View source for Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs

{{Short description|United States government official}}
{{Infobox official post
| post                    = Assistant Secretary
| body                    = Defense<br />for Personnel and Readiness
| native_name             = 
| insignia                = 
| insigniasize            = 
| insigniacaption         = 
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| flag                    = Flag of an U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense.svg
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| flagalt                 =
| flagborder              = 
| flagcaption             = Flag of an Assistant Secretary of Defense
| image                   = 
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| incumbent               = Dr. Steve Ferrara
| acting                  = yes
| incumbentsince          = January 20, 2025
| department              = [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]]
| style                   = 
| type                    = 
| status                  = 
| abbreviation            = ASD (HA)
| member_of               = [[Office of the Secretary of Defense]]
| reports_to              = [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]]
| residence               = 
| seat                    = 
| nominator               = 
| appointer               = The [[President of the United States|President]]
| appointer_qualified     = with [[United States Senate|Senate]] [[advice and consent]]
| termlength              = [[At the pleasure of the President]]
| termlength_qualified    = 
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| precursor               = 
| formation               = 
| first                   = Dr. [[Louis M. Rousselot]]
| last                    = 
| abolished               = 
| succession              = 
| unofficial_names        = 
| deputy                  = 
| salary                  = $165,300
| website                 = {{url|https://www.health.mil/About-MHS/OASDHA/ASDHA|Official website}}
}}
{{External links|date=June 2019}}
The '''Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs''' ('''ASD(HA)''') is chartered under [[United States Department of Defense]] Directive (DoDD) 5136.1<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/513601p.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110322205035/http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/513601p.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 22, 2011 |title=Directives Division |publisher=Dtic.mil |date=2017-07-12 |access-date=2019-06-19}}</ref> in 1994. This DoDD states that the ASD(HA) is the principal advisor to the [[U.S. Secretary of Defense]] on all "DoD health policies, programs and activities." In addition to exercising oversight of all DoD health resources, ASD(HA) serves as director of the Tricare Management Activity.

The ASD(HA) reports to the [[Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness|Undersecretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness)]], or USD(P&R). A political appointee responsible for the United States Department of Defense's Military Health System, the ASD(HA) is an Executive Service Level IV official. He or she is nominated by the [[president of the United States]], and confirmed by the [[United States Senate]].