Assistant Secretary of Defense for Mission Capabilities
U.S. Department of Defense official
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The assistant secretary of defense for mission capabilities (ASD(MC)) is a position in the United States Department of Defense responsible for the overall supervision of mission capabilities, prototype testing, and the demonstration of "multi-domain" concepts.[1] The officeholder is the principal advisor to the under secretary of defense for research and engineering.
| Assistant Secretary of Defense for Mission Capabilities | |
|---|---|
Flag of an assistant secretary of defense | |
since May 11, 2026 | |
| United States Department of Defense | |
| Abbreviation | ASD(M&C) |
| Reports to | Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering |
| Appointer | The president with Senate advice and consent |
| Term length | Appointed |
| Formation | July 24, 2023 |
| First holder | James Caggy |
| Salary | Executive Schedule |
| Website | Official website |
The position was created in 2023, under the leadership of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.[2]
In July 2025, President Donald Trump nominated James Caggy to the position.[1]
List of assistant secretaries of defense for mission capabilities
| No. | Assistant Secretary | Term | Ref. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Term length | ||
| Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy | ||||||
| - | Thomas J. Browning Acting | July 24, 2023 | January 20, 2025 | 1 year, 180 days | [3] | |
| - | Marcia Holmes Acting | January 20, 2025 | September 29, 2025 | 252 days | [4] | |
| - | Alex Lovett Acting | September 29, 2025 | December 29, 2025 | 91 days | - | |
| 1 | James Caggy | December 29, 2025 | May 11, 2026 | 133 days | - | |
| - | Jeremy Verbout Acting | May 11, 2026 | Incumbent | 33 days | - | |
