Assistant Secretary of State for Conflict and Stabilization Operations

U.S. government position

United States Assistant Secretary of State for Conflict and Stabilization Operations
Seal of the United States Department of State
Incumbent Anne Witkowsky since January 10, 2022
Reports to	Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights
Nominator	President of the United States
Inaugural holder	Rick Barton
Formation	2011
Website	Official website

The Assistant Secretary of State for Conflict and Stabilization Operations is the head of the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations within the United States Department of State, supporting the department's conflict and crisis-response efforts.^[1] The assistant secretary reports to the Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights.

The first assistant secretary, Rick Barton, was nominated by President Barack Obama on November 29, 2011,^[2] and confirmed by the Senate on March 29, 2012.^[3]

The current assistant secretary is Anne Witkowsky.^[4]

Responsibilities

The Assistant Secretary of CSO is the Secretary of State's senior adviser on instability, conflict, and stabilization.^[5] The assistant secretary's responsibilities include:

Formulating and implementing policies on conflict prevention, response, stabilization policies, and programs under the overall direction of and in coordination with the Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights;
Leading the development of a unique brand of conflict prevention and mitigation analysis, programming, and operations in coordination with relevant department bureaus and other agencies;
Working with other U.S. government agencies such as the Department of Defense to strengthen the U.S. government's analysis and planning to conduct operations that prevent political violence, atrocities, and the spread or emergence of violent extremism such as white supremacy, white nationalism, radical Islam, Mafia, etc.^{[citation needed]}
Engaging with the U.S. Congress in coordination with the Bureau of Legislative Affairs on conflict prevention, response, and stabilization capabilities and operations;
Strengthening staff expertise to serve as an early warning, analysis, planning, and monitoring capability for conflict prevention and response for the Atrocities Prevention Board (APB), as well as the department, Chiefs of Mission, and other USG agencies;
Working with relevant partners, including NATO, nongovernmental organizations, foreign governments, international/regional organizations, the private sector, and the public to harmonize civilian and military plans.^[5]^[1]

List of Assistant Secretaries of State for Conflict and Stabilization Operations

Name	Assumed office	Left office	President(s) served under
Rick Barton	March 30, 2012	September 30, 2014^[6]	Barack Obama
John Hushek (acting)	August 17, 2015	December 30, 2015	Barack Obama
David Malcolm Robinson	January 4, 2016	January 31, 2017^[7]	Barack Obama
Thomas J. Hushek (acting)	August 15, 2017	April 24, 2018	Donald Trump
Denise Natali	October 18, 2018	December 22, 2020	Donald Trump
Alexander Alden (acting)	December 22, 2020	January 20, 2021	Donald Trump
Robert J. Faucher (acting)^[8]	January 20, 2021	January 10, 2022	Joe Biden
Anne Witkowsky	January 10, 2022	Incumbent	Joe Biden

References

^ ^a ^b Serafino, Nina (October 10, 2012). "In Brief: State Department Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations (CSO)" (PDF). Congressional Research Service. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
^ "President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts". whitehouse.gov. November 29, 2011. Retrieved November 15, 2015 – via National Archives.
^ "Senate Ends March Madness With Lots of State Dept Confirmations". Diplopundit. April 2, 2012. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
^ "Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations". United States Department of State. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
^ ^a ^b "1 FAM 470 Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations". Foreign Affairs Manual. November 10, 2015. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
^ "Departure of Assistant Secretary for Conflict and Stabilization Operations". U.S. Department of State. August 13, 2014. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
^ "Trump's state department purge sparks worries of 'know-nothing approach' to foreign policy". The Guardian. January 27, 2017. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
^ "Robert J. Faucher ACTING ASSISTANT SECRETARY BUREAU OF CONFLICT AND STABILIZATION OPERATIONS". United States Department of State. Retrieved April 15, 2021.