Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs

Assistant Secretary of Defense
for Personnel and Readiness
Flag of an Assistant Secretary of Defense
since 1 March 2023
Department of Defense
AbbreviationASD (HA)
Member ofOffice of the Secretary of Defense
Reports toSecretary of Defense
AppointerThe President
with Senate advice and consent
Term lengthAt the pleasure of the President
First holderDr. Louis M. Rousselot
Salary$165,300
WebsiteOfficial website

The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs (ASD(HA)) is chartered under United States Department of Defense Directive (DoDD) 5136.1[1] in 1994. This DoDD states that the ASD(HA) is the principal advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Defense on all "DoD health policies, programs and activities." In addition to exercising oversight of all DoD health resources, ASD(HA) serves as director of the Tricare Management Activity.

The ASD(HA) reports to the Undersecretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness), or USD(P&R). A political appointee responsible for the United States Department of Defense's Military Health System, the ASD(HA) is an Executive Service Level IV official. He or she is nominated by the president of the United States, and confirmed by the United States Senate.

  1. ^ "Directives Division" (PDF). Dtic.mil. 2017-07-12. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 22, 2011. Retrieved 2019-06-19.

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