Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict
{{Short description|American government civilian advisor}}
{{Infobox Political post
| post = United States
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict
| insignia = File:Emblem of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict.png
| insigniasize =
| insigniacaption = Seal of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict
| flag = Flag of an U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense.svg
| flagsize = 170
| flagborder = yes
| flagcaption = Flag of an Assistant Secretary of Defense
| department = United States Department of Defense
| style =
| imagesize =
| image = Colby C. Jenkins.jpg
| incumbent = Colby Jenkins
| acting = yes
| incumbentsince = January 20, 2025
| appointer = The President
| appointer_qualified = with Senate advice and consent
| termlength = Appointed
| reports_to = United States Secretary of Defense
| formation =
| salary =
| inaugural =
| website = [https://www.defense.gov Official website]
}}
The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low-Intensity Conflict or ASD(SO/LIC), is the principal civilian advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Defense on special operations and low-intensity conflict matters. Located within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy (USD(P)), the ASD(SO/LIC) is responsible primarily for the overall supervision (to include oversight of policy and resources) of special operations and low-intensity conflict activities. These activities, according to USSOCOM's 2007 Posture Statement, include counterterrorism; unconventional warfare; direct action; special reconnaissance; foreign internal defense; civil affairs, information operations, psychological operations, and counterproliferation of WMD.Section 167 of Title 10 USC provides a very similar but not identical list of SOF activities.
In addition to policy oversight for special operations and stability operations capabilities, the ASD(SO/LIC) has policy oversight for strategic capabilities and force transformation and resources. This includes oversight of capability development to include general-purpose forces, space and information capabilities, nuclear and conventional strike capabilities, and missile defense. As such, ASD(SO/LIC), after the Secretary and Deputy Secretary, will be the principal official charged with oversight over all warfighting capabilities within the senior management of the Department of Defense. The ASD(SO/LIC) is considered part of the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
Structure
This position was mandated by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1987 (P.L. 99-661, passed 14 November 1986). The position was officially established on 4 January 1988, by Defense Directive 5138.3. The post's responsibilities for strategic capabilities and forces transformation were added as a result of USD(P) Eric Edelman's 2006 reorganization of the DoD policy office.{{cite web |first=Jim |last=Garamone |title=Pentagon to Reorganize Policy Shop, Improve Cooperation |publisher=American Forces Information Service |date=29 August 2006 |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2006/08/mil-060829-afps01.htm}}
The ASD(SO/LIC) is supported in his/her work by three Deputy Assistant Secretaries of Defense:
- DASD, Special Operations and Combating Terrorism
- DASD, Partnership Strategy and Stability Operations
- DASD, Counternarcotics and Global Threats
- Executive Director for the Office of Information Operations Policy
In November 2020, Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller announced that Christopher Maier, director of the wide ranging DoD Defeat-ISIS Task Force had resigned, and that the task-force director’s duties and responsibilities will be absorbed by the Office of the ASD (SO/LIC) and regional staffs of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy.{{Cite web|author=Ryan Browne|title=Pentagon shake-up continues as another top official departs|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/30/politics/pentagon-official-departs/index.html|access-date=2020-12-01|website=CNN}}
Office holders
The table below includes both the various titles of this post over time, as well as all the holders of those offices.
Notes
References
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