Assistant Secretary of Defense for Global Strategic Affairs The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Global Strategic Affairs , or ASD ( GSA ) , is a position in the Office of the Secretary of Defense that develops policy for the Secretary on countering weapons of mass destruction , nuclear forces and missile defense , cyber security and space issues . ASD ( GSA ) is currently tasked with three major congressionally mandated reviews : the Nuclear Posture Review , the Ballistic Missile Defense Review , and the Space Posture Review . In addition , GSA is the Defense Department ' s lead in developing the DoD ' s cybersecurity strategy , and for crafting the policy for the standup of the new Cyber Command . ASD ( GSA ) answers to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy . Although ASD ( GSA ) is a recently configured office , its functional responsibilities can be traced back in part to a position eliminated in early 2008 , the ' Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy " The office also directs the Defense Technology Security Administration . History . The ASD ( GSA ) can trace its origins partially back to a related office , the " Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy " , or ASD ( ISP ) . This position was created in 1981 , and through the end of the George H . W . Bush administration was responsible for all political - military activity involving NATO , other European countries , and the USSR , responsibilities now under the " Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs " . The exact title and responsibilities of the ASD ( ISP ) have changed over time , but the office typically dealt with nuclear counterproliferation , arms control and space policy . For example , in March 2005 , DoD Directive 5111 . 14 designated the ASD ( ISP ) as " the principal advisor to the Secretary of Defense and the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy ( USD ( P ) ) on political / military policy and issues of DOD interest that relate to select foreign regions and nations and to the functional areas of arms control , space , technology and information security , nonproliferation and counterproliferation . " According to his NATO biography , Peter Flory , who held the position of ASD ( ISP ) from mid - 2005 to late 2006 , " served as the principal advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and the Secretary of Defense on nonproliferation and counterproliferation , security cooperation with nations of Europe , Eurasia , and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization ; oversight over the Cooperative Threat Reduction Program and arms control negotiations ; and policy for nuclear and advanced non - nuclear deterrent forces , space - related capabilities , and ballistic missile defenses . " Following Flory ' s departure , ASD ( ISP ) appears to have been scrapped , since no further appointees have been made to that position . In 2008 , a new post , the " Assistant Secretary of Defense for Global Security Affairs " was created within USD ( P ) . The Global Security Affairs office was responsible for defense - related issues concerning building the capability of partners and allies ; coalition affairs ; technology security policy ; security cooperation ; counternarcotics , counterproliferation , and countering global threats ; detainee affairs ; and POW / MIA issues . Under the Obama Administration , ASD for Global Security Affairs was retitled " Assistant Secretary of Defense for Global Strategic Affairs " , or ASD ( GSA ) . With respect to regional defense policy toward Europe and Eurasia , the ASD ( ISP ) ' s responsibilities seem to have been absorbed by the ASD ( ISA ) and " Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian & Pacific Security Affairs " , respectively . Meanwhile , the ASD ( GSA ) is now largely responsible for the functional elements of the ASD ( ISP ) ' s former portfolio , including countering Weapons of Mass Destruction , nuclear & missile defense policy , and space policy , in addition to the new responsibility of cyber policy . Defense Technology Security Administration . The Defense Technology Security Administration ( DTSA ) creates and enforces Department of Defense technology security policies related to international transfers of defense - related goods , services , and technologies . DTSA authorizes foreign access to U . S . military technology or foreign purchases of American companies . DTSA also serves as a reviewing agency for the export licensing of dual - use commodities and provides technical and policy assessments on export license applications .