Under Secretary of State (U/S) is a title used by senior officials of the
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State (DOS), or simply the State Department, is an United States federal executive departments, executive department of the U.S. federal government responsible for the country's foreign policy of the United State ...
who rank above the
Assistant Secretaries and below the
Deputy Secretary.
From 1919 to 1972, the Under Secretary was the second-ranking official at the Department of State (immediately beneath the
United States Secretary of State
The United States secretary of state (SecState) is a member of the executive branch of the federal government of the United States and the head of the U.S. Department of State.
The secretary of state serves as the principal advisor to the ...
), serving as the Secretary's principal deputy, chief assistant, and Acting Secretary in the event of the Secretary's absence. Prior second-ranking positions had been the
Chief Clerk, the Assistant Secretary of State, and the
Counselor. Prior to 1944, a number of offices in the Department reported directly to the Under Secretary. In July 1972, the position of
Deputy Secretary superseded that of Under Secretary of State.
The following is a list of current offices bearing the title of "Under Secretary of State":
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Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs
The under secretary of state for political affairs is currently the fourth-ranking position in the United States Department of State, after the United States Secretary of State, secretary, the United States Deputy Secretary of State, deputy secre ...
*
Under Secretary of State for Management
The under secretary of state for management (M) is a position within the United States Department of State that serves as principal adviser to the United States Secretary of State, secretary of state and United States Deputy Secretary of State, d ...
*
Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment
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*
Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs
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Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights
In addition to the six Under Secretaries, the
Counselor of the Department, who advises the Secretary of State, holds a rank equivalent to Under Secretary.
Current Under Secretaries of State
Under Secretaries of State, 1919–1972
See also
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List of undersecretary positions
*
Undersecretary
References
External links
The Department of State's list of Under Secretaries in the period that it was the second-ranking position
United States Department of State
United States diplomacy
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