The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, or ASD(PA) is the principal staff advisor and assistant to the Secretary of Defense and Deputy Secretary of Defense for public information, internal information, community relations, information training, and audiovisual matters in support of Department of Defense activities, leading a worldwide public affairs community of some 3,800 military and civilian personnel. The Assistant Secretary follows the Secretary's Principles of Information in providing Defense Department information to the public, the United States Congress and the media.
The current ASD(PA) is Douglas B. Wilson, who previously served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs under former Defense Secretary William S. Cohen.
The ASD (PA) is the principal but not the sole spokesperson for the Department. In July 2011, the ASD (PA) announced the appointment of two additional spokespersons for the Department. George E. Little, one of two Deputy Assistant Secretaries of Defense for Public Affairs, serves concurrently as the Pentagon Press Secretary. Navy Captain John Kirby, former spokesman for Admiral Michael Mullen, the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, now serves as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Media Operations and Spokesman. Both Little and Kirby serve as spokesmen for the Secretary of Defense and for the Department.
Read more about Assistant Secretary Of Defense For Public Affairs: Roles and Responsibilities, History, Office Holders
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