Political-Military Affairs (PM)

The Bureau of the Political-Military Affairs (PM) builds enduring security partnerships to advance U.S. national security objectives. The Bureau of Political-Military Affairs is the Department of State’s principal link to the Department of Defense. The PM Bureau provides policy direction in the areas of international security, security assistance, military operations, defense strategy and plans, and defense trade.

• Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC): Ensuring commercial exports of defense articles and defense services advance U.S. national security and foreign policy objectives. The Department of State is responsible for the export and temporary import of defense articles and services governed by 22 U.SC. 2778 of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) and Executive Order 13637. The International Traffic in Arms Regulations (“ITAR,” 22 CFR 120-130) implements the AECA. The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs at the U.S. Department of State implements the ITAR including the United States Munitions List (USML).
• Office of Congressional and Public Affairs (PM/CPA): The Office of Congressional and Public Affairs (CPA) is responsible for facilitating effective communication and interaction between the Assistant Secretary and the staff of the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs and the Congress, foreign and domestic media, and the general public. CPA is responsible for managing the PM Bureau’s congressional affairs, public affairs, and public diplomacy functions.
• Office of State-Defense Integration (PM/SDI): The Office of State-Defense Integration (PM/SDI) promotes and facilitates closer synchronization and coordination between the Department of State (DOS) and Department of Defense (DoD) by managing several high-profile political-military programs and functions. These include the Foreign Policy Advisor (POLAD) and Military Advisor (MILAD) programs; DoD visits to the Department (military education, pre-deployment briefings, and senior leader engagements); DoD requests for DOS participation in military exercises; DOS approvals of Foreign Government Employment (FGE) requests from retired military personnel; and PM University training courses for DOS personnel. These programs and functions build partnerships and foreign policy expertise in matters pivotal to both DOS and DoD. The end result is that both agencies more efficiently and effectively advance U.S. national security interests, prepare for and respond to emerging threats, and ensure the strategic alignment of our U.S. military and diplomatic efforts.
• Office of Global Programs and Initiatives (PM/GPI): The Office of Global Programs and Initiatives (PM/GPI) integrates strategic approaches with programmatic support to promote international cooperation on a broad range of global security issues. PM/GPI is comprised of three divisions: Peace Operations Capacity Building, Security Forces Capacity Building, and Aviation and Operations – and a team that is implementing the Strategic Impact Assessment Framework.
• Office of Security Assistance (PM/SA): The Office of Security Assistance (SA) has three core functions: (1) managing State Department Title 22 military grant assistance – to include directing over $6 billion annually in U.S. military grant assistance to allies and friends through policy development, budget formulation, and program oversight; (2) managing concurrence/coordination on various Department of Defense (DoD) Title 10 authorities, including joint planning and development of section 333; and (3) participating in, and coordinating State Department input into, DoD planning efforts.
• Office of Security Negotiations and Agreements (PM/SNA): The mission of Security Negotiations and Agreements (PM/SNA) is to strengthen the nation’s security partnerships throughout the world by coordinating, negotiating and concluding international agreements to meet U.S. security requirements.
• Office of Regional Security and Arms Transfers (PM/RSAT): The Office of Regional Security and Arms Transfers (RSAT) advances U.S. foreign policy and national security interests through its management of bilateral/ multi-lateral political-military and regional security relations and the sale/transfer of U.S.-origin defense articles and services to foreign governments.
• Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement (PM/WRA): The Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement in the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs (PM/WRA) works to deliver programs and services aimed at reducing the harmful effects of at-risk, illicitly proliferated, and indiscriminately used conventional weapons of war.