Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs explained

Post:Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs
Insignia:Emblem_of_the_Assistant_Secretary_of_Defense_for_Indo-Pacific_Security_Affairs.png
Insigniacaption:Seal of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs
Incumbentsince:July 25, 2021
Incumbent:Ely Ratner
Acting:no
Department:Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
Appointer:The President
Appointer Qualified:with Senate advice and consent
Deputy:Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense
Inaugural:James J. Shinn
Termlength:No fixed term

The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, or ASD (IPSA), is the principal advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy (USD(P)) and the Secretary of Defense on international security strategy and policy on issues of DoD interest that relate to the governments and defense establishments of the nations and international organizations within the Indo-Pacific region. It primarily includes the entire region from India to Japan, and the region where ASEAN is located.[1] The position was originally titled Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs but was renamed by the Trump Administration alongside the renaming of the United States Indo-Pacific Command.[2]

Office holders

Assistant Secretaries of Defense (Asian and Pacific Security Affairs/Indo-Pacific Security Affairs)[3] [4]
NameTenureSecDef(s) served underPresident(s) served under
December 19, 2007 – November 14, 2008[5] George W. Bush
Mitchell Shivers (Acting)[6] November 14, 2008 – January 20, 2009
Derek Mitchell (Acting) April 1, 2009 – May 12, 2009 Barack Obama
Lieutenant General Wallace "Chip" Gregson (Ret.) May 13, 2009[7] – April 1, 2011 Robert M. Gates
Derek Mitchell (Acting) April 2, 2011 – August 12, 2011 Robert M. Gates
Leon Panetta
Peter R. Lavoy (Acting) August 15, 2011 – May 8, 2012 Leon Panetta
May 9, 2012 – April 24, 2013 Leon Panetta
Chuck Hagel
Peter R. Lavoy (Acting) May 1, 2013 – January 10, 2014 Chuck Hagel
July 17, 2014 – June 10, 2016 Chuck Hagel
Ashton Carter
Kelly E. Magsamen (Acting) June 10, 2016 – January 20, 2017 Ashton Carter
David F. Helvey (Acting) January 20, 2017 – December 29, 2017
December 29, 2017 – December 31, 2019 James Mattis
Mark Esper
David F. Helvey (Acting) January 1, 2020 – July 2021 Mark Esper
Joe Biden
Kenneth Handelman (acting)[8] [9] July 2021 - July 25, 2021Lloyd Austin
Ely Ratner[10] July 25, 2021 – PresentLloyd Austin

Role and responsibilities

Like the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, the ASD (IPSA) is responsible for oversight of security cooperation programs and foreign military sales programs within the regions under its supervision.[11] The ASD (IPSA) also works closely with the United States Indo-Pacific Command, United States Central Command, and the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies. Finally, the ASD (IPSA) represents the USD(P) and the Secretary of Defense in interagency policy deliberations and international negotiations related to the Asia-Pacific region. The Office of the ASD (IPSA) is an entity of the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

Structure

This office was created in 2007. It is composed of at least six country/sub-regional desks, each staffed by a Senior Country Director. Most desks are also supported by an Assistant Country Director or group of Country Directors. As of February 2011, the desks listed on the APSA website included:

However, this list must be incomplete, since the office also has oversight of programs in Central Asia, Afghanistan and Pakistan, as well as India and other Asian nations.[12]

Depending on their areas of coverage, the country/sub-regional desks report to four different Deputy Assistant Secretaries:

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 (APSA) is also supported by a Principal Deputy, or PDASD, who helps oversee the DASDs and the office's country/sub-regional desks.

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretaries for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs/Indo-Pacific Security Affairs

NameTenureASD (APSA) Served UnderUSD(P) Served UnderSecDef(s) Served UnderPresident(s) Served Under
Mitchell Shivers June 2008[13] – January 2009 James J. Shinn George W. Bush
April 2009 – August 2011 Barack Obama
August 2011 – February 2014Mark Lippert Leon Panetta Barack Obama
Kelly E. Magsamen February 2014 – January 2017 David B. Shear Michael D. Lumpkin
Christine E. Wormuth
Brian P. McKeon 		Ashton Carter Barack Obama
David F. Helvey (acting) June 2016 – January 2017Kelly E. Magsamen (acting) Brian P. McKeon Ashton Carter Barack Obama
David F. Helvey January 2017 – May 2021 David F. Helvey (acting)
Randall G. Schriver 		James Mattis Donald Trump
Colin KahlLloyd AustinJoe Biden

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

The list below details both the current DASD and previous DASD posts in this office.

NameTenureASD (APSA) Served UnderUSD(P) Served UnderSecDef(s) Served UnderPresident(s) Served Under
Active Offices
DASD (APSA), East Asia
David Samuel Sedney[14] 2007–2009 George W. Bush
R. Michael Schiffer[15] May 6, 2009 – 2012 Barack Obama
David Helvey[16] 2013–2015David ShearJames N. MillerMichael D. Lumpkin

Christine E. Wormuth

Chuck HagelAsh CarterBarack Obama
Abraham M. Denmark[17] 2015 – January 2017David Shear
Kelly E. Magsamen		Brian P. MckeonAshton CarterBarack Obama
BGen Roberta L. Shea July 2017 – May 2019David F. HelveyRobert Karem
Joseph D. Kernan		James Mattis
Mark Esper		Donald Trump
Heino Klinck[18] August 2019 – january 2021Randall Schriver
David F. Helvey		Joseph D. KernanMark EsperDonald Trump
Siddharth Mohandas2021 - PresentDavid F. HelveyEly RatnerColin KahlLloyd AustinJoe Biden
DASD (APSA), China
Chad Sbragia June 2019 – January 2021 Randall Schriver
David F. Helvey 		Donald Trump
Michael S. ChaseFebruary 2021[19] - PresentDavid F. HelveyEly RatnerColin KahlLloyd AustinJoe Biden
DASD (APSA), South and Southeast Asia
James Clad[20] [21] [22] March 2007 – January 2009 James J. Shinn George W. Bush
Robert Scher May 6, 2009 – April 2012 Barack Obama
Joseph Felter[23] July 2017 – September 2019[24] David F. Helvey
Randall Schriver
David F. Helvey 		Donald Trump
Lindsey W. Ford2021 - PresentDavid F. HelveyEly RatnerColin KahlLloyd AustinJoe Biden
DASD (APSA), Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Central Asia
David Samuel Sedney[25] 2009 – May 2013 Barack Obama
February 3, 2020 – January 19, 2021 David F. Helvey Donald Trump
Rebecca ZimmermanFebruary 16, 2021 - PresentDavid F. HelveyEly RatnerColin KahlLloyd AustinJoe Biden
Defunct Offices
DASD (APSA), Central Asia
Mitchell Shivers 2007[26] – June 2008 James J. Shinn George W. Bush

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ASD for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs . 2023-08-06 . policy.defense.gov.
  2. https://www.heritage.org/asia/event/the-department-defenses-indo-pacific-strategy The Department of Defense’s Indo-Pacific Strategy
  3. Web site: Department of Defense Key Officials . Historical Office, OSD . 2004 . 2011-02-01 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110721034250/http://osdhistory.defense.gov/docs/DOD%20Key%20Officials%201947-2004.pdf . 2011-07-21 .
  4. Web site: Department of Defense Key Officials . Historical Office, OSD . 28 January 2020 . 2020-06-13.
  5. Web site: Back from Afghanistan . The Daily Princetonian . 2008-11-17 . 2011-09-17.
  6. Web site: Monmouth University: Current News . Monmouth.edu . 2008-11-14 . 2011-09-17.
  7. Web site: Biography: Wallace "Chip" Gregson . Defense.gov . 2009-05-13 . 2013-07-24.
  8. Web site: Detsch. Jack. Biden Loses Top Pentagon Asia Hand. 2021-08-21. Foreign Policy. en-US.
  9. Web site: Department of Defense Key Officials September 1947–July 2021. live. October 4, 2021. Historical Office - Office of the Secretary of Defense. https://web.archive.org/web/20210726193022/https://history.defense.gov/Portals/70/Documents/key_officials/KeyOfficials07-20-21.pdf?ver=VgVyWlVvk0ncSYZmBdhsbA%3D%3D . 2021-07-26 .
  10. Web site: Austin Administers Speedy Swearing-In for DOD. 2021-07-26. U.S. Department of Defense. en-US.
  11. Web site: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy . Policy.defense.gov . 2011-09-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110916085334/http://policy.defense.gov/apsa/index.aspx . 2011-09-16 . dead .
  12. John T. Bennett, "DoD Shakes Up Policy Shop," Defense News, 13 July 2009, http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4183028
  13. Web site: Us To Triple Aid To Pakistan To 1.5 Billion Per Year – Pakistani Defence Forum . Forum.pakistanidefence.com . 2011-09-17.
  14. Web site: Biography: David S. Sedney . Defense.gov . 2011-09-17.
  15. Web site: Senior Executive Service Appointments/Assignments . DoD, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs . May 2009 . 2011-02-15 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110721034250/http://osdhistory.defense.gov/docs/DOD%20Key%20Officials%201947-2004.pdf . 2011-07-21 .
  16. News: David Helvey Named Defense Deputy Asst Secretary For East Asia – Executive Gov. Executive Gov. 2016-11-15.
  17. Web site: Pentagon Appoints Abraham Denmark, NBR Senior Vice President, as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia. www.nbr.org. 2016-11-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20161116020253/http://www.nbr.org/research/activity.aspx?id=584. 2016-11-16. dead.
  18. Web site: Heino Klinck, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia. www.defense.gov. 2019-12-19. https://archive.today/20190829010329/https://www.defense.gov/Our-Story/Biographies/Biography/Article/1945787/deputy-assistant-secretary-of-defense-for-east-asia/. 2019-08-29.
  19. Web site: Michael S. Chase . 2022-07-11 . Department of Defense . en-US.
  20. James Clad Linkedin Profile, http://www.linkedin.com/pub/james-clad/6/99a/a5b
  21. Web site: DoD Senior Leadership . Air Force Magazine . March 2008 . 2011-02-15.
  22. Web site: FORMER U.S. DEP. ASST. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE JOINS ARCANUM GLOBAL – Arcanum. Arcanum. 2016-02-02. en-US.
  23. Web site: Senior Executive Service Announcements. U.S. Department of Defense Search. 22 July 2017.
  24. Web site: Dr. Joseph H. Felter > U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE > Biography. www.defense.gov. 2020-01-07.
  25. Web site: David S. Sedney - Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Afghanistan, Pakistan and Central Asia . Department of Defense . https://web.archive.org/web/20210713031538/https://docs.house.gov/meetings/AS/AS06/20130425/100725/HHRG-113-AS06-Bio-DavidSedneyD-20130425.pdf . 2021-07-13 . live.
  26. Web site: Congressional Record – 110th Congress (2007–2008) – THOMAS (Library of Congress) . Thomas.loc.gov . 2011-09-17 . 2010-12-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101225214323/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/B?r110:@FIELD(FLD003+d)+@FIELD(DDATE+20071004) . dead .

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.