Assistant Secretary of State for Conflict and Stabilization Operations explained
| Post: | United States
Assistant Secretary of State
for Conflict and Stabilization Operations |
| Insignia: | U.S. Department of State official seal.svg |
| Insigniasize: | 120px |
| Insigniacaption: | Seal of the United States Department of State |
| Reports To: | Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights |
| Nominator: | President of the United States |
| Formation: | 2011 |
| Inaugural: | Rick Barton |
| Flag: | Flag of the United States Assistant Secretary of State.svg |
| Flagcaption: | Flag of an Assistant Secretary of State |
The Assistant Secretary of State for Conflict and Stabilization Operations is the head of the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations within the United States Department of State, supporting the department's conflict and crisis-response efforts.[1] The assistant secretary reports to the Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights.
The first assistant secretary, Rick Barton, was nominated by President Barack Obama on November 29, 2011,[2] and confirmed by the Senate on March 29, 2012.[3]
Responsibilities
The Assistant Secretary of CSO is the Secretary of State's senior adviser on instability, conflict, and stabilization.[4] The assistant secretary's responsibilities include:
- Formulating and implementing policies on conflict prevention, response, stabilization policies, and programs under the overall direction of and in coordination with the Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights;
- Leading the development of a unique brand of conflict prevention and mitigation analysis, programming, and operations in coordination with relevant department bureaus and other agencies;
- Working with other U.S. government agencies such as the Department of Defense to strengthen the U.S. government's analysis and planning to conduct operations that prevent political violence, atrocities, and the spread or emergence of violent extremism such as white supremacy, white nationalism, radical Islam, Mafia, etc.
- Engaging with the U.S. Congress in coordination with the Bureau of Legislative Affairs on conflict prevention, response, and stabilization capabilities and operations;
- Strengthening staff expertise to serve as an early warning, analysis, planning, and monitoring capability for conflict prevention and response for the Atrocities Prevention Board (APB), as well as the department, Chiefs of Mission, and other USG agencies;
- Working with relevant partners, including NATO, nongovernmental organizations, foreign governments, international/regional organizations, the private sector, and the public to harmonize civilian and military plans.[4] [1]
List of Assistant Secretaries of State for Conflict and Stabilization Operations
| Name | Assumed office | Left office | President(s) served under |
|---|
| 1 | Rick Barton | March 30, 2012 | September 30, 2014[5] | Barack Obama |
| - | John Hushek (acting) | August 17, 2015 | December 30, 2015 | Barack Obama |
| 2 | David Malcolm Robinson | January 4, 2016 | January 31, 2017[6] | Barack Obama |
| - | Thomas J. Hushek (acting) | August 15, 2017 | April 24, 2018 | Donald Trump |
| 3 | Denise Natali | October 18, 2018 | December 22, 2020 | Donald Trump |
| - | Alexander Alden (acting) | December 22, 2020 | January 20, 2021 | Donald Trump |
| - | Robert J. Faucher (acting)[7] | January 20, 2021 | January 10, 2022 | Joe Biden |
| 4 | Anne Witkowsky | January 10, 2022 | January 20, 2025 | Joe Biden | |
External links
Official website
Notes and References
- Web site: Serafino. Nina. In Brief: State Department Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations (CSO). Congressional Research Service. October 10, 2012. April 1, 2016.
- Web site: President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts. November 29, 2011. National Archives. whitehouse.gov. November 15, 2015.
- Web site: Senate Ends March Madness With Lots of State Dept Confirmations. Diplopundit. April 2, 2012. November 15, 2015.
- Web site: 1 FAM 470 Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations. Foreign Affairs Manual. November 10, 2015. April 1, 2016.
- Web site: Departure of Assistant Secretary for Conflict and Stabilization Operations. U.S. Department of State. August 13, 2014. November 15, 2015.
- Web site: Trump's state department purge sparks worries of 'know-nothing approach' to foreign policy. The Guardian. January 27, 2017. February 2, 2017.
- Web site: Robert J. Faucher ACTING ASSISTANT SECRETARY BUREAU OF CONFLICT AND STABILIZATION OPERATIONS . United States Department of State . 15 April 2021.
