Dates February 1964-May 1966 March 1961-February 1963 December 1964-February 1967 August 1966-September 1968 LETTER FROM SECRETARY OF DEFENSE MELVIN R. LAIRD OF February 13, 1969. Hon. HENRY M. JACKSON, DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: This is in further reply to your letter of January 7, 1969 concerning the State/Defense Exchange Program. We in the Department of Defense sincerely appreciate your longstanding interest in this Program and I am pleased to provide the information you requested in your letter to Secretary Clifford. I have attached to this letter a listing of Defense participants in the Program, both of military officers and of Defense civilian personnel who have been assigned under the Exchange Program. You will note that the list reflects the current grade and assignment of those individuals still on active service. I think it is apparent that a significant number have been promoted since their exchange assignment, and that their promotions and their subsequent assignments reflect favorably upon the quality of personnel selected to participate in the Exchange Program. During the past two years, our administrative handling of the Program has been improved. Up-to-date position descriptions have been prepared for each of our Defense positions in the State Department. Copies of these descriptions are available to the Services, to assure that officers nominated for the Program meet the desired qualifications. Officers so selected must be approved by the Assistant Secretary of Defense, International Security Affairs, and officials at a similar level in the State Department. While officers assigned under this Program normally expect a two-year tour of duty, command assignments or senior level schooling are considered sufficient reason for early release from the Program, upon the assignment of a qualified replacement. I believe that the objectives visualized by the Secretaries of Defense and State, when the Program was established in 1960, are being realized. These objectives include the development of "a broadened perspective," "the broadening of personal contacts among senior officers" from the two departments, and the establishment "of a nucleus of highly trained senior officers within the two departments, each having a profound and comprehensive understanding of the subject matter and viewpoint of the other department." From the Defense point of view, I am satisfied that our input to the Program consists of outstanding officers who can best utilize the experience to be gained, and can best provide to Defense the benefits which should accrue as a result of the Program. We shall continue to observe this Program with interest, and will always welcome suggestions to improve its value to the national security. Sincerely, MELVIN R. LAIRD. Attachment: Listing of Defense participants in the Program. Promoted to RAdm-Assigned as Com- Promoted to RAdm-Assigned as Com- Assigned as Commanding Officer, Franklin |