Policy Planning Staff
Encyclopedia
The Policy Planning Staff (sometimes referred to as the Policy Planning Council or by its in-house acronyms S/P) is the chief strategic arm of the United States Department of State
. It was created in 1947 by renowned Foreign Service Officer
George F. Kennan
at the request of Secretary of State
George Marshall
to serve "as a source of independent policy analysis and advice for the Secretary of State." Its first assignment was to design the Marshall Plan
. Past directors include George F. Kennan, Paul Nitze
, and Richard Haass.
The Staff is headed by the Director of Policy Planning
. The current director is Jake Sullivan.
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
. It was created in 1947 by renowned Foreign Service Officer
Foreign Service Officer
A Foreign Service Officer is a commissioned member of the United States Foreign Service. As diplomats, Foreign Service Officers formulate and implement the foreign policy of the United States. FSOs spend most of their careers overseas as members of U.S. embassies, consulates, and other diplomatic...
George F. Kennan
George F. Kennan
George Frost Kennan was an American adviser, diplomat, political scientist and historian, best known as "the father of containment" and as a key figure in the emergence of the Cold War...
at the request of Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
George Marshall
George Marshall
George Catlett Marshall was an American military leader, Chief of Staff of the Army, Secretary of State, and the third Secretary of Defense...
to serve "as a source of independent policy analysis and advice for the Secretary of State." Its first assignment was to design the Marshall Plan
Marshall Plan
The Marshall Plan was the large-scale American program to aid Europe where the United States gave monetary support to help rebuild European economies after the end of World War II in order to combat the spread of Soviet communism. The plan was in operation for four years beginning in April 1948...
. Past directors include George F. Kennan, Paul Nitze
Paul Nitze
Paul Henry Nitze was a high-ranking United States government official who helped shape Cold War defense policy over the course of numerous presidential administrations.-Early life, education, and family:...
, and Richard Haass.
The Staff is headed by the Director of Policy Planning
Director of Policy Planning
The Director of Policy Planning is the United States Department of State official in charge of the Department's internal think tank, the Policy Planning Staff. The position of Director of Policy Planning has traditionally been held by many members of the U.S. foreign policy establishment...
. The current director is Jake Sullivan.