Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security

Based in the U.S. Department of State, the Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security is the Senior Adviser to the President and the Secretary of State for Arms Control, Nonproliferation, and Disarmament. This official participates in National Security Council (NSC) and subordinate meetings pertaining to arms control, nonproliferation, and disarmament and has the right to communicate, through the Secretary of State, with the President. Ellen Tauscher is the incumbent in the Obama administration.

The Under Secretary leads the U.S. government interagency policy process on nonproliferation, arms control, regional security and defense relations, and arms transfers and security assistance. Policy direction is provided in additional areas, including weapons of mass destruction, conventional weapons proliferation, peace operations and security alliances.

By delegation from the Secretary, the Under Secretary carries out responsibilities of the Foreign Assistance Act, Arms Export Control Act, and related legislation, and directs the [[Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation and the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs. One might say the Under Secretary is the Secretary of Defense of the Department of State.