State-Defense Cooperation.

• Author: Jones, David T.

Text:

State-Defense Cooperation

by Andrew Shapiro, Assistant Secretary of State

Text: http://csis.org/files/attachments/120808_Transcript_Shapiro.pdf

Video: http://csis.org/event/ushering-new-era-state-defense-cooperation (click on video)

Reviewed by David T. Jones

On 8 August, Andrew Shapiro, the State Department's Assistant Secretary for Political-Military Affairs (PM), addressed the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He explored a hardy perennial: State-Defense Cooperation. Indeed, Shapiro delivered the equivalent of a primer on what PM does and how it works with the Defense Department.

Improved Collaboration. A new (as of January) State-Defense Memorandum of Understanding rationalizes personnel exchanges; it specifies numbers for each agency, State students in Defense Department schools, a two-star deputy assistant secretary for PM, and the expanded POLAD program. The latter has doubled in the past four years with Foreign Service Officers now posted in every service headquarters, unified combatant command, and most subordinate commands (previously POLADS were primarily assigned to four-star "chiefs" and combatant commanders).

More Integrated Planning. Greater State input to the Quadrennial Defense Review (and Defense Department input for State's QDDR).

Improved State Ability in Security Partnerships. State's responsibility in security agreements, SOFA, defense cooperation...