Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs
Encyclopedia
The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs, or ASD(APSA) 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 Asia-Pacific region. Like the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs
, the ASD(APSA) is responsible for oversight of security cooperation programs and foreign military sales programs within the regions under its supervision. The ASD(APSA) also works closely with the United States Pacific Command
, United States Central Command
, and the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies
. Finally, the ASD(APSA) represents the USD(P) and the Secretary of Defense in interagency policy deliberations and international negotiations related to the Asia-Pacific region. Like all Assistant Secretaries of Defense, the ASD(APSA) is considered part of the Office of the Secretary of Defense
.
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.
Depending on their areas of coverage, the country/sub-regional desks report to three 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 three DASDs and the office's country/sub-regional desks.
Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
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...
(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 Asia-Pacific region. Like the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs
Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs
In 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...
, the ASD(APSA) is responsible for oversight of security cooperation programs and foreign military sales programs within the regions under its supervision. The ASD(APSA) also works closely with the United States Pacific Command
United States Pacific Command
The United States Pacific Command is a Unified Combatant Command of the United States armed forces responsible for the Pacific Ocean area. It is led by the Commander, Pacific Command , who is the supreme military authority for the various branches of the Armed Forces of the United States serving...
, United States Central Command
United States Central Command
The United States Central Command is a theater-level Unified Combatant Command unit of the U.S. armed forces, established in 1983 under the operational control of the U.S. Secretary of Defense...
, and the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies
Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies
The is a United States Department of Defense regional study, conference, and research center established in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States on September 4, 1995. The Center supports the United States Pacific Command theater security cooperation strategy of maintaining positive security...
. Finally, the ASD(APSA) represents the USD(P) and the Secretary of Defense in interagency policy deliberations and international negotiations related to the Asia-Pacific region. Like all Assistant Secretaries of Defense, the ASD(APSA) is considered part of the Office of the Secretary of Defense
Office of the Secretary of Defense
The Office of the Secretary of Defense is a headquarters-level staff of the Department of Defense of the United States of America. It is the principal civilian staff element of the Secretary of Defense, and it assists the Secretary in carrying out authority, direction and control of the Department...
.
Office Holders
| Name | Tenure | SecDef(s) Served Under | President(s) Served Under |
|---|---|---|---|
| James J. Shinn | December 19, 2007 - November 14, 2008 | 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.... |
| Mitchell Shivers (Acting) | November 14, 2008 - 2009 | 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.... |
| Wallace "Chip" Gregson | May 13, 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... |
Structure
This office was created in 2007. It is composed of at least six country/sub-regional desks, each manned 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:- Australia, New Zealand,and South Pacific Islands
- Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam
- China, Hong Kong, Mongolia, Taiwan
- Japan
- Korea
- Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, East Timor
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.
Depending on their areas of coverage, the country/sub-regional desks report to three different Deputy Assistant Secretaries:
- DASD East Asia
- DASD South & Southeast Asia
- DASD Afghanistan, Pakistan and Central Asia.
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
Senior Executive Service
The Senior Executive Service is a paygrade in the civil service of the United States federal government, somewhat analogous to the ranks of general or admiral in the U.S. armed forces...
.
The ASD(APSA) is also supported by a Principal Deputy, or PDASD, who helps oversee the three DASDs and the office's country/sub-regional desks.
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretaries for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs
| Name | Tenure | ASD(APSA) Served Under | USD(P) Served Under | SecDef(s) Served Under | President(s) Served Under |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Shivers | June 2008 - January 2009 | James J. Shinn | 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... |
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.... |
| Derek J. Mitchell | April 2009 - | Wallace "Chip" Gregson | 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... |
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.| Name | Tenure | ASD(APSA) Served Under | USD(P) Served Under | SecDef(s) Served Under | President(s) Served Under |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active Offices | |||||
| DASD(APSA), East Asia | |||||
| David Samuel Sedney | 2007 - 2009 | James J. Shinn | 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... |
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.... |
| Rolfe M. Schiffer | May 6, 2009 - | Wallace "Chip" Gregson | 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... |
| DASD(APSA), South and Southeast Asia | |||||
| James Clad | March 2007 - January 2009 | James J. Shinn | 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... |
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.... |
| Robert Scher | May 6, 2009 - | Wallace "Chip" Gregson | 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... |
| DASD(APSA), Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Central Asia | |||||
| David Samuel Sedney | 2009 - | Wallace "Chip" Gregson | 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... |
| Defunct Offices | |||||
| DASD(APSA), Central Asia | |||||
| Mitchell Shivers | 2007 - June 2008 | James J. Shinn | 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... |
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.... |