Under Secretary of Defense for Policy

Under Secretary of Defense for Policy USD(P)
Flag of an Under Secretary of Defense
Incumbent Theresa Whelan since January 20, 2017
Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
Style	The Honorable (formal address in writing)
Reports to	Secretary of Defense Deputy Secretary of Defense
Nominator	Acting USDP
Appointer	The President with the advice and consent of the Senate
Term length	No fixed term
Inaugural holder	Stanley Rogers Resor
Formation	1978
Succession	6th in SecDef succession
Deputy	The Principal Deputy Under Secretary
Salary	Level III of the Executive Schedule
Website	policy.defense.gov

The President

The 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.

The Under Secretary is normally appointed from civilian life by the President with the consent of the Senate to serve at the request of the President. Currently Ms. Theresa Whelan is Performing the Duties of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy until a new appointment is selected by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Ms. Whelan served in Special Operations & Low Intensity Conflict prior to assuming the duties as USDP.

The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy is the principal staff element of the Secretary of Defense in the exercise of policy development, planning, resource management, fiscal, and program evaluation responsibilities, the rank of Under Secretary, the USD(P) is a Level III position within the Executive Schedule.

Officials reporting to the USD(P) include:

The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities (ASD(SPC)) is responsible for national security and defense strategy, leading the Quadrennial Defense Review, nuclear deterrence and missile defense policy, security cooperation plans and policies, and force design and development planning.

The Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (ASD(ISA)) is responsible for international security strategy, defense policy, and oversight of security cooperation programs and foreign military sales programs relating to Europe, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Russia, Eurasia, the Middle East, Africa, and the Western Hemisphere.