Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs

The assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs, or ASD (IPSA), is the principal advisor to the under secretary of defense for policy (USD(P)) 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. The Heritage Foundation June 26, 2019

Officeholders

+ Assistant secretaries of defense (Asian and Pacific security affairs/Indo-Pacific security affairs) Name Tenure SecDef(s) served under President(s) served under James J. Shinn December 19, 2007 – November 14, 2008 Robert M. Gates George W. Bush Mitchell Shivers (Acting) November 14, 2008 – January 20, 2009 Derek Mitchell (Acting) April 1, 2009 – May 12, 2009 Robert M. Gates Barack Obama Lieutenant General Wallace "Chip" Gregson (Ret.) May 13, 2009 – April 1, 2011 Robert M. Gates Derek Mitchell (Acting) April 2, 2011 – August 12, 2011 Robert M. GatesLeon Panetta Peter R. Lavoy (Acting) August 15, 2011 – May 8, 2012 Leon Panetta Mark Lippert May 9, 2012 – April 24, 2013 Leon PanettaChuck Hagel Peter R. Lavoy (Acting) May 1, 2013 – January 10, 2014 Chuck HagelDavid B. Shear July 17, 2014 – June 10, 2016 Chuck HagelAshton CarterKelly E. Magsamen (Acting) June 10, 2016 – January 20, 2017 Ashton CarterDavid F. Helvey (Acting) January 20, 2017 – December 29, 2017 James Mattis Donald Trump Randall Schriver December 29, 2017 – December 31, 2019 James MattisMark Esper David F. Helvey (Acting) January 1, 2020 – June 14, 2021 Mark Esper Lloyd Austin Joe BidenKenneth Handelman (acting)June 14, 2021 - July 25, 2021Lloyd AustinEly RatnerJuly 25, 2021 – January 20, 2025Lloyd AustinJohn Noh (acting)January 22, 2025 – June 2, 2025Pete Hegseth Donald Trump Jedidiah Royal (acting)June 2, 2025 – December 29, 2025John Noh December 29, 2025 – Present

Role and responsibilities Like the assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs, the ASD (IPSA) is responsible for oversight of security cooperation programs and foreign military sales programs within the regions under its supervision. The ASD (IPSA) 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 (IPSA) represents the USD(P) and the secretary of defense in interagency policy deliberations and international negotiations related to the Asia-Pacific region. The Office of the ASD (IPSA) 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:

Australia, New Zealand, and South Pacific Islands Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam China, Hong Kong, Mongolia, Taiwan Japan Korea Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, East Timor

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.John T. Bennett, "DoD Shakes Up Policy Shop," Defense News, 13 July 2009,

Depending on their areas of coverage, the country/sub-regional desks report to four different deputy assistant secretaries: DASD East Asia DASD China DASD South & Southeast Asia DASD Afghanistan, Pakistan and Central Asia.

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 (APSA) 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

Name Tenure ASD (APSA) served under USD(P) served under SecDef(s) served under President(s) served under Mitchell Shivers June 2008 – January 2009 James J. Shinn Eric S. Edelman Robert M. Gates George W. Bush Derek Mitchell April 2009 – August 2011 Wallace "Chip" Gregson Michèle Flournoy Robert M. GatesLeon Panetta Barack Obama Dr. Peter R. Lavoy August 2011 – February 2014 Mark Lippert Michèle FlournoyJames N. Miller Leon Panetta Barack Obama Kelly E. Magsamen February 2014 – January 2017 David B. Shear Michael D. LumpkinChristine E. WormuthBrian P. McKeon Ashton Carter Barack Obama David F. Helvey (acting) June 2016 – January 2017 Kelly E. Magsamen (acting) Brian P. McKeon Ashton Carter Barack Obama David F. Helvey January 2017 – May 2021 David F. Helvey (acting) Randall G. Schriver Robert Karem (acting) David Trachtenberg (acting)John C. Rood James Mattis Donald TrumpColin 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.

Name Tenure ASD (APSA) served under USD(P) served under SecDef(s) served under President(s) served under Active offices DASD (APSA), East Asia David Samuel Sedney 2007–2009 James J. ShinnDerek Mitchell Eric S. Edelman Robert M. Gates George W. Bush R. Michael Schiffer May 6, 2009 – 2012 Wallace "Chip" GregsonDerek Mitchell Michele Flournoy Robert M. Gates Barack ObamaDavid Helvey2013–2015David ShearJames N. Miller Michael D. Lumpkin

Christine E. WormuthChuck Hagel Ash CarterBarack ObamaAbraham M. Denmark2015 – January 2017David Shear Kelly E. MagsamenBrian P. MckeonAshton CarterBarack ObamaBGen Roberta L. Shea July 2017 – May 2019David F. HelveyRobert KaremJoseph D. KernanJames MattisMark EsperDonald TrumpHeino KlinckAugust 2019 – january 2021Randall Schriver David F. HelveyJoseph D. KernanMark EsperDonald TrumpSiddharth Mohandas2021 - PresentDavid F. Helvey Ely RatnerColin KahlLloyd AustinJoe Biden DASD (APSA), China Chad Sbragia June 2019 – January 2021 Randall SchriverDavid F. Helvey Joseph D. Kernan Mark Esper Donald TrumpMichael S. ChaseFebruary 2021 - PresentDavid F. Helvey Ely RatnerColin KahlLloyd AustinJoe Biden DASD (APSA), South and Southeast Asia James CladJames Clad Linkedin Profile, http://www.linkedin.com/pub/james-clad/6/99a/a5b March 2007 – January 2009 James J. Shinn Eric S. Edelman Robert M. Gates George W. Bush Robert Scher May 6, 2009 – April 2012 Wallace "Chip" GregsonDerek Mitchell Michele Flournoy Robert M. Gates Barack Obama Joseph Felter July 2017 – September 2019 David F. Helvey Randall Schriver David F. Helvey Robert Karem Joseph D. Kernan James Mattis Mark Esper Donald TrumpLindsey W. Ford2021 - PresentDavid F. Helvey Ely RatnerColin KahlLloyd AustinJoe Biden DASD (APSA), Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Central Asia David Samuel Sedney 2009 – May 2013 Wallace "Chip" GregsonDerek Mitchell Michele Flournoy Robert M. Gates Barack Obama Thomas Croci February 3, 2020 – January 19, 2021 David F. Helvey Joseph D. Kernan Mark Esper Donald TrumpRebecca ZimmermanFebruary 16, 2021 - PresentDavid F. Helvey Ely RatnerColin KahlLloyd AustinJoe Biden Defunct offices DASD (APSA), Central Asia Mitchell Shivers 2007 – June 2008 James J. Shinn Eric S. Edelman Robert M. Gates George W. Bush

References

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