American government official (born 1970)
Kathleen Anne Holland Hicks
[1]
[2]
(born September 25, 1970)
[1]
[3]
is an American government official who has served as the
United States deputy secretary of defense
since 2021. She is the first Senate-confirmed woman in this role and is the highest ranking woman to have served in the
United States Department of Defense
.
Hicks previously served as the
principal deputy
under secretary of defense for policy
during the
Obama administration
.
[4]
By 2020, Hicks was an
academic
and national security advisor working as a senior vice president and director of the international security program at the
Center for Strategic and International Studies
.
[5]
Education
[
edit
]
Hicks completed a B.A. in history and politics at
Mount Holyoke College
in 1991, where she graduated with
magna cum laude
and
Phi Beta Kappa
honors.
[6]
In 1993, she earned an M.P.A. in national security studies at
University of Maryland, College Park
.
[7]
Hicks completed a Ph.D. in political science from
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
in 2010.
[8]
Her dissertation was titled
Change Agents: Who Leads and Why in the Execution of U.S. National Security Policy
.
Charles Stewart III
was Hicks' doctoral advisor.
[7]
Career
[
edit
]
From 1993 to 2006, Hicks was a career
civil servant
in the
Office of the Secretary of Defense
, rising from
Presidential Management Intern
to the
Senior Executive Service
. She was a senior fellow at the
Center for Strategic and International Studies
(CSIS) from 2006 to 2009, leading a variety of
national security
research projects.
[6]
During the
Obama administration
in 2009, Hicks was appointed deputy undersecretary of defense for strategy, plans, and forces.
[9]
In 2012, Hicks was the
principal deputy under secretary of defense for policy
during the
Obama administration
.
[10]
In that role, she was a liaison for the 2010
Quadrennial Defense Review
and oversaw the 2012 Defense Strategic Guidance.
[11]
Hicks was a presidentially appointed commissioner for the National Commission on the Future of the Army.
[6]
She was also appointed to the Commission on the
National Defense Strategy
of the United States.
[6]
She is a
Member of the Council on Foreign Relations
and has served on the boards of
The Aerospace Corporation
and the
U.S. Naval Institute
,
[12]
[13]
as well as the boards of advisors for the
Truman National Security Project
and
SoldierStrong
.
[6]
Hicks formerly served as a senior vice president, Henry A. Kissinger Chair, and director of the international security program at CSIS. She concurrently served as the Donald Marron scholar at the
Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies
.
[11]
In 2020, Hicks led the
United States Department of Defense
(DoD) agency review team, tasked with reviewing issues related to defense and national security during the
presidential transition of Joe Biden
.
[14]
United States Deputy Secretary of Defense
[
edit
]
On December 30, 2020, Hicks was announced as then U.S. President-elect Joe Biden's nominee for the
United States deputy secretary of defense
. She appeared before the
Senate Armed Services Committee
on February 2, 2021.
[15]
She was confirmed by
voice vote
by the full Senate on February 8, 2021 and sworn into office on February 9, 2021.
[16]
She is the first Senate-confirmed woman in this role.
[17]
Hicks is the highest ranking woman to have served in the DoD.
[18]
Hicks has launched initiatives that attempt to shorten technology adoption timelines and speed fielding of new defense capabilities.
[19]
She spearheaded Replicator, an initiative initially focused on fielding autonomous systems to help counter China's military.
[20]
She oversees the military's first
commercial space
integration strategy,
[21]
as well as several of the
Pentagon's
largest
missile defense
and long-range strike programs.
[22]
[23]
She is also in charge of the military's efforts related to
climate change
.
[24]
Hicks established the Deputy's Workforce Council in the DoD to address workforce challenges such as extremism and a lack of diversity.
[25]
She has also focused on efforts to take care of service members and their families,
[26]
including countering
sexual assault and harassment
and preventing
suicide
.
[27]
[28]
[29]
In April 2023, Hicks was interviewed by comedian
Jon Stewart
, who confronted her about the
military defense budget
and spending priorities, and suggested there is too much "waste, fraud, and abuse" within the DoD.
[30]
According to
Military Times
, she responded by "conceding past shortcomings in spending priorities but insisting that the
current administration
has focused more on correcting those issues".
[31]
The segment generated negative press attention.
[32]
In January 2024, Hicks temporarily assumed the functions and duties of the
secretary of defense
while
Lloyd Austin was hospitalized
. Hicks performed the role of secretary of defense while vacationing in
Puerto Rico
, but was left unaware of the reason why for three days.
[33]
In February 2024, Austin transferred his authority to Hicks while again being hospitalized.
[34]
Selected works
[
edit
]
- Hicks, Kathleen; Ridge, Eric (2007).
Planning for Stability Operations: The Use of Capabilities-based Approaches
. Center for Strategic and International Studies.
ISBN
978-0-89206-515-8
.
- Hicks, Kathleen H. (2008).
Invigorating Defense Department Governance: A Beyond Goldwater-Nichols, Phase 4, Report
. Center for Strategic and International Studies.
ISBN
978-0-89206-528-8
.
- Hicks, Kathleen H.;
Wormuth, Christine E.
; Ridge, Eric (2009).
The Future of U.S. Civil Affairs Forces
. Center for Strategic and International Studies.
ISBN
978-0-89206-568-4
.
- Alterman, Jon B.; Hicks, Kathleen H. (2015).
Federated Defense in the Middle East
. Rowman & Littlefield.
ISBN
978-1-4422-5881-5
.
- Hicks, Kathleen H.;
Metrick, Andrew
; Samp, Lisa Sawyer; Weinberger, Kathleen (August 2, 2016).
Undersea Warfare in Northern Europe
. Rowman & Littlefield.
ISBN
978-1-4422-5968-3
.
- Hicks, Kathleen H.; Samp, Lisa Sawyer (2017).
Recalibrating U.S. Strategy toward Russia: A New Time for Choosing
. Rowman & Littlefield.
ISBN
978-1-4422-8006-9
.
- Hicks, Kathleen H.; Lauter, Louis; McElhinny, Colin (2018).
Beyond the Water's Edge: Measuring the Internationalism of Congress
. Rowman & Littlefield.
ISBN
978-1-4422-8088-5
.
References
[
edit
]
- ^
a
b
"Nominations Before The Senate Armed Services Committee, Second Session, 112th Congress"
.
U.S. Congress
. 2013
. Retrieved
February 4,
2021
.
- ^
"PN79-5 ? Kathleen Holland Hicks ? Department of Defense"
.
U.S. Congress
. Retrieved
January 21,
2021
.
- ^
"Hicks, Kathleen H."
Virtual International Authority File
. Retrieved
December 30,
2020
.
- ^
Department of Defense Key Officials September 1947?December 2020
(PDF)
. Historical Office, Office of the Secretary of Defense. p. 35
. Retrieved
January 22,
2021
.
- ^
Vislocky, Jana (February 19, 2021).
"Who's Who in Defense: Kathleen Hicks, Deputy Secretary Of Defense"
.
Breaking Defense
. Retrieved
August 20,
2023
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
"Biography: Commission on the National Defense Strategy for the United States"
(PDF)
.
Commission on the National Defense Strategy for the United States
. Retrieved
December 30,
2020
.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the
public domain
.
- ^
a
b
Hicks, Kathleen H. (2010).
Change Agents: Who Leads and Why in the Execution of U.S. National Security Policy
(Ph.D. thesis). Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
hdl
:
1721.1/59793
.
OCLC
671485930
.
- ^
Zimmerman, Leda (May 4, 2020).
"A forum for female voices in international security"
.
MIT News
. Retrieved
December 30,
2020
.
- ^
Rozen, Laura (April 2, 2009).
"Pentagon appointments"
.
Foreign Policy
. Retrieved
December 31,
2020
.
- ^
Sullivan, Kate; Lee, MJ (December 30, 2020).
"Biden names Kathleen Hicks as first woman deputy defense secretary"
.
CNN
. Retrieved
December 30,
2020
.
- ^
a
b
Seck, Hope Hodge (December 30, 2020).
"Biden Taps Kathleen Hicks to Be the Pentagon's First Female Deputy SecDef"
.
Military.com
. Retrieved
December 30,
2020
.
- ^
"Biden picks first woman to serve as US deputy defence secretary"
.
The Straits Times
.
SPH Media
. January 1, 2021 – via
Bloomberg News
.
- ^
Shelbourne, Mallory.
"Senate Confirms Kathleen Hicks As Deputy Defense Secretary"
.
United States Naval Institute
. Retrieved
February 9,
2021
.
- ^
Beinart, Matthew (November 11, 2020).
"Biden Announces Transition Team Reviewing Pentagon, Led By CSIS' Kathleen Hicks"
.
Defense Daily
. Retrieved
May 20,
2024
.
- ^
"How Kathleen Hicks will approach nukes, shipbuilding and the budget"
. DefenseNews. February 2, 2021
. Retrieved
February 2,
2021
.
- ^
"DOD Announces New Deputy Secretary of Defense"
(Press release). U.S. Department of Defense. February 9, 2021
. Retrieved
February 9,
2021
.
- ^
Seligman, Lara (December 30, 2020).
"Kathleen Hicks is Biden's pick to be first female deputy Defense secretary"
.
Politico
. Retrieved
December 30,
2020
.
- ^
Hinchliffe, Emma; Goodkind, Nicole (November 12, 2021).
"The highest-ranking female official at the Pentagon is used to being the only woman in the room"
.
Fortune
. Retrieved
August 20,
2023
.
- ^
Knight, Will (May 2, 2022).
"To Win the Next War, the Pentagon Needs Nerds"
.
Wired
.
Conde Nast
.
OCLC
24479723
.
He suggests that advocates for change, such as Hicks, can only do so much... Martell was appointed by Hicks to help advance adoption and use of the technology.
- ^
Replicator:
- ^
Erwin, Sandra (November 27, 2023).
"Pentagon looks to commercial space for an edge"
.
SpaceNews
.
ISSN
1046-6940
.
Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks, who has spearheaded Pentagon efforts to bring cutting-edge technology into defense programs, is overseeing the military's first commercial space integration strategy.
- ^
McLeary, Paul (February 2, 2021).
"DepSecDef Will Run Most Missile Defense, Nuke Modernization; SecDef Recused"
.
Breaking Defense
. Retrieved
May 23,
2024
.
- ^
McLeary, Paul (February 24, 2021).
"New Hicks Memo Sets Acquisition, Force Posture 2022 Budget Priorities"
.
Breaking Defense
. Retrieved
May 23,
2024
.
- ^
Liebermann, Oren; Kaufman, Ellie (November 20, 2021).
"Senior Pentagon official warns the US military is 'not ready' for climate change"
.
CNN
.
Hicks, the first woman to hold the Pentagon's number two position, leads the military's different efforts on climate change.
- ^
Bender, Bryan (March 11, 2021).
"EXCLUSIVE: Hicks to establish 'workforce council'
"
.
Politico
.
- ^
Myers, Meghann (February 15, 2024).
"DOD looks to revamp housing, facilities on military installations"
.
Military Times
.
- ^
Doornbos, Caitlin (September 22, 2021).
"Pentagon reveals plan to address sexual assault and harassment in the military ranks"
.
Stars and Stripes
.
- ^
"Top Pentagon official urges Congress to change military system for sex assault cases"
.
United Press International
. July 21, 2021 – via
Medill News Service
.
- ^
Vanden Brook, Tom (June 8, 2023).
"Alaska's army bases see glimmer of hope after 'horrifically high' suicide rates among soldiers"
.
USA Today
.
Senior defense officials, led by Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks, sought out troops, commanders and counselors during a recent visit as the Defense Department assesses what's worked and what hasn't in combatting despair. Hicks' tour came as the Pentagon sorts through dozens of recommendations from an independent commission on combatting suicide in the military.
- ^
"
"That's f**king corruption!": Jon Stewart corners top Pentagon official in epic confrontation"
.
Salon
. Retrieved
January 30,
2024
.
- ^
"Jon Stewart blasts 'corruption' in Pentagon spending priorities"
.
Yahoo News
. Retrieved
January 30,
2024
.
- ^
"In a second Trump or Biden term, who'd be the next defense chief?"
.
Politico
. Retrieved
January 30,
2024
.
- ^
Bertrand, Natasha; Liebermann, Oren; Britzky, Haley; Liptak, Kevin (January 7, 2024).
"Deputy defense secretary was not told Austin had been hospitalized when she assumed his duties"
. CNN.
- ^
"Lloyd Austin hospitalized for a bladder issue; duties transferred to deputy defense secretary"
.
NBC News
. Retrieved
February 12,
2024
.
External links
[
edit
]
|
---|
- Secretary of Defense
- Lloyd Austin
- Deputy Secretary of Defense
- Kathleen Hicks
- Secretaries of the Military Departments
Secretary of the Army
:
Christine Wormuth
- Secretary of the Navy
:
Carlos Del Toro
- Secretary of the Air Force
:
Frank Kendall III
- Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
- Gen
Charles Q. Brown Jr.
,
USAF
- Under Secretaries of the Military Departments
Under Secretary of the Army
:
Gabe Camarillo
- Under Secretary of the Navy
:
Erik Raven
- Under Secretary of the Air Force
:
Kristyn E. Jones
(acting)
- Under Secretaries of Defense for
Acquisition and Sustainment
:
William A. LaPlante
- Research and Engineering
:
Heidi Shyu
- Policy
:
Amanda J. Dory
(acting)
- Comptroller/Chief Financial Officer
:
Michael J. McCord
- Personnel and Readiness
:
Ashish Vazirani
(acting)
- Intelligence
:
Milancy Harris
(acting)
- Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
- ADM
Christopher W. Grady
,
USN
- Chiefs of the Military Services
Chief of Staff of the Army
: GEN
Randy A. George
- Commandant of the Marine Corps
: Gen
Eric M. Smith
- Chief of Naval Operations
: ADM
Lisa M. Franchetti
- Chief of Staff of the Air Force
: Gen
David W. Allvin
- Chief of Space Operations
: Gen
B. Chance Saltzman
- Chief of the National Guard Bureau
- GEN
Daniel R. Hokanson
,
USA
- Unified Combatant Command
Commanders
Africa
: Gen
Michael E. Langley
,
USMC
- Central
: GEN
Michael E. Kurilla
,
USA
- Cyber
: Gen
Timothy D. Haugh
,
USAF
- European
: GEN
Christopher G. Cavoli
,
USA
- Indo-Pacific
: ADM
Samuel J. Paparo Jr.
,
USN
- Northern
: Gen
Gregory M. Guillot
,
USAF
- Southern
: GEN
Laura J. Richardson
,
USA
- Space
: Gen
Stephen N. Whiting
,
USSF
- Special Operations
: GEN
Bryan P. Fenton
,
USA
- Strategic
: Gen
Anthony J. Cotton
,
USAF
- Transportation
: Gen
Jacqueline Van Ovost
,
USAF
| |
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