# Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities

The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities (ASD(SPC)) is a position in the United States Department of Defense responsible for the overall supervision of DoD policy for strategy, capabilities, forces and contingency plans necessary to implement the national defense strategy. The officeholder reports to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy.

## History

On January 9, 2015 Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert O. Work established the position of Assistant Secretary of Defense (Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities) in accordance with section 906 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010, as amended, PL 111-84, which eliminated all nonpresidentially appointed, Senate-confirmed Deputy Under Secretaries of Defense. The Assistant Secretary of Defense (Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities) replaced and assumed the responsibilities of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Strategy, Plans, and Forces). The Assistant Secretary of Defense (Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities) gained responsibility for advising the Secretary of Defense and the Under Secretary of Defense (Policy) on the development of national security and defense strategy, military planning, budgeting, and various force development, force management, and corporate processes. This position also assumed responsibility for security cooperation, previously managed by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict.

## Structure

The ASD (SPC) is supported by four Deputy Assistant Secretaries (DASDs), each with coverage of a different mission area:
* Deputy assistant secretary of defense for force development and emerging capabilities
* Deputy assistant secretary of defense for global partnerships
* Deputy assistant secretary of defense for plans and posture
* Deputy assistant secretary of defense for strategy

## Office holders

The table below includes the holders of this office.
Assistant Secretaries of Defense (Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities) :
| Name | Tenure | SecDef(s) Served Under | President(s) Served Under |
| Robert Scher | January 9, 2015 – January 20, 2017 | Chuck Hagel Ash Carter | Barack Obama |
| Thomas Harvey (Acting) | January 20, 2017 – August 30, 2018 | Jim Mattis | Donald Trump |
| James H. Anderson | August 30, 2018 – July 20, 2019 | Jim Mattis | Donald Trump |
| Victorino Mercado (Performing the Duties Of) | July 20, 2019 – March 2, 2020 | Jim Mattis Mark Esper | Donald Trump |
| James H. Anderson | March 2, 2020 – June 8, 2020 | Mark Esper | Donald Trump |
| Victorino Mercado (Performing the Duties Of) | June 8, 2020 – January 20, 2021 | Mark Esper | Donald Trump |
| Melissa Dalton (Acting) | January 20, 2021 – August 23, 2021 | Lloyd Austin | Joe Biden |
| Mara Karlin | August 23, 2021 – December 20, 2023 | Lloyd Austin | Joe Biden |
| Melissa Dalton (Acting) | August 23, 2021 – February 14, 2022 | Lloyd Austin | Joe Biden |
| Madeline Mortelmans (Acting) | December 20, 2023 – January 20, 2025 | Lloyd Austin | Joe Biden |
| Austin Dahmer (Acting) | January 22, 2025 – March 17, 2025 | Pete Hegseth | Donald Trump |
| Madeline Mortelmans (Acting) | March 17, 2025 – Present | Pete Hegseth | Donald Trump |