Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs


The assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs, or ASD , is the principal advisor to the [Under Secretary of Defense for Policy|under United States Secretary of Defense|secretary of defense for policy] and the secretary of defense on international security strategy and policy on issues of DoD interest that relate to the governments and defense establishments of the nations and international organizations within the Indo-Pacific region. It primarily includes the entire region from India to Japan, and the region where ASEAN is located. The position was originally titled assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific security affairs but was renamed by the first Trump administration alongside the renaming of the United States Indo-Pacific Command.
WWW policy.defense.gov/OUSDP-...

Officeholders

NameTenureSecDef served underPresident served under
James J. ShinnDecember 19, 2007 – November 14, 2008Robert M. GatesGeorge W. Bush
Mitchell Shivers November 14, 2008 – January 20, 2009Robert M. GatesGeorge W. Bush
Derek Mitchell April 1, 2009 – May 12, 2009Robert M. GatesBarack Obama
Lieutenant General Wallace "Chip" Gregson May 13, 2009 – April 1, 2011Robert M. GatesBarack Obama
Derek Mitchell April 2, 2011 – August 12, 2011Robert M. Gates
Leon Panetta		Barack Obama
Peter R. Lavoy August 15, 2011 – May 8, 2012Leon PanettaBarack Obama
Mark LippertMay 9, 2012 – April 24, 2013Leon Panetta
Chuck Hagel		Barack Obama
Peter R. Lavoy May 1, 2013 – January 10, 2014Chuck HagelBarack Obama
David B. ShearJuly 17, 2014 – June 10, 2016Chuck Hagel
Ashton Carter		Barack Obama
Kelly E. Magsamen June 10, 2016 – January 20, 2017Ashton CarterBarack Obama
David F. Helvey January 20, 2017 – December 29, 2017James MattisDonald Trump
Randall SchriverDecember 29, 2017 – December 31, 2019James Mattis
Mark Esper		Donald Trump
David F. Helvey January 1, 2020 – June 14, 2021Mark EsperDonald Trump
David F. Helvey January 1, 2020 – June 14, 2021Lloyd AustinJoe Biden
Kenneth Handelman June 14, 2021 - July 25, 2021Lloyd AustinJoe Biden
Ely RatnerJuly 25, 2021 – January 20, 2025Lloyd AustinJoe Biden
John Noh January 22, 2025 – June 2, 2025Pete HegsethDonald Trump
Jedidiah Royal June 2, 2025 – December 29, 2025Pete HegsethDonald Trump
John NohDecember 29, 2025 – PresentPete HegsethDonald Trump

Role and responsibilities

Like the assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs, the ASD is responsible for oversight of security cooperation programs and foreign military sales programs within the regions under its supervision. The ASD also works closely with the United States Indo-Pacific Command, United States Central Command, and the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies. Finally, the ASD represents the USD and the secretary of defense in interagency policy deliberations and international negotiations related to the Asia-Pacific region. The Office of the ASD is an entity of the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

Structure

This office was created in 2007. It is composed of at least six country/sub-regional desks, each staffed by a senior country director. Most desks are also supported by an assistant country director or group of country directors. As of February 2011, the desks listed on the APSA website included:
However, this list must be incomplete, since the office also has oversight of programs in Central Asia, Afghanistan and Pakistan, as well as India and other Asian nations.
Depending on their areas of coverage, the country/sub-regional desks report to four different deputy assistant secretaries:
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 oversee the DASDs and the office's country/sub-regional desks.

Principal deputy assistant secretaries for Asian and Pacific security affairs/Indo-Pacific security affairs

NameTenureASD served underUSD served underSecDef served underPresident served under
Mitchell ShiversJune 2008 – January 2009James J. ShinnEric S. EdelmanRobert M. GatesGeorge W. Bush
Derek MitchellApril 2009 – August 2011Wallace "Chip" GregsonMichèle FlournoyRobert M. Gates
Leon Panetta		Barack Obama
Dr. Peter R. LavoyAugust 2011 – February 2014Mark LippertMichèle Flournoy
James N. Miller		Leon PanettaBarack Obama
Kelly E. MagsamenFebruary 2014 – January 2017David B. ShearMichael D. Lumpkin
Christine E. Wormuth
Brian P. McKeon		Ashton CarterBarack Obama
David F. Helvey June 2016 – January 2017Kelly E. Magsamen Brian P. McKeonAshton CarterBarack Obama
David F. HelveyJanuary 2017 – May 2021David F. Helvey
Randall G. Schriver		Robert Karem
David Trachtenberg
John C. Rood		James MattisDonald Trump
David F. HelveyJanuary 2017 – May 2021Colin KahlLloyd AustinJoe Biden

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

The list below details both the current DASD and previous DASD posts in this office.