Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs

Last updated

In the United States military, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs(ASD (M&RA)), formerly Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs(ASD (RA)) [1] serves as Principal Staff Assistant and advisor to the Secretary of Defense, Deputy Secretary of Defense and Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, with responsibility for "overall policies and procedures of [U.S.] Total Force manpower, personnel and reserve affairs," [2] including the Army National Guard, Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve and Coast Guard Reserve. The ASD (M&RA) reports directly to the Under Secretary of Defense (P&R) and exercises authority, direction, and control over the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. [3] On September 16, 2022, President Biden announced his intent to nominate Ronald Keohane to the position. [4]

Contents

Responsibilities

According to a Statement of Intent signed by the ASD(M&RA), the purpose of the office is "to set the conditions for a sustainable, seamlessly integrated and complementary total force." To do so, the ASD(M&RA) seeks to "proactively deliver credible advice and information about the capabilities of the reserve components," and "develop the policies and resources necessary to fully exploit those capabilities." [5] The language of these statements is precise and deliberate. As the Statement of Intent explains:

The Statement of Intent also sets out a metric for this office's performance: "Our success will be measured by the degree to which we have advanced a culture of mutual appreciation and confidence in both the active and reserve components." [5]

History

This position was mandated by the Department of Defense Authorization Act of 1984 (P.L. 98-94, passed 24 September 1983), and established by Defense Directive 5125.1, signed 12 January 1984. The reserve affairs functions were transferred in from the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Manpower, Reserve Affairs, and Logistics). [6]

Section 902 of the Carl Levin and Howard P. "Buck" McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (P.L. 113-291, 19 December 2014) redesignated the position as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. [7]

Office holders

Assistant Secretaries of Defense for Manpower & Reserve Affairs (and preceding offices) [3]
NameTenureSecDef(s) Served UnderPresident(s) Served Under
Jim Webb May 3, 1984 - April 10, 1987 Caspar W. Weinberger Ronald Reagan
Stephen M. DuncanOctober 26, 1987 - January 20, 1993 Caspar W. Weinberger
Frank C. Carlucci III
William H. Taft IV (Acting)
Richard B. Cheney 		Ronald Reagan
George H. W. Bush
Deborah R. Lee June 1, 1993 - April 11, 1998 Leslie Aspin, Jr.
William J. Perry
William S. Cohen 		Bill Clinton
Charles L. CraginApril 12, 1998 - August 3, 1999 (Acting)
August 4, 1999 - May 31, 2001 (PDASD, in charge)		 William S. Cohen
Donald H. Rumsfeld 		Bill Clinton
George W. Bush
Thomas F. Hall October 9, 2002 - April 2009 Donald H. Rumsfeld
Robert M. Gates 		George W. Bush
Barack Obama
Dennis M. McCarthy [8] June 25, 2009 - April 19, 2011 Robert M. Gates Barack Obama
David McGinnis (Acting)April 19, 2011 - May 24, 2012 Leon Panetta Barack Obama
Jessica L. Wright May 24, 2012 - December 31, 2013 Leon Panetta Barack Obama
Richard O. Wightman, Jr. (Acting)January 1, 2014 - August 2015 Chuck Hagel Barack Obama
Todd A. Weiler May 15, 2016 - January 20, 2017 Ashton Carter Barack Obama
Stephanie Barna (Acting)January 20, 2017 - July 30, 2018 James Mattis Donald Trump
Virginia S. Penrod (Acting)July 31, 2018 - October 22, 2018 James Mattis Donald Trump
James N. Stewart October 22, 2018 - December 13, 2019 James Mattis
Mark Esper 		Donald Trump
Virginia S. Penrod (Acting/Performing the Duties of)December 13, 2019 - May 2, 2022 [9] Mark Esper
Lloyd Austin 		Donald Trump
Joe Biden
Thomas A. Constable (Performing the Duties of) [10] May 2, 2022 - April 1, 2023 Lloyd Austin Joe Biden
Grier Martin (Performing the Duties of) [11] April 1, 2023 - March 13, 2024 Lloyd Austin Joe Biden
Ronald Keohane [12] March 13, 2024 - present Lloyd Austin Joe Biden

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Secretary of the Army</span> Civilian official who oversees the Army

The secretary of the Army is a senior civilian official within the United States Department of Defense, with statutory responsibility for all matters relating to the United States Army: manpower, personnel, reserve affairs, installations, environmental issues, weapons systems and equipment acquisition, communications and financial management.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Office of the Secretary of Defense</span> United States government agency management and oversight body

The Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) is a headquarters-level staff of the United States Department of Defense. It is the principal civilian staff element of the U.S. Secretary of Defense, and it assists the Secretary in carrying out authority, direction and control of the Department of Defense in the exercise of policy development, planning, resource management, fiscal, and program evaluation responsibilities. OSD is the Secretary of Defense's support staff for managing the Department of Defense, and it corresponds to what the Executive Office of the President of the U.S. is to the U.S. president for managing the whole of the Executive branch of the federal government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Under Secretary of Defense for Policy</span> United States government position

The United States under secretary of defense for policy (USDP) is a high level civilian official in the United States Department of Defense. The under secretary of defense for policy is the principal staff assistant and adviser to both the secretary of defense and the deputy secretary of defense for all matters concerning the formation of national security and defense policy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness</span> United States government official

The under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness, or USD (P&R) is a high-ranking civilian position in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) within the United States Department of Defense responsible for advising the secretary and deputy secretary of defense on recruitment, career development, pay and benefits, and oversight of the state of military readiness. The under secretary is appointed from civilian life by the president and confirmed by the Senate to serve at the pleasure of the President.

The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs (ASD(HA)) is chartered under United States Department of Defense Directive (DoDD) 5136.1 in 1994. This DoDD states that the ASD(HA) is the principal advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Defense on all "DoD health policies, programs and activities." In addition to exercising oversight of all DoD health resources, ASD(HA) serves as director of the Tricare Management Activity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs</span>

The Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, or ATSD (PA), is the principal staff advisor and assistant to the Secretary of Defense and Deputy Secretary of Defense for public information, internal information, community relations, information training, and audiovisual matters in support of Department of Defense activities, leading a worldwide public affairs community of some 3,800 military and civilian personnel. The Assistant to the Secretary follows the Secretary's Principles of Information in providing Defense Department information to the public, the United States Congress and the media.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs</span>

The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs, or ASD(LA), is the head of the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs, responsible for providing support to the Secretary of Defense (SecDef) in his/her dealings with the United States Congress. In addition to serving as SecDef's legislative adviser, the ASD(LA) promotes the Department of Defense's strategy, legislative priorities, policies, and budget before Congress. In carrying out these responsibilities, the ASD(LA) directs a team of managers, action officers, and support personnel who help direct, monitor and manage communications and activities between Congress and elements of the Department of Defense. The ASD(LA) is considered a part of the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Under Secretary of the Army</span> United States government office

The United States under secretary of the Army is the second-highest-ranking civilian official of the United States Department of the Army, serving directly under the United States Secretary of the Army. The Secretary and Under Secretary, together with two military officers, the Chief of Staff of the United States Army and the Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army, constitute the senior leaders of the United States Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering</span>

The Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, abbreviated USD (R&E), is a senior official of the United States Department of Defense. The USD (R&E) is charged with the development and oversight of technology strategy for the DoD. The post has at various times had the titles Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, or Director of Defense Research and Engineering (DDR&E). The latter title has itself historically varied between the rank of under secretary and that of assistant secretary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Assistant Secretary of the Army (Manpower and Reserve Affairs)</span>

The Assistant Secretary of the Army (Manpower and Reserve Affairs), abbreviated as ASA(M&RA), is a civilian official in the United States Department of the Army.

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, the ASD(SO/LIC) is responsible primarily for the overall supervision 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.

The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Readiness and Force Management, or ASD(R&FM), is a Defense Department position responsible for civilian and military personnel policy, readiness of the force, military community and family policy and diversity management and equal opportunity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment</span>

The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment (ASD(Sustainment)), formerly known as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Logistics and Materiel Readiness (ASD(L&MR)), is one of three assistant secretaries reporting to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. Formerly the position was an adviser to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, Deputy Secretary of Defense, and Secretary of Defense on logistics and materiel readiness issues within the Department of Defense (DoD), including programs related to logistics, materiel readiness, maintenance, strategic mobility, and sustainment support. As the principal logistics official within the senior management of the DoD, the ASD(Sustainment) exercises authority, direction and control over the director of the Defense Logistics Agency. Like all other Assistant Secretaries of Defense, the ASD(Sustainment) is considered a part of the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment</span>

The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment, concurrently the Chief Sustainability Officer, and formerly known as the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Installations and Environment, provides management and oversight of military installations worldwide and manages environmental, safety, and occupational health programs for the Department of Defense (DoD). DoD's installations cover some 29,000,000 acres (120,000 km2), with 539,000 buildings and structures valued at more than $700 billion. The responsibilities of the ASD(EI&E) include the development of installation capabilities, programs, and budgets; installation-energy programs and policy; base realignment and closure; privatization of military housing and utilities; and integration of environmental needs into the weapons acquisition process. The ASD(EI&E) is also responsible for environmental management, safety and occupational health; environmental restoration at active and closing bases; conservation of natural and cultural resources; pollution prevention; environmental research and technology; fire protection; and explosives safety. The ASD(EI&E) reports to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, and is a part of the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Assistant Secretary of Defense</span>

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:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judd H. Lyons</span>

Judd Henry Lyons is a retired Army National Guard officer. After retiring from the military the rank of major general, he was appointed to the Senior Executive Service on August 7, 2017. Since 2018, he has served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense. In this role, he is the principal advisor to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs in support of the ASD's role of providing overall supervision of manpower and reserve affairs for the Department of Defense. He is responsible for both the integration of reserve affairs across the United States Department of Defense and strategic engagement on all Reserve Component matters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau</span>

The vice chief of the National Guard Bureau (VCNGB) is the second highest-ranking officer of the National Guard Bureau, which is a joint activity of the United States Department of Defense. The vice chief is also the second in charge of the National Guard; which is a joint reserve component of the United States Army and the United States Air Force. The vice chief serves as the principal advisor to the chief of the National Guard Bureau and the secretary of defense, through the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on matters involving non-federalized National Guard forces and on other matters as determined by the United States Secretary of Defense. The vice chief also serves as the principal adviser to the secretary of the Army, the secretary of the Air Force, the chief of staff of the Army, and the chief of staff of the Air Force, on matters relating to federalized forces of the United States National Guard and its sub-components; the Army National Guard, and the Air National Guard.

The Space National Guard is the proposed National Guard component of the United States Space Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gabe Camarillo</span> American attorney and government official (born 1976)

Gabriel Omar Camarillo is an American attorney who has served as the 35th under secretary of the Army in the Biden administration since February 8, 2022. He previously served as Assistant Secretary of the Air Force from 2015 to 2017 during the Obama administration.

References

  1. ↑ "10 U.S. Code § 138 - Assistant Secretaries of Defense".
  2. ↑ "Inside M&RA".
  3. 1 2 "Department of Defense Key Officials" (PDF). Historical Office, OSD. 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2011-02-01.
  4. ↑ "President Biden Announces Key Nominees". 16 September 2022.
  5. 1 2 "Manpower & Reserve Affairs" (PDF).
  6. ↑ "Defense Manpower Data Center". C-SPAN.
  7. ↑ "Carl Levin and Howard P. "Buck" McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015". 19 December 2014.
  8. ↑ "Manpower & Reserve Affairs".
  9. ↑ https://www.linkedin.com/in/virginia-penrod-87945524b
  10. ↑ https://www.defense.gov/About/Biographies/Biography/Article/2030571/thomas-a-constable/
  11. ↑ https://prhome.defense.gov/Home/Leaders/Martin/
  12. ↑ https://history.defense.gov/Portals/70/Documents/key_officials/KeyOfficials-2024-03-18.pdf?ver=OAdUrz6zMkTKcC9HKlI9nQ%3d%3d
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.