edelman Eric S. Edelman Eric Steven Edelman is a former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, former U.S. Ambassador to Turkey , former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Finland , and former Principal Deputy Assistant to the Vice President for National Security Affairs . A career Foreign Service Officer, Edelman... |
August 9, 2005 | February 9, 2006 - January 20, 2009 | Donald H. Rumsfeld 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.... |
| Michele Flournoy Michele Flournoy Michèle Angelique Flournoy is Under Secretary of Defense for Policy of the United States. She was confirmed in the position by the U.S. Senate on February 9, 2009 and was at the time the highest-ranking woman to hold a post at the Pentagon in the facility's history. She founded and was named... |
January 8, 2009 | February 9, 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... |
| Name | Tenure | USD(P) Served Under | SecDef(s) Served Under | President(s) Served Under |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I. Lewis Libby | August 12, 1992 - January 10, 1993 | Paul Wolfowitz Paul Wolfowitz Paul Dundes Wolfowitz is a former United States Ambassador to Indonesia, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense, President of the World Bank, and former dean of the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University... |
Richard B. Cheney | George H.W. Bush |
| Walter B. Slocombe Walter B. Slocombe Walter Becker Slocombe is a former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and was the Senior Advisor for Security and Defence to the Coalition Provisional Authority in Baghdad .... |
June 1, 1993 - September 14, 1994 | Frank G. Wisner Frank G. Wisner Frank George Wisner II is an American businessman and former diplomat. He is the son of Frank Wisner . On 31 January 2011, he was sent to Egypt by President Barack Obama to negotiate a resolution to the popular protests against the regime that have swept the country... |
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 |
Bill Clinton Bill Clinton William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation... |
| Jan M. Lodal | October 3, 1994 - September 30, 1998 | Walter B. Slocombe Walter B. Slocombe Walter Becker Slocombe is a former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and was the Senior Advisor for Security and Defence to the Coalition Provisional Authority in Baghdad .... |
William J. Perry William S. Cohen |
Bill Clinton Bill Clinton William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation... |
| James M. Bodner | October 1, 1998 - January 19, 2001 | Walter B. Slocombe Walter B. Slocombe Walter Becker Slocombe is a former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and was the Senior Advisor for Security and Defence to the Coalition Provisional Authority in Baghdad .... |
William S. Cohen | Bill Clinton Bill Clinton William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation... |
| Stephen A. Cambone Stephen Cambone Stephen A. Cambone was the first United States Under-Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, a post created in March 2003. Cambone first came to the attention of the public at large during the testimony of Major General Antonio Taguba before the U.S... |
July 25, 2001 - July 1, 2002 | Douglas Feith Douglas Feith Douglas J. Feith served as the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy for United States President George W. Bush from July 2001 until August 2005. His official responsibilities included the formulation of defense planning guidance and forces policy, United States Department of Defense relations... |
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.... |
| Christopher "Ryan" Henry | February 7, 2003 - August 2008 | Douglas Feith Douglas Feith Douglas J. Feith served as the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy for United States President George W. Bush from July 2001 until August 2005. His official responsibilities included the formulation of defense planning guidance and forces policy, United States Department of Defense relations... Eric S. Edelman Eric S. Edelman Eric Steven Edelman is a former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, former U.S. Ambassador to Turkey , former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Finland , and former Principal Deputy Assistant to the Vice President for National Security Affairs . A career Foreign Service Officer, Edelman... |
Donald H. Rumsfeld 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.... |
| James N. Miller, Jr. | April 2, 2009 - | Michele Flournoy Michele Flournoy Michèle Angelique Flournoy is Under Secretary of Defense for Policy of the United States. She was confirmed in the position by the U.S. Senate on February 9, 2009 and was at the time the highest-ranking woman to hold a post at the Pentagon in the facility's history. She founded and was named... |
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... |
*Date of presidential appointment is not the start of one's tenure in office, since this post requires Senate confirmation.
Budget Totals
The annual budget for the USD(P) is contained in the OSD's budget, under the Defense-Wide Operation and Maintenance (O&M) account. According to official projections, the budget for USD(P) is expected to see substantial cutbacks in FY11 and FY12.| Line Item | FY10 Actual | FY11 Estimate | FY12 Request |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core OSD Operating Program | |||
| Civilian Pay and Benefits, USD (P) | 65,278 | 69,044 | 72,577 |
| Program Structure | |||
| Defense Critical Infrastructure Protection | 18,253 | 17,475 | 9,032 |
| Global Threat Management | 11,397 | 10,731 | 3,636 |
| Homeland Defense Support Activities | 11,276 | 13,534 | 10,705 |
| Policy Planning and Integration | 18,473 | 17,818 | 5,553 |
| Regional Security Affairs | 9,716 | 9,257 | 4,691 |
| Rewards Program | 5,077 | 4,779 | 7,117 |
| Travel | 7,338 | 5,710 | 4,755 |
| US Mission to NATO | 6,415 | 6,615 | 3,319 |
| Warfighting Support Activities | 8,253 | 7,473 | 6,266 |
| Overseas Contingency Operations | |||
| OCO OUSD (Policy) | 44,243 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | |||
| Total Budget | 205,719 | 162,436 | 127,651 |
Budget Features
- Defense Critical Infrastructure Program (DCIP): Oversees policy formulation and strategic planning for the Defense Critical Infrastructure Program, to include the Defense Industrial Base, which provides defense-related products and services that are essential to equip; mobilize; deploy and sustain military operations, enabling the Warfighter to minimize risk. Ensures the resiliency of networked infrastructure assets, whether owned or operated by the DoD or private industry, that are critical to executing military missions. Activities include the identification, assessment, monitoring, and risk management of cyber and physical infrastructure assets critical to the execution of the National Military Strategy. DCIP is run under the auspices of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Americas' Security AffairsAssistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Americas' Security AffairsThe Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Americas' Security Affairs, or ASD, is responsible for the supervision of DoD homeland defense activities, defense support of civil authorities, and Western Hemisphere security affairs for the Department of Defense. The position was...
, where it is overseen by the DASD, Homeland Defense Strategy and Force Planning.
- Global Threat Management: Provides policy, guidance and oversight on existential threats, supranational threats and non-state actor threats. OUSD(P) fulfills this global mission by crafting and implementing initiatives to expand cultural understanding throughout the world in governed and ungoverned areas to aid in preventing the expansion of terrorist cells. Utilizes table top exercises to enable Members of Congress, Administration Officials, and DoD personnel to form strategies in addressing catastrophic security events. Active research and involvement in the ever-changing cyber environment to protect security assets and prevent sophisticated threats in cyberspace from adversaries domestic and foreign. This funding appears to primarily support the programs of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Global Strategic AffairsAssistant Secretary of Defense for Global Strategic AffairsThe Assistant Secretary of Defense for Global Strategic Affairs, or ASD, is a position in the Office of the Secretary of Defense that develops policy for the Secretary on countering weapons of mass destruction, nuclear forces and missile defense, cyber security and space issues...
.
- Homeland Defense Support Activities: Formulates policy and conducts DoD strategic planning for homeland defense and defense support of civil authorities, including installation preparedness; CBRNE preparedness and consequence management; border security and National Security Special Events. Supports the U.S. Northern Command in homeland defense strategy, and enhances the U.S. Southern Command mission through engagement with the ministries of defense of Western Hemisphere nations. It supervises intradepartmental and inter-agency coordination of the above issues. Conducts oversight of DoD processes to exercise force readiness through the National Exercise Program. Manages defense continuity and conducts crisis management. This funding appears to primarily support the programs of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Americas' Security AffairsAssistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Americas' Security AffairsThe Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Americas' Security Affairs, or ASD, is responsible for the supervision of DoD homeland defense activities, defense support of civil authorities, and Western Hemisphere security affairs for the Department of Defense. The position was...
.
- Policy Planning and Integration: OUSD(P) coordinates activities to aid in formulating strategies for DoD programs at national and international levels. This involves establishing and monitoring strategic direction, planning and force development as laid out in reporting documents such as the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) and Defense Planning and Programming Guidance (DPPG). OUSD(P) ensures decisions are not made in a vacuum by integrating policies and resources related to humanitarian efforts and their compliance with international laws. Initiates crisis decision-making in an interagency setting; creates forums to explore emerging national security issues; and examines the capabilities and limitations of national power through various instruments. Funding allows interagency integration and coordination to determine requirements for potential dual-use application of Defense assets.
- Regional Security Affairs: Provides analysis of management of cultural situations in nation states and oversight to military joint ventures and cooperative DoD-Foreign government programs including educational, training, and developmental opportunities. Using a variety of resources, maintains regional expertise to support DoD leadership in forming and implementing strategies and contributes to coordinating holistic government engagement in programs and policies. Regional expertise provides the ability to: monitor and solve security cooperation issues, effectively execute coalition management, monitor international security operations, and further develop cooperative relations with foreign countries. This funding appears to primarily support the programs of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security AffairsAssistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security AffairsThe Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs, or ASD is the principal advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and the Secretary of Defense on international security strategy and policy on issues of DoD interest that relate to the governments and defense...
and Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security AffairsAssistant Secretary of Defense for International Security AffairsIn America, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs or ASD is the principal advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and the Secretary of Defense on international security strategy and policy on issues of DoD interest related to the governments and defense...
- Rewards Program: Provides funds to publicize the program and pay rewards for information to disrupt international terrorist activities.
- Travel: This funding supports travel in support of the OUSD(P) mission.
- US Mission to NATO: Funding provides regional stability interface with US allies, NATO resolution of regional conflicts, response to terrorism and unstable conditions in fragile and failed nation states that include NATO involvement, weapons of mass destruction bilateral measures, and support of overseas facilities.
- Warfighting Support Activities: OUSD(P) provides resources to orchestrate the development of special technologies and capabilities. It sustains these efforts by conducting in-depth analyses of the assignment of additional military and civilian personnel to long-term, non-intelligence positions in high-priority countries. Prepares the military for confronting threats in culturally diverse countries, supports policies and strategies that develop skills unique to counterinsurgency and stabilization efforts; reinforces and builds international support over shared security concerns, homeland security, counterterrorism and other critical nation alliances, and promotes humanitarian activities through military resources in a non-combative manner. Provides funds to pay rewards for information to disrupt international terrorist activities and enhance US security capabilities. This funding appears to primarily support the programs of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict & Interdependent Capabilities