White House taps State Department's Derek Chollet to fill Pentagon's top policy post

US Department of State Counselor Derek Chollet applauds during the Pahlawan Warrior opening ceremony at Lumut Camp, Brunei, on June 13, 2022. (DVIDS)

WASHINGTON — The White House announced plans today to nominate Derek Chollet as the Pentagon’s next under secretary of defense for policy, taking over for Colin Kahl, who left the job earlier this month.

If is he is able to successfully navigate the Senate-confirmation process, Chollet will play an integral role determining the Pentagon’s positions at a time when the department eyes China as a top competitor, war rages in eastern Europe and debates over social issues have entangled the DoD at home.

It would not be Chollet’s first turn inside the five-sided building. Prior to working at the US State Department as a counselor, where he’s been the last two years, he served the assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs. He also worked inside the White House as a special counsel to the president and senior director for strategic planning on the National Security Council (NSC) staff, according to his official bio.

The last Pentagon policy chief, Kahl, stepped down earlier this month and took a position at Stanford’s Center for International Security and Cooperation. For now, Sasha Baker is serving as the acting under secretary of defense for policy.

The Biden administration now needs to formally submit Chollet’s nomination to Congress before the Democratic-led Senate Armed Services Committee weighs in on the timing of his confirmation hearing. While that process may proceed quickly, Chollet isn’t expected to receive a vote on the Senate floor any time soon due to Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s high-profile blockade of military appointments. His protest, aimed at a military reproductive policy that reimburses service members travel expenses including for abortions, is preventing the full chamber from voting on groups of nominees together.