Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
The United States under secretary of defense for policy (USDP) 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 concerning the formation of national security and defense policy. The under secretary is normally appointed from civilian life by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate. The incumbent under secretary is Colin Kahl, who was confirmed by the Senate  on 27 April 2021, and sworn in the following day. Overview. The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy is the principal staff element of the secretary of defense in the exercise of policy development, planning, resource management, fiscal, and program evaluation responsibilities, the rank of "Under Secretary", the USD(P) is a Level III position within the Executive Schedule. Reporting officials. Officials reporting to the USD(P) include: Strategy, Plans, & Capabilities. The assistant secretary of defense for strategy, plans, and capabilities (ASD(SPC)) is responsible for national security and defense strategy, leading the National Defense Strategy, nuclear deterrence and missile  defense policy, security cooperation plans and policies, and force design and development planning. Mission: International Security Affairs. The assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs (ASD(ISA)) is responsible for international security strategy, defense policy, and oversight of security cooperation programs and foreign military sales programs relating to Europe, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Russia, Eurasia, the Middle East, Africa, and the Western Hemisphere. Homeland Defense & Global Security. The assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and the assistant secretary of defense for global strategic affairs (AD(HDGS)) are responsible for the policy, strategy, and implementation guidance for national and global  security issues across countering weapons of mass destruction, cyber operations, homeland defense activities, antiterrorism, continuity of government and mission assurance, defense support to civil authorities, and space-related matters. The AD(HDGS) is also responsible for the Protected Critical Infrastructure Program (PCII), the Domestic Preparedness Support Initiative, and the Defense Critical Infrastructure Program (DCIP). Special Operations & Low Intensity Conflict. The assistant secretary of defense for special operations/low-intensity conflict (ASD(SO/LIC)) is responsible for the policy, resources, strategic capabilities and force transformation, and oversight of special operations and low-intensity conflict matters of the United States Department of Defense across  counterterrorism, unconventional warfare, direct action, special reconnaissance, foreign internal defense, civil affairs, information and psychological operations, and counterproliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Indo-Pacific Security Affairs. The assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs (ASD(IPSA)) is responsible for international security strategy, defense policy, and oversight of security cooperation programs relating to the Asia-Pacific region. Space Policy. The assistant secretary of defense for space policy (ASD(SP)) is responsible for the overall supervision of DoD policy for space warfighting. Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. The director of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency is responsible for the personnel  recovery of United States Department of Defense personnel who are listed as prisoners of war (POW) or missing in action (MIA), from all past wars and conflicts around the world. Defense Security Cooperation Agency. The director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency is responsible for providing allies and partner nations with financial and technical assistance, transfer of defense matériel, training, and the promotion of military-to-military contacts. Defense Technology Security Administration. The director of the Defense Technology Security Administration is responsible for the formulation and enforcement of technology security policies related to international transfers of defense-related goods, services , and technologies. Principal Deputy. The Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy is the chief staff assistant to the USD(P). Originally established as the "Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Policy)" by the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 1992–93 (P.L. 102–190), the post was re-designated "Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Policy)", or PDUSD(P) in December 1999 by DoD Directive 5111.3. The PDUSD(P) provides advice and assistance to the Secretary of Defense, Deputy Secretary of Defense, and USD(P) on national security policy, military strategy, and defense policy.