Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs

Responsibilities

According to a description provided by the Office of the USD (P), the ASD (ISA) shall:

• Conduct and manage day-to-day, multilateral, regional, and bilateral defense relations with all foreign governments in assigned areas of responsibility.
• Develop regional security and defense strategy and policy, provide advice, and issue guidance to translate global and functional policies into regional-specific country strategies, and oversee their implementation in coordination with cognizant DoD officials.
• For countries in assigned areas of responsibility, develop, coordinate, and oversee the implementation of:
  • Defense security policy and management of defense and military relations
  • Policy, plans, and activities, as well as uses of DoD resources engaged in encouraging the development of military capabilities, constitutional democracy and respect for human rights, including civilian control of the military, institutionalizing an appropriate role for the military in a constitutional democracy, and encouraging the development of standards of military professionalism that promote respect for elected civilian authorities and human rights.
  • DoD policy and recommendations concerning security cooperation programs and organizations, foreign military sales, military education and training, and other missions pertaining to security cooperation program relationships.
• Develop, coordinate, and oversee the implementation of policy related to NATO, Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, the Partnership for Peace, and other institutions with a security dimension including the European Union, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and the African Union.
• Provide policy guidance and oversight to the defense advisor, U.S. mission to NATO, and representative of the secretary of defense representative to the OSCE on behalf of the under secretary of defense for policy. Promote coordination, cooperation, and joint planning on nuclear policy and strategy with NATO allies, in coordination with the assistant secretary of defense for special operations/low intensity conflict and interdependent capabilities.
• Support the NATO Nuclear Planning Group and its subordinate body, the High Level Group and chair the High Level Group.
• Represent the under secretary of defense for policy and the secretary of defense in interagency policy deliberations and international negotiations dealing with assigned areas of responsibility.
• Monitor and provide policy recommendations related to the conduct of U.S. military operations in the countries or regions of focus or on the participation of such countries in operations outside of the region.
• Perform such other functions as the under secretary of defense for policy or the secretary of defense may prescribe.

Officeholders

The table below includes both the various titles of this post over time, as well as all the holders of those offices.

Structure

This office can trace its roots back to the early days of the modern national security establishment. It was created in 1949, two years after the National Security Act established the Department of Defense.

The ASD (ISA) is supported by seven deputy assistant secretaries (DASDs), each with coverage of a different region or international organization. The DASDs manage "principal directors" who in turn oversee "country directors" with more narrow geographic portfolios:

• Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs
• Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Europe and NATO
• Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Middle East and Central Asia
• Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine, & Eurasia
• Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Western Hemisphere
• Secretary of Defense Representative in the [[List of United States Permanent Representatives to NATO| U.S. Mission to NATO]]
• Secretary of Defense Representative to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe

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 (ISA) is also supported by a principal deputy, or PDASD, who helps manage the day-to-day operations.

Principal deputy assistant secretaries for international security affairs

Deputy assistant secretaries of defense reporting to the ASD (ISA)

The list below details the current and former DASDs in this office.

References

References

1. [https://history.defense.gov/Portals/70/Documents/key_officials/KeyOfficials-2025-08-27.pdf?ver=grt9MsrPplbdUcq_2L44ng%3D%3D United States Department of Defense]
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