Under Secretary of Defense for Policy

Under Secretary of Defense for Policy USD(P)
Flag of an Under Secretary of Defense
Incumbent Robert S. Karem (Acting) since June 5, 2017
Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
Style	The Honorable (formal address in writing)
Reports to	Secretary of Defense Deputy Secretary of Defense
Nominator	Acting USDP
Appointer	The President with the advice and consent of the Senate
Term length	No fixed term
Inaugural holder	Stanley Rogers Resor
Formation	1978
Succession	6th in SecDef succession
Deputy	The Principal Deputy Under Secretary
Salary	Level III of the Executive Schedule
Website	policy.defense.gov

The Under Secretary of Defense for Policy (USDP) 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 Under Secretary is normally appointed from civilian life by the President with the consent of the Senate to serve at the request of the President. Currently Robert S. Karem, confirmed as Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, is Performing the Duties of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy until a new appointment is selected by the President and confirmed by the Senate.^[1]

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, the rank of Under Secretary, the USD(P) is a Level III position within the Executive Schedule.

Reporting Officials

Officials reporting to the USD(P) include:

• Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy

Strategy, Plans, & Capabilities

The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities (ASD(SPC)) is responsible for national security and defense strategy, leading the Quadrennial Defense Review, nuclear deterrence and missile defense policy, security cooperation plans and policies, and force design and development planning.

• The Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy and Force Development is responsible for providing long-term and strategic advice on security issues and the development policies, strategies, processes, and capabilities for national security and the United States Armed Forces.
• The Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Plans is responsible for the development of operational planning guidance, oversight of plan reviews, global force management policy, and global posture planning for the United States Department of Defense.
• The Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear and Missile Defense Policy is responsible for the development and review of policies for nuclear forces, global strike and missile defense capabilities, requirements for future capabilities, and oversight of operational planning.
• The Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Security Cooperation is responsible for the bilateral and multilateral security cooperation activities.

International Security Affairs

The Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (ASD(ISA)) is responsible for international security strategy, defense policy, and oversight of security cooperation programs and foreign military sales programs relating to Europe, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Russia, Eurasia, the Middle East, Africa, and the Western Hemisphere.

• The Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs provides advice on international security strategy, defense policy, and oversight of security cooperation programs relating to Sub-Sahara Africa.
• The Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Middle East provides advice on international security strategy, defense policy, and oversight of security cooperation programs relating to the Middle East and North Africa.
• The Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Europe and NATO provides advice on international security strategy, defense policy, and oversight of security cooperation programs relating to Europe and NATO.
• The Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia provides advice on international security strategy, defense policy, and oversight of security cooperation programs relating to conventional arms control, Russia, Ukraine, Western Balkans, and Eurasian nations.
• The Secretary of Defense Representative in the United States Mission to NATO.
• The Secretary of Defense Representative to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

Homeland Defense & Global Security

The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Global Security (AD(HDGS)) is responsible for the policy, strategy, and implementation guidance for national and global security issues across countering weapons of mass destruction, cyber operations, homeland defense activities, antiterrorism, continuity of government and mission assurance, defense support to civil authorities, and space-related matters. The AD(HDGS) is also responsible for the Protected Critical Infrastructure Program (PCII), the Domestic Preparedness Support Initiative, and the Defense Critical Infrastructure Program (DCIP).

• The Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy is responsible for the development and implementation of cyber policies, strategies, and plans to guide the United States Department of Defense including the United States Cyber Command.
• The Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy is responsible for the policy and guidance of space policy and space-related issues including international space cooperation of the United States Department of Defense.
• The Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction is responsible for the policy and guidance for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear protection, weapons of mass destruction countermeasures, and counterproliferation and non-proliferation.
• The Deputy Assistant Secretary of Homeland Defense Integration and Defense Support of Civil Authorities is responsible for the development, coordination, and oversight of the integration and implementation of plans and policy for defense support of civil authorities and civil-military co-operation.
• The Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Defense Continuity and Mission Assurance is responsible for the development of policies and plans for continuity of operations, mission assurance, counterterrorism, emergency management, and critical infrastructure protection.

Special Operations & Low Intensity Conflict

The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low-Intensity Conflict (ASD(SO/LIC)) is responsible for the policy, resources, strategic capabilities and force transformation, and oversight of special operations and low-intensity conflict matters of the United States Department of Defense across counterterrorism, unconventional warfare, direct action, special reconnaissance, foreign internal defense, civil affairs, information and psychological operations, and counterproliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

• The Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Counternarcotics and Global Threats is responsible for the policy, resources, strategic capabilities and force transformation, and oversight of special capabilities for counternarcotics and global threats.
• The Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Stability and Humanitarian Affairs is responsible for the policy, resources, strategic capabilities and force transformation, and oversight of conflict stabilization activities, peace operations, and humanitarian relief efforts.
• The Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Combatting Terrorism is responsible for the policy, resources, strategic capabilities and force transformation, and oversight of counterterrorism, counterinsurgency, foreign internal defense, and psychological operations as well as providing staff oversight of the United States Special Operations Command resources, budget, and program development issues.

Asian & Pacific Security Affairs

The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs (ASD(APSA)) is responsible for international security strategy, defense policy, and oversight of security cooperation programs relating to the Asia-Pacific region.

• The Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia provides advice on international security strategy, defense policy, and oversight of security cooperation programs relating to China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Mongolia, Japan, South Korea, and North Korea.
• The Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia provides advice on international security strategy, defense policy, and oversight of security cooperation programs relating to India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Diego Garcia (in conjunction with ASD(ISA)), Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and the Pacific Islands nations.
• The Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Central Asia provides advice on international security strategy, defense policy, and oversight of security cooperation programs relating to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

The Director of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency is responsible for the personnel recovery of United States Department of Defense personnel who are listed as Prisoners of War (POW) or Missing In Action (MIA), from all past wars and conflicts around the world.

Defense Security Cooperation Agency

The Director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency is responsible for providing Allies and partner nations with financial and technical assistance, transfer of defense matériel, training, and the promotion of military-to-military contacts.

Defense Technology Security Administration

The Director of the Defense Technology Security Administration is responsible for the formulation and enforcement of technology security policies related to international transfers of defense-related goods, services, and technologies.

Budget

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.

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 Affairs, 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 Affairs.
• 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 Affairs.
• 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 Affairs and Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs
• 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

Office holders

Under Secretaries of Defense for Policy^[6]

Portrait	Name	Date Appointed*	Tenure	SecDef(s) Served Under	President(s) Served Under
	Stanley Rogers Resor	July 12, 1978	August 14, 1978 – April 1, 1979	Harold Brown	Jimmy Carter
	Robert W. Komer	September 27, 1979	October 24, 1979 – January 20, 1981	Harold Brown	Jimmy Carter
	Fred Iklé	–	April 2, 1981 – February 19, 1988	Caspar Weinberger Frank Carlucci	Ronald Reagan
	Paul Wolfowitz	–	May 15, 1989 – January 19, 1993	Dick Cheney	George H. W. Bush
	Frank G. Wisner	February 23, 1993	July 6, 1993 – June 9, 1994	Les Aspin William Perry	Bill Clinton
	Walter B. Slocombe	July 13, 1994	September 15, 1994 – January 19, 2001	William Perry William Cohen	Bill Clinton
	Douglas J. Feith	April 30, 2001	July 16, 2001 – August 8, 2005	Donald Rumsfeld	George W. Bush
	Eric S. Edelman	August 9, 2005	February 9, 2006 – January 20, 2009	Donald Rumsfeld Robert Gates	George W. Bush
	Michèle Flournoy [7]	January 8, 2009	February 9, 2009 – February 3, 2012	Robert Gates Leon Panetta	Barack Obama
	James N. Miller	February 18, 2012	February 18, 2012 – January 8, 2014	Leon Panetta Chuck Hagel	Barack Obama
	Michael D. Lumpkin	January 9, 2014	January 9, 2014 – June 24, 2014	Chuck Hagel	Barack Obama
	Christine E. Wormuth	June 19, 2014	June 23, 2014 – June 10, 2016	Chuck Hagel Ash Carter	Barack Obama
	Brian P. Mckeon	June 10, 2016	June 12, 2016 -January 20, 2017	Ash Carter	Barack Obama
	Theresa Whelan (acting)	January 20, 2017	January 20, 2017-June 5, 2017[8]	James Mattis	Donald Trump
	Robert S. Karem (acting)	June 5, 2017	June 5, 2017-present	James Mattis	Donald Trump

Principal Deputy

The Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy is the chief staff assistant to the USD(P). 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.^[7] 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.

Notes and references