Under secretary of state (U/S) is a title used by senior officials of the United States Department of 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 U.S. secretary of state), 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 In July 1972, the position of deputy secretary superseded that of under secretary of state.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":
Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Under Secretary of State for Management Under Secretary of State for Foreign Assistance, Humanitarian Affairs, and Religious Freedom
In addition to the six under secretaries, the counselor of the State Department, who advises the secretary of state, holds a rank equivalent to under secretary.
Current under secretaries of state Under secretaries of stateOfficeIncumbentTerm beganUnder Secretary of State for Political AffairsJune 5, 2025Under Secretary of State for Economic AffairsJacob HelbergOctober 16, 2025Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International SecurityOctober 10, 2025Under Secretary of State for ManagementJason S. EvansSeptember 22, 2025Under Secretary of State for Foreign Assistance, Humanitarian Affairs, and Religious FreedomAndrew Veprek(Acting)August 28, 2026Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public AffairsOctober 10, 2025
Under secretaries of state, 1919–1972 NameHome stateTerm of officePresident(s) served underFrank PolkNew YorkJuly 1, 1919–June 15, 1920Woodrow WilsonNorman DavisNew YorkJune 15, 1920–March 7, 1921Woodrow Wilson and Warren G. HardingHenry P. FletcherPennsylvaniaMarch 8, 1921–March 6, 1922Warren G. HardingWilliam PhillipsMassachusettsApril 26, 1922–April 11, 1924Warren G. Harding and Calvin CoolidgeJoseph GrewNew HampshireApril 16, 1924–June 30, 1927Calvin CoolidgeRobert E. OldsMinnesotaJuly 1, 1927–June 30, 1928Calvin CoolidgeJ. Reuben ClarkUtahAugust 31, 1928–June 19, 1929Calvin Coolidge and Herbert HooverJoseph P. CottonNew YorkJune 20, 1929–March 10, 1931Herbert HooverWilliam R. Castle Jr.District of ColumbiaApril 2, 1931–March 5, 1933Herbert Hoover and Franklin RooseveltWilliam PhillipsMassachusettsMarch 6, 1933–August 23, 1936Franklin RooseveltSumner WellesMarylandMay 21, 1937–September 30, 1943Franklin RooseveltEdward Stettinius Jr.VirginiaOctober 4, 1943–November 30, 1944Franklin RooseveltJoseph GrewNew YorkDecember 20, 1944–August 15, 1945Franklin Roosevelt and Harry TrumanDean AchesonMarylandAugust 16, 1945–June 30, 1947Harry TrumanRobert A. LovettNew YorkJuly 1, 1947–January 20, 1949Harry TrumanJames E. WebbNorth CarolinaJanuary 28, 1949–February 29, 1952Harry TrumanDavid K. E. BruceVirginiaApril 1, 1952–January 20, 1953Harry TrumanWalter Bedell SmithDistrict of ColumbiaFebruary 9, 1953–October 1, 1954Dwight D. EisenhowerHerbert Hoover Jr.CaliforniaOctober 4, 1954–February 5, 1957Dwight D. EisenhowerChristian HerterMassachusettsFebruary 21, 1957–April 22, 1959Dwight D. EisenhowerC. Douglas DillonNew JerseyJune 12, 1959–January 4, 1961Dwight D. EisenhowerChester BowlesConnecticutJanuary 25–December 3, 1961John F. KennedyGeorge BallDistrict of ColumbiaDecember 4, 1961–September 30, 1966John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. JohnsonNicholas KatzenbachNew JerseyOctober 3, 1966–January 20, 1969Lyndon B. JohnsonElliot RichardsonMassachusettsJanuary 23, 1969–June 23, 1970Richard NixonJohn N. Irwin IINew YorkSeptember 21, 1970–July 12, 1972Richard Nixon
See also
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. The Department of State's list of former and current positions.