The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering ASD(R&E) is a senior official of the United States Department of Defense

United States Department of Defense

The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...

. The ASD(R&E) and the office s/he heads are charged with the development and oversight of DoD technology strategy for the DoD. The ASD(R&E) reports to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics

Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics

The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics - USD - is a senior official in the Office of the Secretary of Defense within the Department of Defense of the United States of America...

 (USD(AT&L)). The post (or effectively the same post) has at various times had the titles Under Secretary of Defense, Research and Engineering (USDR&E), or Director of Defense Research and Engineering (DDR&E). The latter title has itself historically varied between the rank of Under Secretary and that of Assistant Secretary.

ASD(R&E) is the principal staff advisor for research and engineering matters to the USD(AT&L), and also the Secretary

United States Secretary of Defense

The Secretary of Defense is the head and chief executive officer of the Department of Defense of the United States of America. This position corresponds to what is generally known as a Defense Minister in other countries...

 and Deputy Secretary of Defense. In this capacity, ASD(R&E) serves as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for the Department of Defense charged with the development and oversight of DoD technology strategy in concert with the Department’s current and future requirements. The goal of ASD(R&E)is to extend the capabilities of current war fighting systems, develop breakthrough capabilities, hedge against an uncertain future through a set of scientific and engineering options and counter strategic surprise. In cooperation with the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology (DUSD(A&T)), ASD(R&E) also provides advice and assistance in developing policies for rapid technology transition.

As of July 2009, DDR&E introduced four areas of focus in support of the immediate and future needs of the DoD:

• Accelerate delivery of technical capabilities to win the current fight.
• Prepare for an uncertain future.
• Reduce the cost, acquisition time and risk of .. major defense acquisition programs.
• Develop world class science, technology, engineering, and mathematics capabilities for the DoD and the Nation.

History

The National Security Act of 1947 and its 1949 amendments established the Department of Defense, including the establishment of two statutory boards, a Munitions Board, and a Research and Development Board. In June, 1953, President Eisenhower’s Reorganization Plan No. 6 abolished the boards as such, and created six new Assistant Secretaries of Defense, two of which were predecessors to the current ASD(R&E): ASD (Applications Engineering) and ASD (Research and Development). Some time later, the Applications Engineering position became simply Engineering.

In March 1957, the two related ASDs were combined to become the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Research and Engineering, ASD(R&E). Then, under the DoD Reorganization Act of 1958 (PL 85-599, effective August 6, 1958), the position of ASD(R&E) was abolished and replaced by a new Director of Defense Research and Engineering (DDR&E), with the higher rank of Under Secretary.

From May 19, 1961, until July 15, 1965, the Deputy DDR&E held the additional title of ASD(R&E), on the theory that this position reported to, in rank, an Under Secretary, the DDR&E. On October 21, 1977, PL 95-140 made the rank of the DDR&E unambiguous by renaming it to Under Secretary of Defense, Research and Engineering, USD(R&E).

The Military Reform Act of 1986 expanded the scope of USD(R&E) position to encompass acquisition and logistics, as well as technology, and it was renamed USD(AT&L), as it remains today. A subordinate position at the Assistant Secretary level was reestablished with the previous title DDR&E. However, budget control of the technology portfolio was kept by USD(AT&L), diminishing the importance of the DDR&E position subsequently.

On January 7, 2011, President Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act with several redesignated titles within the Department of Defense. These changes included renaming the DDR&E as, once again, ASD(R&E).

Office Holders

The table below includes both the various names which this position has been named over time, as well as all the holders of those various offices.

Directors

Name	Tenure	SecDef(s) Served Under	President(s) Served Under
Chairman, Research and Development Board
Vannevar Bush Vannevar Bush Vannevar Bush was an American engineer and science administrator known for his work on analog computing, his political role in the development of the atomic bomb as a primary organizer of the Manhattan Project, the founding of Raytheon, and the idea of the memex, an adjustable microfilm viewer...	Sept 30, 1947 – Oct 14, 1948	James V. Forrestal	Harry Truman
Karl T. Compton Karl Taylor Compton Karl Taylor Compton was a prominent American physicist and president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology from 1930 to 1948.- The early years :...	Oct 15, 1948 – March 14, 1950	James V. Forrestal  Louis A. Johnson Louis A. Johnson Louis Arthur Johnson was the second United States Secretary of Defense, serving in the cabinet of President Harry S. Truman from March 28, 1949 to September 19, 1950....	Harry Truman
William Webster	March 15, 1950 – July 31, 1951	Louis A. Johnson Louis A. Johnson Louis Arthur Johnson was the second United States Secretary of Defense, serving in the cabinet of President Harry S. Truman from March 28, 1949 to September 19, 1950....   George C. Marshall	Harry Truman
Walter G. Whitman	Aug 1, 1951 – June 29, 1953	George C. Marshall  Robert A. Lovett Robert A. Lovett Robert Abercrombie Lovett was the fourth United States Secretary of Defense, serving in the cabinet of President Harry S. Truman from 1951 to 1953 and in this capacity, directed the Korean War. Promoted to the position from deputy secretary of defense Domhoff described Lovett as a "Cold War...   Charles E. Wilson Charles Erwin Wilson Charles Erwin Wilson , American businessman and politician, was United States Secretary of Defense from 1953 to 1957 under President Eisenhower. Known as "Engine Charlie", he previously worked as CEO for General Motors. In the wake of the Korean War, he cut the defense budget significantly.-Early...	Harry Truman  Dwight Eisenhower
Assistant Secretary of Defense (Research and Development)
Donald A. Quarles Donald A. Quarles Donald Aubrey Quarles was a communications engineer, senior level executive with Bell Telephone Laboratories and Western Electric, and a top official in the United States Department of Defense during the Eisenhower Administration...	Sept 1, 1953 – Aug 14, 1955	Charles E. Wilson Charles Erwin Wilson Charles Erwin Wilson , American businessman and politician, was United States Secretary of Defense from 1953 to 1957 under President Eisenhower. Known as "Engine Charlie", he previously worked as CEO for General Motors. In the wake of the Korean War, he cut the defense budget significantly.-Early...	Dwight Eisenhower
Clifford C. Furnas Clifford C. Furnas Clifford Cook Furnas was an author, Olympic athlete, scientist, expert on guided missiles, university president, and public servant...	Dec 1, 1955 – Feb 15, 1957	Charles E. Wilson Charles Erwin Wilson Charles Erwin Wilson , American businessman and politician, was United States Secretary of Defense from 1953 to 1957 under President Eisenhower. Known as "Engine Charlie", he previously worked as CEO for General Motors. In the wake of the Korean War, he cut the defense budget significantly.-Early...	Dwight Eisenhower
Assistant Secretary of Defense (Applications Engineering)
Frank D. Newbury	Aug 18, 1953 – March 17, 1957	Charles E. Wilson Charles Erwin Wilson Charles Erwin Wilson , American businessman and politician, was United States Secretary of Defense from 1953 to 1957 under President Eisenhower. Known as "Engine Charlie", he previously worked as CEO for General Motors. In the wake of the Korean War, he cut the defense budget significantly.-Early...	Dwight Eisenhower
Assistant Secretary of Defense (Research and Engineering)
Frank D. Newbury	March 18, 1957 – May 17, 1957	Charles E. Wilson Charles Erwin Wilson Charles Erwin Wilson , American businessman and politician, was United States Secretary of Defense from 1953 to 1957 under President Eisenhower. Known as "Engine Charlie", he previously worked as CEO for General Motors. In the wake of the Korean War, he cut the defense budget significantly.-Early...	Dwight Eisenhower
Paul D. Foote	Sept 10, 1957 – Oct 31, 1958	Charles E. Wilson Charles Erwin Wilson Charles Erwin Wilson , American businessman and politician, was United States Secretary of Defense from 1953 to 1957 under President Eisenhower. Known as "Engine Charlie", he previously worked as CEO for General Motors. In the wake of the Korean War, he cut the defense budget significantly.-Early...   Neil H. McElroy Neil H. McElroy Neil Hosler McElroy was United States Secretary of Defense from 1957 to 1959 under President Eisenhower. He had been president of Procter & Gamble.- Early life :...	Dwight Eisenhower
John H. Rubel John H. Rubel John H. Rubel was a business executive in the early post-World War II years of the defense electronics industry, later serving as Assistant Secretary of Defense in the Kennedy administration...  (as Deputy DDR&E)	May 19, 1961 – June 15, 1963	Thomas S. Gates  Robert S. McNamara	Dwight Eisenhower  John F. Kennedy John F. Kennedy John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
Eugene G. Fubini (as Deputy DDR&E)	July 3, 1963 - July 15, 1965	Robert S. McNamara	John F. Kennedy John F. Kennedy John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
Director, Defense Research and Engineering
Herbert F. York Herbert York Herbert Frank York was an American nuclear physicist. He held numerous research and administrative positions at various United States government and educational institutes.-Biography:...	Dec 30, 1958 – April 30, 1961	Neil H. McElroy Neil H. McElroy Neil Hosler McElroy was United States Secretary of Defense from 1957 to 1959 under President Eisenhower. He had been president of Procter & Gamble.- Early life :...   Thomas S. Gates  Robert S. McNamara	Dwight Eisenhower  John F. Kennedy John F. Kennedy John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
Harold Brown Harold Brown (Secretary of Defense) Harold Brown , American scientist, was U.S. Secretary of Defense from 1977 to 1981 in the cabinet of President Jimmy Carter. He had previously served in the Lyndon Johnson administration as Director of Defense Research and Engineering and Secretary of the Air Force.While Secretary of Defense, he...	May 8, 1961 – Sept 30, 1965	Robert S. McNamara	John F. Kennedy John F. Kennedy John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....   Lyndon Johnson
John S. Foster, Jr.	Oct 1, 1965 – June 21, 1973	Robert S. McNamara  Clark M. Clifford  Melvin R. Laird Melvin R. Laird Melvin Robert Laird is an American politician and writer. Laird was a Republican congressman who also served as Richard Nixon's Secretary of Defense from 1969 to 1973. Laird urged Nixon to maintain a policy of withdrawing US soldiers from Vietnam...   Elliot L. Richardson	Lyndon Johnson  Richard Nixon Richard Nixon Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
Malcolm R. Currie	June 21, 1973 – Jan 20, 1977	James R. Schlesinger James R. Schlesinger Dr. James Rodney Schlesinger is an American politician. He is best known for serving as Secretary of Defense from 1973 to 1975 under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford...   Donald H. Rumsfeld	Richard Nixon Richard Nixon Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...   Gerald Ford Gerald Ford Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
William J. Perry William Perry William James Perry is an American businessman and engineer who was the United States Secretary of Defense from February 3, 1994, to January 23, 1997, under President Bill Clinton...	April 11, 1977 – Oct 21, 1977	Harold Brown Harold Brown (Secretary of Defense) Harold Brown , American scientist, was U.S. Secretary of Defense from 1977 to 1981 in the cabinet of President Jimmy Carter. He had previously served in the Lyndon Johnson administration as Director of Defense Research and Engineering and Secretary of the Air Force.While Secretary of Defense, he...	Jimmy Carter Jimmy Carter James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering
William J. Perry	Nov 4, 1977 – Jan 20, 1981	Harold Brown Harold Brown (Secretary of Defense) Harold Brown , American scientist, was U.S. Secretary of Defense from 1977 to 1981 in the cabinet of President Jimmy Carter. He had previously served in the Lyndon Johnson administration as Director of Defense Research and Engineering and Secretary of the Air Force.While Secretary of Defense, he...	Jimmy Carter Jimmy Carter James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
Walter B. Laberge (Acting)	January 21, 1981 - March 10, 1981	Caspar W. Weinberger	Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
James P. Wade, Jr. (Acting)	March 11, 1981 - May 6, 1981	Caspar W. Weinberger	Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
Richard D. DeLauer	May 7, 1981 – Nov 4, 1984	Caspar W. Weinberger	Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
James P. Wade, Jr. (Acting)	December 1, 1981 - July 5, 1985	Caspar W. Weinberger	Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
Donald A. Hicks	Aug 6, 1985 – Oct 10, 1986	Caspar W. Weinberger	Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
Director, Defense Research and Engineering
Robert C. Duncan Robert C. Duncan (engineer) Robert C. Duncan was an American engineer and engineering manager, particularly for the US Government. He is best known for two of the programs he directed to a successful completion - guidance and control for Apollo program, and the Polaroid SX-70 camera.- Biography :He received BS degrees from...	Dec 17, 1987 – Nov 30, 1989	Frank C. Carlucci III  William H. Taft IV William Howard Taft IV William Howard Taft IV is an attorney who has served in the United States government under several Republican administrations. He is the son of William Howard Taft III and the great-grandson of U.S. President William Howard Taft....  (Acting) Richard B. Cheney	Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....   George H. W. Bush George H. W. Bush George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
Charles M. Herzfeld Charles M. Herzfeld Charles M. Herzfeld is an American scientist and scientific manager, particularly for the US Government. He is best known for his time as Director of DARPA, during which, among other things, he personally took the decision to authorize the creation of the ARPANET, the predecessor of the Internet.-...	March 12, 1990 – May 18, 1991	Richard B. Cheney	George H. W. Bush George H. W. Bush George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
Victor H. Reis Victor H. Reis Victor H. Reis is a technologist and former U.S. government official, best known as the architect and original sponsor of the U.S. nuclear Stockpile Stewardship Program and its associated Accelerated Strategic Computing Initiative , which resulted in the creation of several new generations of...	Dec 3, 1991 – May 31, 1993	Richard B. Cheney  Leslie Aspin, Jr.	George H. W. Bush George H. W. Bush George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...   William Clinton William Clinton Bill Clinton is the 42nd President of the United States. William Clinton may also refer to:*William de Clinton, 1st Earl of Huntingdon , English nobleman from prominent Norman family dating to William the Conqueror; Lord High Admiral as of 1333*William Henry Clinton , British general from...
Anita K. Jones	June 1, 1993 – May 23, 1997	Leslie Aspin, Jr.  William J. Perry  William S. Cohen	William Clinton William Clinton Bill Clinton is the 42nd President of the United States. William Clinton may also refer to:*William de Clinton, 1st Earl of Huntingdon , English nobleman from prominent Norman family dating to William the Conqueror; Lord High Admiral as of 1333*William Henry Clinton , British general from...
Hans M. Mark Hans Mark Hans Michael Mark is a former Secretary of the Air Force and a former Deputy Administrator of NASA. He is an expert and consultant in aerospace design and national defense policy...	July 1, 1998 – May 10, 2001	William S. Cohen  Donald H. Rumsfeld	William Clinton William Clinton Bill Clinton is the 42nd President of the United States. William Clinton may also refer to:*William de Clinton, 1st Earl of Huntingdon , English nobleman from prominent Norman family dating to William the Conqueror; Lord High Admiral as of 1333*William Henry Clinton , British general from...   George W. Bush George W. Bush George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
Ronald M. Sega Ronald M. Sega Ronald "Ron" Michael Sega is professor of systems engineering at Colorado State University and vice president for applied research for the Colorado State University Research Foundation . From August 2005 to August 2007, he served as Under Secretary of the Air Force...	Aug 14, 2001 – Aug 3, 2005	Donald H. Rumsfeld	George W. Bush George W. Bush George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
John J. Young, Jr. John J. Young, Jr. John Jacob Young, Jr. was United States Assistant Secretary of the Navy from 2001 to 2005 and Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics from 2007 to 2009....	Nov 2, 2005 – Nov 20, 2007	Donald H. Rumsfeld Robert M. Gates	George W. Bush George W. Bush George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
Alan R. Shaffer (Acting)	Nov 21, 2007 – July 1, 2009	Robert M. Gates	George W. Bush George W. Bush George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000.... Barack Obama Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
Zachary J. Lemnios	July 2, 2009 – January 7, 2011	Robert M. Gates	Barack Obama Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
Assistant Secretary of Defense (Research and Engineering)
Zachary J. Lemnios	January 7, 2011 – Present	Leon Panetta Leon Panetta Leon Edward Panetta is the 23rd and current United States Secretary of Defense, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama since 2011. Prior to taking office, he served as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency...	Barack Obama Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...

External links

• Office of the Director, Defense Research and Engineering (DDR&E)
  • A History of the Office of the Director of Defense Research and Engineering