Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities

The assistant secretary of defense for strategy, plans, and capabilities 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 in accordance with section 906 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010, as amended, PL 111-84, which eliminated all non-presidentially appointed, Senate-confirmed deputy under secretaries of defense. The assistant secretary of defense replaced and assumed the responsibilities of the deputy under secretary of defense. The assistant secretary of defense gained responsibility for advising the secretary of defense and the under secretary of defense 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-intesinty conflict.

The ASD is supported by four deputy assistant secretaries, each with coverage of a different mission area:

The table below includes the holders of this office.