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DOD Directive 5111.13, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Americas’ Security Affairs (ASD(HD&ASA)) (2009), establishes the position, responsibilities, and authorities of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Americas’ Security Affairs (ASD(HD&ASA)).*

 

The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Global Security ASD(HD&GS), serves as the principal civilian advisor to the Secretary of Defense and the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy (USD(P)) on homeland defense activities (HD), Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA), and Western Hemisphere security matters.

 

The ASD(HD&GS) shall provide overall supervision of HD activities of DOD which include, but are not limited to: the Defense Critical Infrastructure Program (DCIP); domestic antiterrorism; the Defense Continuity Program; other homeland defense-related activities; and alignment of homeland defense policies and programs with DOD policies for counterterrorism and counternarcotics.

 

 

Thomas Atkin

Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Global Security

Tom Atkin is the Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Global Security. He is responsible for advising the Secretary of Defense and Under Secretary of Defense for Policy on policy, strategy, and implementation guidance across a diverse portfolio of national and global security issues. These issues include countering weapons of mass destruction, cyber operations, homeland defense activities, antiterrorism, continuity of government and mission assurance, defense support to civil authorities and space-related matters.


Previously, from November 2014 to August 2015, Mr. Atkin served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Global Security. Prior to his appointment in 2014, Mr. Atkin was a Director for Raytheon U.S. Business Development for Homeland Security. In this capacity he was responsible for linking technological, engineering and service solutions to maritime, border, public safety and other security-related requirements in the homeland security market. Mr. Atkin also served as the Managing Principal of The Atkin Group, a management consulting firm that provided broad strategic and operational counsel on intelligence, maritime security, crisis management, incident response, and interagency coordination to senior government and corporate officials.


Mr. Atkin retired from the Coast Guard as a Rear Admiral (Upper Half) in June 2012 after more than 30 years of service in various operational and strategic roles. He has significant experience across the whole of government and has served in support of the White House National Security Staff, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Navy. His senior leadership positions included serving as Assistant Commandant for Intelligence and Criminal Investigations; acting Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety, Security and Stewardship; Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Transborder Security on the White House National Security Staff; Commander of the Coast Guard Deployable Operations Group; Deputy Principal Federal Official to the FEMA Gulf Coast Joint Field Office; and Chief of Staff to the Principal Federal Official for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. His previous Pentagon assignments were Chief, Maritime Homeland Security and Defense Policy, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Homeland Defense; and Chief, Counter-Terrorism Branch, Chief of Naval Operations (Deep Blue).


He is a graduate from the United States Coast Guard Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Sciences, and holds a Master of Science in Management Science from the University of Miami.

(Note: Mr. Atkin is Acting as of Sept. 2015).