Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Hemispheric Affairs

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United States
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Hemispheric Affairs
Emblem of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Hemispheric Affairs.png
Seal of the assistant secretary for homeland defense and hemispheric affairs
Flag of an U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense.svg
Flag of an assistant secretary of defense
since May 5, 2025
United States Department of Defense
Reports to United States Secretary of Defense
AppointerThe president
with Senate advice and consent
Term length Appointed
Website Official website

The assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and hemispheric affairs, or ASD (HD&HA), is responsible for defense continuity and mission assurance; homeland defense and defense support of civil authorities; Arctic and global resilience; and U.S. defense and security policy for Canada, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America. [2]

Contents

The position was established by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 (P.L. 107-314, passed 2 December 2002). In particular, the ASD (HD&HA) is responsible for homeland preparedness, oversight of the two combatant commands that cover North and South America, and the transfer of technologies to homeland security use, pursuant to Section 1401 of the 2003 DOD Authorization Act. [3] The ASD (HD&HA) reports to the under secretary of defense for policy. [4]

Precedent

At the end of the Eisenhower administration, a wide-ranging federal reorganization (Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1958) transferred to the president the civil defense responsibilities and authorities formerly assigned to the Federal Civil Defense Administration. In Executive Order 10952 (signed 20 July 1961), the president delegated these functions to the secretary of defense. The SecDef then created the post of Assistant Secretary of Defense (Civil Defense) on August 31, 1961, to help manage these responsibilities. Only one man, Steuart L. Pittman, ever held this post. His term in office ran September 20, 1961 - April 1, 1964, at which time the post was abolished.

The Office of Civil Defense then transitioned to the secretary of the Army, but responsibility for civil defense was quickly assigned to the new Defense Civil Preparedness Agency (DCPA). After a Carter administration reorganization (Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 19 June 1978) led to the dissolution of DCPA in July 1979, the director of the new Federal Emergency Management Agency assumed responsibility for civil defense. [4] Nevertheless, DoD continued to maintain and develop resources for civil defense, but with dispersed, overlapping, and informal authorities for growing and coordinating them. The ASD (HD&HA) now provides a single point of contact at DoD for FEMA, state and local disaster management agencies, and executive policymakers in the event that these resources need to be enhanced or mobilized.

Structure

The ASD (HD&HA) is supported by four deputy assistant secretaries (DASDs), each with coverage of a different mission area:

DASDs are appointed by the secretary of defense. Some are appointed from civilian life, while others are career defense officials. Once at the DASD level, the latter are considered a part of the DoD Senior Executive Service.

The ASD (HD&HA) is also supported by a principal deputy, or PDASD, who helps manage the day-to-day operations.

List of officeholders

The table below includes both the various titles of this post over time, as well as all the holders of those offices.

No.Assistant Secretary [5] TermSecDef(s) served underPresident(s) served underRef(s)
PortraitNameTook officeLeft officeTerm length
Homeland defense
1
PaulFMcHale.jpg
Paul McHale
(born 1950)
February 7, 2003January 20, 20095 years, 348 days Donald H. Rumsfeld
Robert M. Gates
George W. Bush [6]
Homeland defense and Americas' security affairs
2
Paul N Stockton.jpg
Paul N. Stockton
(born 1954)
June 1, 2009January 22, 20133 years, 235 days Robert M. Gates
Leon Panetta
Barack Obama [7]
Todd M. Rosenblum.jpg
Todd M. Rosenblum
Acting
January 22, 2013September 23, 20141 year, 244 days Leon Panetta
Chuck Hagel
Barack Obama [8]
Homeland defense and global security
3
Eric Rosenbach.jpg
Eric Rosenbach September 23, 2014July 6, 2015286 days Chuck Hagel
Ash Carter
Barack Obama [9]
Thomas F. Atkin.jpg
Thomas F. Atkin
Acting
August 1, 2015 [10] January 20, 20171 year, 172 days Ash Carter Barack Obama [11]
Peter Verga.jpg
Peter F. Verga
Acting
January 20, 2017June 21, 2017152 days James Mattis Donald Trump [12]
4
Kenneth Rapuano.JPG
Kenneth Rapuano June 21, 2017January 20, 20213 years, 213 days James Mattis
Mark Esper
Donald Trump [13]
Robert Salesses.jpg
Robert G. Salesses
Acting
January 20, 2021April 29, 202199 days Lloyd Austin Joe Biden [14]
Jennifer C. Walsh.jpg
Jennifer C. Walsh
Acting
April 29, 2021March 4, 2022309 days Lloyd Austin Joe Biden [15]
Homeland defense and hemispheric affairs
5
Melissa G. Dalton (2).jpg
Melissa Dalton March 4, 2022May 29, 20242 years, 86 days Lloyd Austin Joe Biden [16]
S. Rebecca Zimmerman.jpg
Rebecca Zimmerman
Acting
May 29, 2024January 20, 2025236 days Lloyd Austin Joe Biden [17]
No image.png
Leigh Nolan
Acting
January 20, 2025January 28, 20258 days Pete Hegseth Donald Trump -
Rafael F. Leonardo (1).jpg
Rafael Leonardo
Acting
January 28, 2025May 5, 202597 days Pete Hegseth Donald Trump [18]
No image.png
Mark Ditlevson
Acting
May 5, 2025Incumbent101 days Pete Hegseth Donald Trump -

References

  1. https://policy.defense.gov/OUSDP-Offices/ASD-for-Homeland-Defense-and-Hemispheric-Affairs/ [ bare URL ]
  2. "Biography: Rebecca Zimmerman". Defense.gov. Archived from the original on February 28, 2010.
  3. "CNP Elects former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense Paul McHale to Board of Directors". Centerfornationalpolicy.org. May 18, 2009. Archived from the original on August 9, 2011. Retrieved September 17, 2011.
  4. 1 2 "Department of Defense Key Officials" (PDF). Historical Office, OSD. 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 21, 2011. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
  5. "Department of Defense Key Officials: September 1947–March 2022" (PDF). Historical Office - Office of the Secretary of Defense.
  6. "Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense Paul McHale". www.defense.gov.
  7. "Paul N. Stockton". LinkedIn .
  8. "Defense.gov Biography: Todd M. Rosenblum". October 12, 2013. Archived from the original on October 12, 2013.
  9. "Eric Rosenbach". www.defense.gov.
  10. https://www.c-span.org/person/thomas-atkin/9277694/ [ bare URL ]
  11. "Tom Atkin". LinkedIn .
  12. "Biographies". Archived from the original on February 11, 2017.
  13. "Kenneth P. Rapuano". www.defense.gov.
  14. "Robert G. Salesses". www.defense.gov.
  15. "Jennifer C. Walsh". www.defense.gov.
  16. "Melissa G. Dalton". www.defense.gov.
  17. "Rebecca Zimmerman".
  18. defense.gov