Statement by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III on the Upcoming Departure of Acting Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Sasha BakerPentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat[...]

Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Sasha Baker will step down at the end of April. I am deeply grateful for her outstanding contributions to the Department and to U.S. national security.

Acting Under Secretary Baker was asked to step into a difficult and critical position, and she has been a pillar of strength and wisdom. Under her leadership, our Policy team has helped the Department navigate a range of complex global challenges, including major crises in Ukraine and the Middle East. Her strategic acumen and steadfast commitment to our national security have helped her play a pivotal role in shaping our defense policies, tackling emerging threats, and strengthening interagency relationships and international alliances.

As Acting Under Secretary Baker moves on to her next chapter, we wish her continued success and thank her for her service to the Department and the United States.

Amanda Dory, a career civil servant and OSD Policy veteran who is currently the Director of the Africa Center for Strategic Studies at the National Defense University in Washington, DC, will perform the duties of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy when Acting Under Secretary Baker departs.

I urge the United States Senate to confirm Derek Chollet, our outstanding nominee to serve as Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. At this crucial moment for U.S. defense policy, the Department needs a confirmed principal adviser in this critical role.