United States Assistant Secretary of State

Assistant Secretary of State (A/S) is a title used for many executive positions in the United States Department of State, ranking below the under secretaries. A set of six assistant secretaries reporting to the under secretary for political affairs manage diplomatic missions within their designated geographic regions, plus one assistant secretary dealing with international organizations and one equivalent as the coordinator/ambassador at large for counterterrorism. Assistant secretaries usually manage individual bureaus of the Department of State. When the manager of a bureau or another agency holds a title other than assistant secretary, such as "director", it can be said to be of "assistant secretary equivalent rank". Assistant secretaries typically have a set of deputies, referred to as deputy assistant secretaries (DAS).

History
From 1853 until 1913, the assistant secretary of state was the second-ranking official within the U.S. Department of State. Prior to 1853, the chief clerk was the second-ranking officer, and after 1913, the counselor was the second-ranking position, though the assistant secretary continued to be a position until 1924. From 1867, the Assistant Secretary of State was assisted by a second assistant secretary of state, and from 1875, by a third assistant secretary of state. Specific duties of the incumbents varied over the years and included such responsibilities as supervising the Diplomatic and Consular Bureaus, general supervision of correspondence, consular appointments, administration of the Department, and supervision of economic matters and various geographic divisions.

Overview
Today, the title of the second-ranking position is the Deputy Secretary of State, with the next tier of State Department officials bearing the rank of Under Secretary of State.

The following is a list of current offices bearing the title of "Assistant Secretary of State":


 * Reporting directly to the Secretary of State:
 * Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research
 * Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs
 * Reporting to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs:
 * Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs
 * Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs
 * Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs
 * Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs
 * Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs
 * Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs
 * Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs
 * Reporting to the Under Secretary of State for Management:
 * Assistant Secretary of State for Administration
 * Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs
 * Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security
 * Reporting to the Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment:
 * Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs
 * Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
 * Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources
 * Reporting to the Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs:
 * Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs
 * Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs
 * Reporting to the Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security:
 * Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Nonproliferation
 * Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs
 * Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control, Deterrence, and Stability
 * Reporting to the Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights:
 * Assistant Secretary of State for Conflict and Stabilization Operations
 * Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
 * Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
 * Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration

The following roles also possess a rank equivalent to Assistant Secretary:
 * Chief of Protocol of the United States, with the rank of Ambassador
 * Coordinator for Counterterrorism, with the rank and status of Ambassador-at-Large
 * Special Assistant to the Secretary and Executive Secretary of the Department
 * Inspector General of the Department of State
 * Legal Adviser
 * Director General of the Foreign Service and Director of Global Talent
 * Director, Policy Planning Staff
 * Ambassador at Large for Global Women's Issues
 * Ambassador at Large for Global Criminal Justice
 * Director, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, with the rank of Ambassador at Large
 * Ambassador at Large for Global Health Security and Diplomacy
 * Director of the Foreign Service Institute
 * Science and Technology Advisor to the Secretary of State
 * Chief Information Officer of the Department
 * Director, Office of Foreign Missions, with rank of Ambassador
 * Director of Budget and Planning
 * Comptroller of the Department
 * Chief Economist of the Department
 * Director Foreign Assistance
 * Chief Medical Officer and Designated Agency Safety and Health Official
 * Director, Office of Civil Rights
 * Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer
 * Director, Office of Management Strategy and Solutions
 * Director of Overseas Buildings Operations

Current assistant secretaries of state
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" !Office !Incumbent !data-sort-type="date" |Term began ! colspan="3" |

Reporting to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs
! colspan="3" |
 * data-sort-value="Assistant Secretary for African Affairs" |U.S. Department of State official seal.svg Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs 1 FAM 121
 * data-sort-value="Phee, Mary Catherine" align="center" |Mary Catherine Phee.jpg Mary Catherine Phee
 * September 30, 2021
 * data-sort-value="Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs" |U.S. Department of State official seal.svg Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs 1 FAM 131
 * data-sort-value="Kritenbrink, Daniel" align="center" |Dan Kritenbrink official portrait.jpg Daniel Kritenbrink
 * September 24, 2021
 * data-sort-value="Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs" |U.S. Department of State official seal.svg Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs 1 FAM 141
 * data-sort-value="O'Brien, C O'Brien" align="center" |James C. O'Brien, State Department Sanctions Coordinator.jpg James C. O'Brien
 * October 5, 2023
 * data-sort-value="Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs" |U.S. Department of State official seal.svg Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs 1 FAM 161
 * data-sort-value="Leaf, Barbara A." align="center" |Barbara A. Leaf, NSC Senior Director.jpg Barbara A. Leaf
 * May 31, 2022
 * data-sort-value="Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs" |U.S. Department of State official seal.svg Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs 1 FAM 171
 * data-sort-value="Lu, Donald" align="center" |Donald Lu official photo.jpg Donald Lu
 * September 15, 2021
 * data-sort-value="Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs" |U.S. Department of State official seal.svg Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs 1 FAM 151
 * data-sort-value="Nichols, Brian A." align="center" |Brian A. Nichols official photo.jpg Brian A. Nichols
 * September 15, 2021
 * data-sort-value="Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs" |U.S. Department of State official seal.svg Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs 1 FAM 331
 * data-sort-value="Sison, Michele J." align="center" |Michele Sison official photo.jpg Michele J. Sison
 * December 21, 2021
 * data-sort-value="Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs" |U.S. Department of State official seal.svg Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs 1 FAM 151
 * data-sort-value="Nichols, Brian A." align="center" |Brian A. Nichols official photo.jpg Brian A. Nichols
 * September 15, 2021
 * data-sort-value="Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs" |U.S. Department of State official seal.svg Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs 1 FAM 331
 * data-sort-value="Sison, Michele J." align="center" |Michele Sison official photo.jpg Michele J. Sison
 * December 21, 2021
 * December 21, 2021

Reporting to the Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment
! colspan="3" |
 * data-sort-value="Assistant Secretary for Economic Affairs" |U.S. Department of State official seal.svg Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs 1 FAM 421
 * data-sort-value="Toloui, Ramin" align="center" |Ramin Toloui, Assistant Secretary of State.jpg Ramin Toloui
 * January 24, 2022
 * data-sort-value="Assistant Secretary for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs" |U.S. Department of State official seal.svg Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs 1 FAM 541
 * data-sort-value="Littlejohn, Jennifer R." align="center" |Jennifer R. Littlejohn, Acting Assistant Secretary of State.jpg Jennifer R. Littlejohn
 * May 1, 2023 Acting
 * data-sort-value="Assistant Secretary for Energy Resources" |U.S. Department of State official seal.svg Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources 1 FAM 461
 * data-sort-value="Pyatt, Geoffrey R." align="center" |Geoffrey R. Pyatt, Assistant Secretary of State.jpg Geoffrey R. Pyatt
 * September 19, 2022
 * data-sort-value="Assistant Secretary for Energy Resources" |U.S. Department of State official seal.svg Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources 1 FAM 461
 * data-sort-value="Pyatt, Geoffrey R." align="center" |Geoffrey R. Pyatt, Assistant Secretary of State.jpg Geoffrey R. Pyatt
 * September 19, 2022

Reporting to the Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security
! colspan="3" |
 * data-sort-value="Assistant Secretary for Arms Control, Verification, and Compliance" |U.S. Department of State official seal.svg Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control, Verification, and Compliance 1 FAM 441
 * data-sort-value="Stewart, Mallory" align="center" |Mallory Stewart, Assistant Secretary of State.jpg Mallory Stewart
 * April 18, 2022
 * data-sort-value="Assistant Secretary for International Security and Nonproliferation" |U.S. Department of State official seal.svg Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Nonproliferation 1 FAM 451
 * data-sort-value="Kang, C.S. Eliot" align="center" |C.S. Eliot Kang, Assistant Secretary of State.jpg C.S. Eliot Kang
 * March 31, 2022
 * data-sort-value="Assistant Secretary for Political-Military Affairs" |U.S. Department of State official seal.svg Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs 1 FAM 411
 * data-sort-value="Lewis, Jessica" align="center" |Jessica Lewis, Assistant Secretary of State.jpg Jessica Lewis
 * September 30, 2021
 * data-sort-value="Assistant Secretary for Political-Military Affairs" |U.S. Department of State official seal.svg Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs 1 FAM 411
 * data-sort-value="Lewis, Jessica" align="center" |Jessica Lewis, Assistant Secretary of State.jpg Jessica Lewis
 * September 30, 2021

Reporting to the Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs
! colspan="3" |
 * data-sort-value="Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs" |U.S. Department of State official seal.svg Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs 1 FAM 341
 * data-sort-value="Satterfield, Lee" align="center" |Lee Satterfield, Assistant Secretary of State 2.jpg Lee Satterfield
 * November 23, 2021
 * data-sort-value="Assistant Secretary for Global Public Affairs" |U.S. Department of State official seal.svg Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs 1 FAM 321
 * data-sort-value="Russo, William M." align="center" |Bill Russo, Assistant Secretary of State.jpg William M. Russo
 * February 15, 2023
 * data-sort-value="Russo, William M." align="center" |Bill Russo, Assistant Secretary of State.jpg William M. Russo
 * February 15, 2023

Reporting to the Under Secretary of State for Management
! colspan="3" |
 * data-sort-value="Assistant Secretary for Administration" |U.S. Department of State official seal.svg Assistant Secretary of State for Administration 1 FAM 211
 * data-sort-value="Teplitz, Alaina B." align="center" |Alaina B. Teplitz official photo.jpg Alaina B. Teplitz
 * December 6, 2021
 * data-sort-value="Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs" |U.S. Department of State official seal.svg Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs 1 FAM 251
 * data-sort-value="Bitter, Rena E." align="center" |Rena E. Bitter.jpg Rena Bitter
 * August 12, 2021
 * data-sort-value="Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security" |U.S. Department of State official seal.svg Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security 1 FAM 261
 * data-sort-value="Smith, Gentry O." align="center" |Gentry Smith, Assistant Secretary of State 2.jpg Gentry O. Smith
 * August 12, 2021
 * data-sort-value="Director of Human Resources" |U.S. Department of State official seal.svg Director General of the Foreign Service 1 FAM 231
 * data-sort-value="Bernicat, Marcia" align="center" |Marcia S. Bernicat, Director General of the Foreign Service.jpg Marcia Bernicat
 * June 6, 2022
 * data-sort-value="Director of Foreign Service Institute" |U.S. Department of State official seal.svg Director of the Foreign Service Institute 1 FAM 291
 * data-sort-value="Polaschik, Joan" align="center" |Joan Polaschik, Director General of the Foreign Service Institute.jpg Joan A. Polaschik
 * May 20, 2022
 * June 6, 2022
 * data-sort-value="Director of Foreign Service Institute" |U.S. Department of State official seal.svg Director of the Foreign Service Institute 1 FAM 291
 * data-sort-value="Polaschik, Joan" align="center" |Joan Polaschik, Director General of the Foreign Service Institute.jpg Joan A. Polaschik
 * May 20, 2022
 * May 20, 2022

Reporting to the Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights
! colspan="3" |
 * data-sort-value="Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor" |U.S. Department of State official seal.svg Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor 1 FAM 511
 * data-sort-value="Gilchrist, Robert S.," align="center" |Robert-Gilchrist-Official-Portrait.jpg Robert S. Gilchrist
 * January 21, 2024 Acting
 * data-sort-value="Assistant Secretary for Population, Refugees, and Migration" |U.S. Department of State official seal.svg Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration 1 FAM 521
 * data-sort-value="Noyes, Julieta Valls" align="center" |Julieta Valls Noyes, Assistant Secretary of State.jpg Julieta Valls Noyes
 * March 31, 2022
 * data-sort-value="Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement" |U.S. Department of State official seal.svg Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs 1 FAM 531
 * data-sort-value="Robinson, Todd D." align="center" |Todd D. Robinson, Assistant Secretary of State.jpg Todd D. Robinson
 * September 30, 2021
 * data-sort-value="Assistant Secretary for Conflict and Stabilization Operations" |U.S. Department of State official seal.svg Assistant Secretary of State for Conflict and Stabilization Operations 1 FAM 471
 * data-sort-value="Witkowsky, Anne A." align="center" |Anne A. Witkowsky, Assistant Secretary of State.jpg Anne A. Witkowsky
 * January 10, 2022
 * data-sort-value="Coordinator for Counterterrorism" |U.S. Department of State official seal.svg Coordinator for Counterterrorism 1 FAM 481
 * data-sort-value="Richard, Elizabeth H." align="center" |Elizabeth Richard, U.S. Ambassador-at-Large.jpg Elizabeth H. Richard
 * December 29, 2023
 * January 10, 2022
 * data-sort-value="Coordinator for Counterterrorism" |U.S. Department of State official seal.svg Coordinator for Counterterrorism 1 FAM 481
 * data-sort-value="Richard, Elizabeth H." align="center" |Elizabeth Richard, U.S. Ambassador-at-Large.jpg Elizabeth H. Richard
 * December 29, 2023
 * December 29, 2023

Reporting directly to the Secretary of State

 * data-sort-value="Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs" |U.S. Department of State official seal.svg Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs 1 FAM 311
 * data-sort-value="Durakoğlu, Naz" align="center" |Naz Durakoglu, Assistant Secretary of State.jpg Naz Durakoğlu
 * July 22, 2022
 * data-sort-value="Assistant Secretary for Intelligence and Research" |U.S. Department of State official seal.svg Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research 1 FAM 431
 * data-sort-value="Holmgren, Brett M." align="center" |[[File:Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research Brett Holmgren Official Portrait.jpg|100px]] Brett M. Holmgren
 * September 15, 2021
 * }
 * September 15, 2021
 * }
 * }

Second Assistant Secretary of State
The Consular and Diplomatic Appropriations Act for the year ending June 30, 1867 authorized the president to appoint a second assistant secretary of state. Duties of incumbents varied less over the years than did those of the other assistant secretary positions. Responsibilities included: supervision of correspondence with diplomatic officers; preparation of drafts of treaties, conventions, diplomatic notes, and instructions; detailed treatment of current diplomatic and political questions; approval of correspondence for the signature of the secretary or acting secretary; and consultation on matters of diplomatic procedure, international law and policy, and traditional practices of the Department. The Foreign Service Act of 1924 abolished numerical titles for assistant secretaries of state. Only two people held the position from 1866 to 1924.

Third Assistant Secretary of State
A federal appropriations act for the year ending Jun 30, 1875 (Jun 20, 1874; 18 Stat. 90), authorized the president to appoint a third assistant secretary of state. The secretary of state was authorized to prescribe the duties of the assistant secretaries and other Department of State employees, "and may make changes and transfers therein when, in his judgment, it becomes necessary." The third assistant secretary's duties varied over the years, including such diverse assignments as: supervision of several geographic divisions; oversight of the bureaus of accounts and appointments; international conferences and commissions; and ceremonials and protocol, including presentation to the president of chiefs of foreign diplomatic missions. The Foreign Service Act of 1924 (May 24, 1924; 43 Stat 146) abolished numerical titles for assistant secretaries of state.

Defunct offices including the designation of Assistant Secretary of State

 * Assistant Secretary of State for Occupied Areas