Assistant Secretary of Defense is a title used for many high-level executive positions in the Office of the Secretary of Defense within the U.S. Department of Defense. The Assistant Secretary of Defense title is junior to Under Secretary of Defense. Reorganization Plan No. 6 of 30 June 1953 increased the number of assistant secretaries. The list of Assistant Secretaries of Defense includes:
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, originally established as the Assistant to the Secretary (Director, Office of Public Information) by Secretary James V. Forrestal in July 1948.
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, originally established in 1949 as the Chairman, Armed Forces Medical Policy Council. The position has been abolished and restored several times.
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Americas' Security Affairs, established in 2003
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Global Strategic Affairs
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, mandated by the Department of Defense Authorization Act of 1984 (P.L. 98-94, passed 24 September 1983).
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict & Interdependent Capabilities
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Internal Communications
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Networks & Information Integration / Chief Information Officer
Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering / Chief Technology Officer
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Logistics and Materiel Readiness
The deputy to an Assistant Secretary of Defense has the title Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense.
There are also several assistant secretaries in each of the three Military Departments: Department of the Army, Department of the Navy, and the Department of the Air Force.
Assistant Secretary of the Army
Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Assistant Secretary of the Air Force
