The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict & Interdependent Capabilities, or ASD(SO/LIC&IC) is the principal civilian advisor to the Secretary of Defense on special operations and low-intensity conflict matters. Located within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy (USD(P)), the ASD(SO/LIC&IC) is responsible primarily for the overall supervision (to include oversight of policy and resources) of special operations and low-intensity conflict activities. These activities, according to USSOCOM's 2007 Posture Statement, include counterterrorism; unconventional warfare; direct action; special reconnaissance; foreign internal defense; civil affairs, information and psychological operations; and counterproliferation of WMD.[nb 1]
In addition to policy oversight for special operations and stability operations capabilities, the ASD(SO/LIC&IC) has policy oversight for strategic capabilities and force transformation and resources. This includes oversight of capability development to include general-purpose forces, space and information capabilities, nuclear and conventional strike capabilities, and missile defense. As such, ASD(SO/LIC&IC), after the Secretary and Deputy Secretary, will be the principal official charged with oversight over all warfighting capabilities within the senior management of the Department of Defense. The ASD(SO/LIC&IC) is considered to be a part of the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
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This position was mandated by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1987 (P.L. 99-661, passed 14 November 1986). The position was officially established on 4 January 1988, by Defense Directive 5138.3. The post's responsibilities for strategic capabilities and forces transformation were added as a result of USD(P) Eric Edelman's 2006 reorganization of the DoD policy office.[1]
The ASD(SO/LIC&IC) is supported in his/her work by three Deputy Assistant Secretaries of Defense:
The table below includes both the various titles of this post over time, as well as all the holders of those offices.
| Name | Tenure | SecDef(s) Served Under | President(s) Served Under |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assistant Secretary of Defense (Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict) | |||
| Charles S. Whitehouse | July 13, 1988 - July 12, 1989 | Frank C. Carlucci III William H. Taft IV (Acting) Richard B. Cheney |
Ronald Reagan George H. W. Bush |
| Seth Cropsey (Acting) | July 13, 1989 - October 18, 1989 | Richard B. Cheney | George H. W. Bush |
| James R. Locher | October 19, 1989 - June 19, 1993 | Richard B. Cheney Leslie Aspin, Jr. |
George H. W. Bush Bill Clinton |
| H. Allen Holmes | November 18, 1993 - April 30, 1999 | Les Aspin, Jr. William J. Perry William S. Cohen |
Bill Clinton |
| Brian E. Sheridan | May 7, 1999 - January 12, 2001 | William S. Cohen | Bill Clinton |
| Position Vacant | 2001–2003 | Donald H. Rumsfeld | George W. Bush |
| Thomas W. O'Connell | July 23, 2003 - April 2007[3] | Donald H. Rumsfeld Robert M. Gates |
George W. Bush |
| Assistant Secretary of Defense (Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict & Interdependent Capabilities) | |||
| Michael G. Vickers | July 23, 2007 - March 2011 | Robert M. Gates | George W. Bush Barack Obama |
| Michael D. Lumpkin (Acting) | April 25, 2011 - Present | Robert M. Gates Leon Panetta |
Barack Obama |