Assistant Secretary of State (A/S) is a title used for many executive positions in the United States Department of State, ranking below the under secretaries. A set of six assistant secretaries reporting to the under secretary of state for political affairs manage diplomatic missions within their designated geographic regions, plus one assistant secretary dealing with international organizations and one equivalent as the coordinator/ambassador at large for counterterrorism. Assistant secretaries usually manage individual bureaus of the Department of State. When the manager of a bureau or another agency holds a title other than assistant secretary, such as "director," it can be said to be of "assistant secretary equivalent rank." Assistant secretaries typically have a set of deputies, referred to as deputy assistant secretaries (DAS).
History From 1853 until 1913, the assistant secretary of state was the second-ranking official within the U.S. Department of State. Prior to 1853, the chief clerk was the second-ranking officer, and after 1913, the counselor was the second-ranking position, though the assistant secretary continued to be a position until 1924. From 1867, the assistant secretary of state was assisted by a second assistant secretary of state, and from 1875, by a third assistant secretary of state. Specific duties of the incumbents varied over the years and included such responsibilities as supervising the Diplomatic and Consular Bureaus, general supervision of correspondence, consular appointments, administration of the Department, and supervision of economic matters and various geographic divisions.
In 1968, Barbara M. Watson became the first woman and first African-American woman to serve as an assistant secretary of state when confirmed as the Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs.
Overview Today, the title of the second-ranking position at the department is the deputy secretary of state, with the next tier of State Department officials bearing the rank of under secretary of state.
The following is a list of current offices bearing the title of "assistant secretary of state":
Reporting directly to the secretary of state: Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs Reporting to the under secretary of state for political affairs: Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Reporting to the under secretary of state for management: Assistant Secretary of State for Administration Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security Reporting to the under secretary of state for economic affairs: Assistant Secretary of State for Economic, Energy and Business Affairs Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Reporting to the under secretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs: Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs Reporting to the under secretary of state for arms control and international security: Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Nonproliferation Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Assistant Secretary of State for Emerging Threats Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Reporting to the under secretary of state for foreign assistance, humanitarian affairs and religious freedom: Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration Assistant Secretary of State for Global Health Security and Diplomacy
The following roles also possess a rank equivalent to assistant secretary: Chief of Protocol of the United States, with the rank of ambassador Coordinator for Counterterrorism, with the rank and status of ambassador-at-large Special Assistant to the Secretary and Executive Secretary of the Department Inspector General of the Department of State Legal Adviser Director General of the Foreign Service and Director of Global Talent Director, Policy Planning Staff Ambassador at Large for Cyberspace and Digital Policy Ambassador at Large for Global Women's Issues Ambassador at Large for Global Criminal Justice Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom Ambassador at Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons Ambassador at Large for Global Health Security and Diplomacy Director of the Foreign Service Institute Science and Technology Advisor to the Secretary of State Chief Information Officer of the Department Director, Office of Foreign Missions, with rank of ambassador Director of Budget and Planning Comptroller of the Department Chief Economist of the Department Director Foreign Assistance Chief Medical Officer and Designated Agency Safety and Health Official Director, Office of Civil Rights Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Director, Office of Management Strategy and Solutions Director of Overseas Buildings Operations
Current assistant secretaries of state OfficeIncumbentTerm began Reporting to the under secretary of state for political affairs Assistant Secretary of State for African AffairsFrank GarciaJune 1, 2026Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific AffairsMichael G. DeSombreOctober 10, 2025Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian AffairsBrendan HanrahanAugust 24, 2026Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern AffairsDonald BlomeAugust 17, 2026Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian AffairsS. Paul KapurOctober 22, 2025Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere AffairsJuan Pablo SeguraAugust 14, 2026Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization AffairsMcCoy PittJanuary 20, 2025 Reporting to the under secretary of state for economic growth, energy, and the environment Assistant Secretary of State for Economic, Energy, and Business AffairsHugo Yue-Ho YonSeptember 1, 2026Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific AffairsWesley R. BrooksMay 28, 2026 Reporting to the under secretary of state for arms control and international security Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control and NonproliferationChristopher YeawDecember 30, 2025Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military AffairsFleet WhiteAugust 14, 2026Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement AffairsFrank Cartwright WeilandMay 22, 2026Assistant Secretary of State for Emerging ThreatsJoshua YoungOctober 2, 2026Coordinator for CounterterrorismGregory LoGerfoMay 21, 2026 Reporting to the under secretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural AffairsCatherine DillonMay 18, 2026Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public AffairsDylan JohnsonJanuary 30, 2026 Reporting to the under secretary of state for management Assistant Secretary of State for AdministrationJosé CunninghamMarch 24, 2025Assistant Secretary of State for Consular AffairsMora NamdarDecember 22, 2025Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic SecurityTodd WilcoxOctober 14, 2025Director General of the Foreign ServiceSarah McKemeyDecember 23, 2025Director of the National Foreign Affairs Training Center Reporting to the under secretary of state for foreign assistance, humanitarian affairs and religious freedom Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and LaborRiley M. BarnesOctober 10, 2025Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and MigrationAndrew VeprekJanuary 2, 2026Assistant Secretary of State for Global Health Security and DiplomacyJeffrey GrahamJanuary 21, 2025 Reporting directly to the secretary of state Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative AffairsKatherine BowlesSeptember 1, 2026Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and ResearchMichael VanceAugust 17, 2026
List of assistant secretaries of state, 1853–1937