Ashton B. Carter Named Deputy Secretary of Defense

The U.S. Senate on Friday unanimously confirmed Ashton B. Carter as Deputy Secretary of Defense, the second highest-ranking official in the Department of Defense.  Carter, who has served as Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology & Logistics since 2009, is on leave from the Belfer Center’s board of directors. He was co-director of the Center’s Preventive Defense Project until leaving for government in 2009 and served as the director of the Center from 1990-93.

“It won’t surprise anyone who knows Ash to hear that even in this era of unrelenting partisan rancor, the Senate vote to confirm his nomination was unanimous,” said Belfer Center Director Graham Allison, himself a former assistant secretary of defense. “We’re all proud of Ash and pleased for the country.”

“As Under Secretary for Acquisition,” Allison said, “Ash has been in the middle of the toughest calls about the future of the greatest military in the world.  With budgets shrinking, his challenges will be evermore severe.  But he’s the right man for the right job at the right time.  We all wish him well.”

As reported by Theo Emery in the Boston GlobeFriday (Sept. 25):

“After the vote, Panetta praised Carter, saying he has ‘a steady hand, a keen intellect, and an effective management style that will help this department keep faith with our troops and protect our nation.’

‘He is already an essential part of my team as an outstanding undersecretary of defense, and I look forward to his continued guidance and leadership as he assumes his new responsibilities,’ Panetta said.

In his new role, Carter will be central to identifying and carrying out billions of dollars in defense cuts mandated by Congress in a budget deal worked out this summer to reduce the projected federal deficit.

At his confirmation hearing, he warned of the dangers of the across-the-board automatic cuts that will kick in should a congressional committee not come up with an additional $1.5 trillion in cuts necessitated under the deal.”  (See complete Boston Globe article here.)