J. Daniel Howard Carlucci and his deputy, General Colin Powell. Howard focussed on arms control issues and remained through the signing of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in January 1988. He also dealt with many issues associated with the Iran–Contra affair. On December 21, 1987, President Reagan nominated Howard to serve as Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) and Howard would hold this post from February 1988 through May 1989. He worked for Secretary of Defense Frank Carlucci and dealt with the aftermath of the shooting down of Iran Air Flight 655 by the U.S.S. "Vincennes" and the explosion of a gun mount
Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment principal assistant to the Secretary of Defense for research and development, production, procurement, logistics, and military construction. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 removed the position of USD(AT&L), and in its place it created the position of USD(R&E) once again, as well as the new position of USD(A&S). These changes took effect on 1 February 2018. As part of the reorganization, the "Assistant Secretary of Defense for Logistics and Materiel Readiness" (ASD(L&MR)) and "Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment" (ASD(EI&E)) positions were combined into a new "Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment". Officials reporting