Under Secretaries of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs
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Notice posted on January 12, 2024.
Last
updated March 14, 2024.
Congress, in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1971 (P.L. 92-226; 86 Stat. 28), authorized the President to appoint, with the advice and consent of the Senate, an officer for the purpose of coordinating the government’s security assistance programs. Under this act, the President has commissioned all incumbents as “Under Secretaries of State for Coordinating Security Assistance Programs.” Since then, the Department of State has assigned the position different functional designations. On Aug 22, 1977, the Department changed the designation from “Under Secretary for Security Assistance” to “Under Secretary for Security Assistance, Science, and Technology.” On Apr 30, 1990, the Department changed this designation to “International Security Affairs.” In addition to coordinating U.S. security assistance programs, duties associated with this position have also included at one time or another: nuclear non-proliferation; control of technology transfers and strategic goods; and coordination of international communications policy. Title changed to Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs on May 12, 1994.
- Curtis William Tarr (1972–1973)
- William Henry Donaldson (1973–1974)
- Carlyle Edward Maw (1974–1976)
- Lucy Wilson Peters Benson (1977–1980)
- Matthew Nimetz (1980)
- James Lane Buckley (1981–1982)
- William Schneider Jr. (1982–1986)
- Edward J. Derwinski (1987–1989)
- Reginald Bartholomew (1989–1992)
- Frank G. Wisner II (1992–1993)
- Lynn Etheridge Davis (1993–1997)
- John David Holum (2000–2001)
- John R. Bolton (2001–2005)
- Robert Joseph (2005–2007)
- Ellen O. Tauscher (2009–2012)
- Rose Eileen Gottemoeller (2014–2016)
- Andrea L. Thompson (2018)
- John C. Rood (Nominated Mar. 22, 2007, designated Acting Under Secretary Sept. 26, 2007. Nomination not acted upon by the Senate.)