Oral history interview with Ashton "Ash" B. Carter, 2021
Abstract
Ashton "Ash" Carter reflects on his service in the Obama administration, in which he served as undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology, and logistics from 2009 to 2011; deputy secretary of defense from 2011 to 2013; and United States secretary of defense from 2015 to 2017. Carter speaks widely about his development and influences as a public servant, views on the relationship between politics and the Department of Defense, and experience in the Obama administration. He describes the broad portfolio of issues and initiatives with which he was closely involved, with particular attention to the international campaign against ISIS; the war in Afghanistan, especially during the final years of the Obama administration; and the administration's Asia rebalance, in which state resources and attention were redirected from the Middle East to the Asia Pacific region. Carter also discusses the consequences of the uncertainty surrounding federal budgets during the Obama years on the operations of the Department of Defense, his relations with Congress, the opening of all combat roles to women, and President Obama's approach to deliberations about security issues
Presidents--United States; Afghan War, 2001-2021; Women in combat--United States; Carter, Ashton B; Obama, Barack; IS (Organization); United States. Department of Defense. Appropriations and expenditures; United States. Congress
Format
oral histories
Genre
Interviews
Date
2021
Physical Description
30 pages
Note (Biographical)
Ashton "Ash" Carter was a government official who served as as the secretary of defense from 2015 to 2017. Prior to that, Carter served as deputy secretary of defense from 2011 to 2013, and undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology, and lo gistics from April 2009 to October 2011. These appointments came during a lengthy career in public policy and public service, during which he served as assistant secretary of defense for international security policy during President Clinton's first term; was a member of the Defense Science Board from 1991 to 1993 and from 1997 to 2001, the Defense Policy Board from 1997 to 2001, and then-Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's International Security Advisory Board from 2006 to 2008. At the time of the interview, Carter was director of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School. He passed away in 2022
Note
Interviewed by Evan D. McCormick on July 9, 2021. This interview is part of the Columbia University: Obama Presidency Oral History
Note (Provenance)
Ashton "Ash" B. Carter, Gift, transferred from Columbia Center for Oral History Research 2023