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
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical & Biological Defense Programs US Energy Research and Development Administration and the US Department of Energy) on all matters relating to military applications of atomic weapons or atomic energy. It addressed matters of policy, programming, and funding of the military application of atomic energy. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1987 (P.L. 99-661, passed in November 1986) abolished the Military Liaison Committee, replacing it with the Nuclear Weapons Council. Just over a year later, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1988-1989 (P.L. 100-180) created the position of Assistant to the Secretary of Defense (Atomic Energy). In 1994, the Assistant to