Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Hemispheric Affairs


The assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and hemispheric affairs, or ASD , is responsible for defense continuity and mission assurance; homeland defense and defense support of civil authorities; Arctic and global resilience; and U.S. defense and security policy for Canada, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America.
The position was established by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003. In particular, the ASD is responsible for homeland preparedness, oversight of the two combatant commands that cover North and South America, and the transfer of technologies to homeland security use, pursuant to Section 1401 of the 2003 DOD Authorization Act. The ASD reports to the [Under Secretary of Defense for Policy|under United States Secretary of Defense|secretary of defense for policy].

Precedent

At the end of the Eisenhower administration, a wide-ranging federal reorganization transferred to the president the civil defense responsibilities and authorities formerly assigned to the Federal Civil Defense Administration. In Executive Order 10952, the president delegated these functions to the secretary of defense. The SecDef then created the post of Assistant Secretary of Defense on August 31, 1961, to help manage these responsibilities. Only one man, Steuart L. Pittman, ever held this post. His term in office ran September 20, 1961 - April 1, 1964, at which time the post was abolished.
The Office of Civil Defense then transitioned to the secretary of the Army, but responsibility for civil defense was quickly assigned to the new Defense Civil Preparedness Agency. After a Carter administration reorganization led to the dissolution of DCPA in July 1979, the director of the new Federal Emergency Management Agency assumed responsibility for civil defense. Nevertheless, DoD continued to maintain and develop resources for civil defense, but with dispersed, overlapping, and informal authorities for growing and coordinating them. The ASD now provides a single point of contact at DoD for FEMA, state and local disaster management agencies, and executive policymakers in the event that these resources need to be enhanced or mobilized.

Structure

The ASD is supported by four deputy assistant secretaries, each with coverage of a different mission area:
  • Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Arctic and Global Resilience
  • Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Defense Continuity and Mission Assurance
  • Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense Integration & Defense Support of Civil Authorities
  • Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Western Hemisphere Affairs
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 is also supported by a principal deputy, or PDASD, who helps manage the day-to-day operations.

List of officeholders

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