National Security Advisor (United States)

Last updated

Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
US-WhiteHouse-Logo.svg
Jake-Sullivan-WH.png
Incumbent
Jake Sullivan
since January 20, 2021
Executive Office of the President
Member of National Security Council
Homeland Security Council
Reports to President of the United States
Appointer President of the United States
Constituting instrumentNational Security Presidential Memorandum [1]
Formation1953
First holder Robert Cutler
Deputy Deputy National Security Advisor
Website Official website

The Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (APNSA), commonly referred to as the National Security Advisor (NSA), [2] [Note 1] is a senior aide in the Executive Office of the President, based at the West Wing of the White House. [3] The national security advisor serves as the principal advisor to the President of the United States on all national security issues.

Contents

The national security advisor participates in meetings of the National Security Council (NSC) and usually chairs meetings of the Principals Committee of the NSC with the Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense (those meetings not attended by the president). The NSA also sits on the Homeland Security Council (HSC). The national security advisor is supported by NSC staff who produce classified research and briefings for the national security advisor to review and present, either to the NSC or the president. The national security advisor is appointed by the president and does not require confirmation by the United States Senate. An appointment of a three- or four-star general to the role requires Senate confirmation to maintain that rank in the new position. [4]

Role

The influence and role of the national security advisor varies from administration to administration and depends not only on the qualities of the person appointed to the position, but also on the style and management philosophy of the incumbent president. [5] Ideally, the national security advisor serves as an honest broker of policy options for the president in the field of national security, rather than as an advocate for his or her own policy agenda. [6]

The national security advisor is a staff position in the Executive Office of the President and does not have line or budget authority over either the Department of State or the Department of Defense, unlike the secretary of state and the secretary of defense, who are Senate-confirmed officials with statutory authority over their departments. [7] The national security advisor is able to offer daily advice (due to the proximity) to the president independently of the vested interests of the large bureaucracies and clientele of those departments. [5]

In times of crisis, the national security advisor is likely to operate from the White House Situation Room or the Presidential Emergency Operations Center (as on September 11, 2001), [8] updating the president on the latest events in a crisis situation.

History

President George H. W. Bush meets in the Oval Office with his NSC about Operation Desert Shield, 1991 President Bush meets with General Colin Powell, General Scowcroft, Secretary James Baker, Vice President Quayle... - NARA - 186429.jpg
President George H. W. Bush meets in the Oval Office with his NSC about Operation Desert Shield, 1991

The National Security Council was created at the start of the Cold War under the National Security Act of 1947 to coordinate defense, foreign affairs, international economic policy, and intelligence; this was part of a large reorganization that saw the creation of the Department of Defense and the Central Intelligence Agency. [9] [10] The Act did not create the position of the national security advisor per se, but it did create an executive secretary in charge of the staff. In 1949, the NSC became part of the Executive Office of the President. [9]

Robert Cutler was the first national security advisor in 1953, and held the job twice, both times during the Eisenhower administration. The system has remained largely unchanged since then, particularly since President John Kennedy, with powerful national security advisors and strong staff but a lower importance given to formal NSC meetings. This continuity persists despite the tendency of each new president to replace the advisor and senior NSC staff. [9]

President Richard Nixon's national security advisor, Henry Kissinger, enhanced the importance of the role, controlling the flow of information to the president and meeting with him multiple times per day. Kissinger also holds the distinction of serving as national security advisor and secretary of state at the same time from September 22, 1973, until November 3, 1975. [9] [10] He holds the record for longest term of service (2,478 days); Michael Flynn holds the record for shortest term, at just 24 days.

Brent Scowcroft held the job in two non-consecutive administrations: the Ford administration and the George H. W. Bush administration.

List

  Denotes acting
ImageNameStartEndDurationPresident
Robert Cutler (cropped).jpg Robert Cutler March 23, 1953April 2, 19552 years, 10 days Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dillon-Anderson.jpg Dillon Anderson April 2, 1955September 1, 19561 year, 152 days
William Harding Jackson.jpg William Jackson [11] [12] [13]
Acting		September 1, 1956January 7, 1957128 days
Robert Cutler (cropped).jpg Robert Cutler January 7, 1957June 24, 19581 year, 168 days
Gordon Gray - Project Gutenberg etext 20587.jpg Gordon Gray June 24, 1958January 13, 19612 years, 203 days
McGeorge Bundy.jpg Mac Bundy January 20, 1961February 28, 19665 years, 39 days John F. Kennedy
Lyndon B. Johnson
Advisors, Walt Rostow - NARA - 192543 (cropped).jpg Walt Rostow April 1, 1966January 20, 19692 years, 294 days
Henry Kissinger.jpg Henry Kissinger January 20, 1969November 3, 19756 years, 287 days Richard Nixon
Gerald Ford
Major General Brent Scowcroft in October 1973.jpg Brent Scowcroft November 3, 1975January 20, 19771 year, 78 days
Zbigniew Brzezinski, 1977.jpg Zbig Brzezinski January 20, 1977January 20, 19814 years, 0 days Jimmy Carter
Richard V. Allen 1981.jpg Richard Allen January 21, 1981January 4, 1982348 days Ronald Reagan
James W. Nance.png James Nance [14]
Acting		November 30, 1981January 4, 198235 days
William patrick clark.png William Clark January 4, 1982October 17, 19831 year, 286 days
Robert Mcfarlane IAGS.jpg Bud McFarlane October 17, 1983December 4, 19852 years, 48 days
Admiral John Poindexter, official Navy photo, 1985.JPEG John Poindexter December 4, 1985November 25, 1986356 days
Alton Keel 1986.jpg Alton Keel
Acting [15] 		November 26, 1986December 31, 198635 days
Frank Carlucci official portrait.JPEG Frank Carlucci January 1, 1987 [16] November 23, 1987326 days
ColinPowell.JPEG Colin Powell November 23, 1987January 20, 19891 year, 58 days
Brent Scowcroft.jpg Brent Scowcroft January 20, 1989January 20, 19934 years, 0 days George H. W. Bush
Anthony Lake 0c175 7733.jpg Tony Lake January 20, 1993March 14, 19974 years, 53 days Bill Clinton
Official Portrait of United States National Security Advisor Samuel Richard "Sandy" Berger.jpg Sandy Berger March 14, 1997January 20, 20013 years, 312 days
Condoleezza Rice cropped.jpg Condoleezza Rice January 20, 2001 [17] January 25, 2005 [17] 4 years, 5 days George W. Bush
Stephen Hadley Natl Security Advisor bio photo.jpg Stephen Hadley January 26, 2005 [17] January 20, 20093 years, 360 days
James L. Jones 2.jpg James Jones [18] January 20, 2009October 8, 20101 year, 261 days Barack Obama
National Security Advisor Donilon.jpg Tom Donilon [19] October 8, 2010July 1, 2013 [20] 2 years, 266 days
Susan Rice official photo.jpg Susan Rice [20] July 1, 2013 [20] January 20, 20173 years, 203 days
Michael T Flynn.jpg Mike Flynn January 20, 2017February 13, 201724 days Donald Trump
Keith Kellogg 2000.jpg Keith Kellogg
Acting		February 13, 2017February 20, 20177 days
H.R. McMaster ARCIC 2014.jpg H. R. McMaster February 20, 2017April 9, 20181 year, 48 days
John R. Bolton official photo (cropped).jpg John Bolton April 9, 2018September 10, 20191 year, 154 days
Reagan Contact Sheet C42578 (cropped).jpg Charlie Kupperman
Acting		September 10, 2019September 18, 20198 days
Robert C. O'Brien.jpg Robert O'Brien September 18, 2019January 20, 20211 year, 124 days
Jake-Sullivan-WH.png Jake Sullivan [21] January 20, 2021Incumbent3 years, 60 days Joe Biden

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Abbreviated NSA, or sometimes APNSA or ANSA in order to avoid confusion with the abbreviation of the National Security Agency.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States National Security Council</span> U.S. federal executive national security and intelligence forum

The United States National Security Council (NSC) is the principal forum used by the president of the United States for consideration of national security, military, and foreign policy matters. Based in the White House, it is part of the Executive Office of the President of the United States, and composed of senior national security advisors and Cabinet officials.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Executive Office of the President of the United States</span> U.S. government executive agency

The Executive Office of the President of the United States (EOP) comprises the offices and agencies that support the work of the president at the center of the executive branch of the United States federal government. The office consists of several offices and agencies, such as the White House Office, the National Security Council, and the Office of Management and Budget.

The United States National Security council was established following the coordination of the foreign policy system in the United States in 1947 under the National Security Act of 1947. An administrative agency guiding national security issues was found to be needed since world war II. The national Security Act of 1947 provides the council with powers of setting up and adjusting foreign policies and reconcile diplomatic and military establishments. It established a Secretary of Defence, a National Military Establishment which serves as central intelligence agency and a National Security Resources Board. The specific structure of the United States National Security Council can be different depending on the elected party of the time. Different party emphasize on different aspects of policy making and administrating.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brent Scowcroft</span> US National Security Advisor (1925–2020)

Brent Scowcroft was a United States Air Force officer who was a two-time United States National Security Advisor, first under U.S. President Gerald Ford and then under George H. W. Bush. He served as Military Assistant to President Richard Nixon and as Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs in the Nixon and Ford administrations. He served as Chairman of the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005, and advised President Barack Obama on choosing his national security team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Security Council (Pakistan)</span> Institutional and consultative body of the Government of Pakistan

The National Security Council is a federal institutional and consultative body chaired by the Prime Minister of Pakistan as its chairman. The NSC is a principal forum that is mandated for considering national security and foreign policy matters with the senior national security advisers and Cabinet ministers. The idea and inception of National Security Council was first conceived in 1969 under the President Yahya Khan, its functions were to advise and assist the president and prime minister on national security and foreign policies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rand Beers</span> American government official

Robert Rand Brittingham Beers is an American government official. He served as Deputy Homeland Security Advisor to the President of the United States during the Barack Obama administration. He also served as acting Secretary of Homeland Security following the resignation of Secretary Janet Napolitano on September 6, 2013 until Jeh Johnson assumed that office on December 23, 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Hadley</span> American attorney and senior government official (born 1947)

Stephen John Hadley is an American attorney and senior government official who served as the 20th United States National Security Advisor from 2005 to 2009. He served under President George W. Bush during the second term of his administration. Hadley was Deputy National Security Advisor during Bush's first term.

Kevin G. Nealer is an American businessperson and political figure. He is currently a principal and partner in The Scowcroft Group, specializing in financial services, risk analysis, direct investment and trade policy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Vulcans</span>

The Vulcans is a nickname used to refer to Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush's foreign policy advisory team assembled to brief him prior to the 2000 US presidential election.

The National Security Council Deputies Committee (DC) is a committee of the United States National Security Council and the senior sub-Cabinet interagency forum for consideration of national security policy issues by the United States Government.

Executive oversight of United States covert operations has been carried out by a series of sub-committees of the National Security Council (NSC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Space Council</span> Presidential advisory body focused on US space policy

The National Space Council is a body within the Executive Office of the President of the United States created in 1989 during the George H. W. Bush administration, disbanded in 1993, and reestablished in June 2017 by the Donald Trump administration. It is a modified version of the earlier National Aeronautics and Space Council (1958–1973).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas E. Donilon</span> American National Security Advisor

Thomas Edward Donilon is an American lawyer, business executive, and former government official who served as the 22nd National Security Advisor in the Obama administration from 2010 to 2013. Donilon also worked in the Carter and Clinton administrations, including as chief of staff of the U.S. State Department. He is now Chairman of the BlackRock Investment Institute, the firm's global think tank.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Security Council (Philippines)</span> Advisory body to the president of the Philippines

The National Security Council is the principal forum of the president of the Philippines considering national security and foreign policy matters with his senior national security advisors and cabinet officials.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall</span> American government official (born 1959)

Elizabeth D. Sherwood-Randall is an American national security and energy leader, public servant, educator, and author currently serving as the 11th United States Homeland Security Advisor to President Joe Biden since 2021. She previously served in the Clinton and Obama Administrations and held appointments at academic institutions and think tanks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mira Ricardel</span> American businesswoman and politician (born 1960)

Mira Radielovic Ricardel, is an American businesswoman and former federal political appointee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julia Nesheiwat</span> American politician

Julia Nesheiwat is an American national security adviser who served as the 10th homeland security advisor in the Trump administration from 2020 to 2021. She also served in the Bush and Obama administrations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wally Adeyemo</span> American attorney and advisor (born 1981)

Adewale O. "Wally" Adeyemo is an American government official serving as the United States deputy secretary of the treasury. He was the first president of the Obama Foundation and also served during the Obama administration as the deputy national security advisor for international economics from 2015 to 2016 and deputy director of the National Economic Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian P. McKeon</span> American government official (born 1964)

Brian Patrick McKeon is an American attorney and national security advisor who served as the Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources in the Biden Administration from March 2021 to December 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Presidential transition of John F. Kennedy</span> Transfer of U.S. presidential power

The presidential transition of John F. Kennedy began when he won the 1960 United States presidential election, becoming the president-elect of the United States, and ended when Kennedy was inaugurated at noon EST on January 20, 1961.

References

2009-02: The National Security Advisor and Staff (PDF). WhiteHouseTransitionProject.org. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 3, 2016. Retrieved March 1, 2015.

  1. ↑ "National Security Presidential Memorandum–4 of April 4, 2017" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on April 7, 2017.
  2. ↑ The National Security Advisor and Staff: p. 1.
  3. ↑ "History of the National Security Council, 1947-1997". whitehouse.gov . August 1997. Archived from the original on February 22, 2010. Retrieved September 5, 2008– via National Archives.
  4. ↑ Portnoy, Steven (February 21, 2017). "McMaster will need Senate confirmation to serve as national security adviser". CBS News. Archived from the original on March 1, 2017. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  5. 1 2 The National Security Advisor and Staff: pp. 17-21.
  6. ↑ The National Security Advisor and Staff: pp. 10-14.
  7. ↑ See 22 U.S.C.   § 2651 for the Secretary of State and 10 U.S.C.   § 113 for the Secretary of Defense.
  8. ↑ Clarke, Richard A. (2004). Against All Enemies . New York: Free Press. p.  18. ISBN   0-7432-6024-4.
  9. 1 2 3 4 George, Robert Z; Rishikof, Harvey (2011). The National Security Enterprise: Navigating the Labyrinth. Georgetown University Press. p. 32.
  10. 1 2 Schmitz, David F. (2011). Brent Scowcroft: Internationalism and Post-Vietnam War American Foreign Policy. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 2–3.
  11. ↑ Burke, John P. (2009). Honest Broker?: The National Security Advisor and Presidential Decision Making. Texas A&M University Press. p.  26. ISBN   9781603441025.
  12. ↑ "Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, National Security Policy, Volume XIX". Department of State, Office of the Historian. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
  13. ↑ Lay, James S.; Johnson, Robert H. (1960). Organizational history of the National Security Council during the Truman and Eisenhower administrations. Washington, DC: Central Intelligence Agency. p. 40.
  14. ↑ Weisman, Steven R. (January 2, 1982). "Reagan Replacing Security Advisor, Officials Report". The New York Times . ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Nomination of Alton G. Keel, Jr., to be the Permanent United States Representative on the Council of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization | the American Presidency Project".
  16. ↑ "Newly appointed national security adviser Frank Carlucci is planning... - UPI Archives".
  17. 1 2 3 The National Security Advisor and Staff: p. 33.
  18. ↑ "Key Members of Obama-Biden National Security Team Announced" (Press release). The Office of the President-Elect. December 1, 2008. Archived from the original on December 1, 2008. Retrieved December 1, 2008.
  19. ↑ "Donilon to Replace Jones as National Security Adviser". CNN. October 2010. Archived from the original on November 8, 2012. Retrieved October 8, 2010.
  20. 1 2 3 Wilson, Scott; Lynch, Colum (June 5, 2013). "National Security Team Shuffle May Signal More Activist Stance at White House". Washington Post . Archived from the original on October 25, 2017.
  21. ↑ "Biden to Appoint Jake Sullivan as National Security Adviser". CBS News. November 23, 2020.

Further reading

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.