Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low-Intensity
Conflict & Interdependent Capabilities
Michael G. Vickers, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low-Intensity Conflict & Interdependent Capabilities, during an November 16, 2007 interview at the Pentagon. With his owlish glasses and nasally voice, Vickers isn't Hollywood's version of an international man of mystery. Yet this unassuming ex-Green Beret and former CIA agent engineered the clandestine arming of the Afghan rebels who drove the Soviet Union out of their country nearly a quarter century ago in what was the largest covert action in the spy agency's history.
Sorry Charlie, This Is Michael Vickers's War
The Washington Post by by Ann Scott Tyson
December 28, 2007
The CIA Agent behind “Charlie Wilson's War”
- - Michael Vickers, from the shadows to the silver screen
The Journal News by Richard Lardner
December 26, 2007
Interview with Michael G. Vickers
Special Operations Technology by Jeff McKaughan
November 14, 2007
Special Operations Official Sets Priorities for Future
- - Presentation by Michael G. Vickers
American Forces Press Service by John J. Kruzel
Sept. 10, 2007
The Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments
Collection of Presentations and White Papers (PDF Files)
by Michael G. Vickers
For Guidance on Iraq, look to Afghanistan: Use fewer U.S. troops, not more
USA Today Op-Ed by Michael G. Vickers
June 27, 2004
The Invisible Government: A Closer Look at Pakistani Intelligence
Asharq Alawsat Newspaper by Omar Farouk
The Leading Arabic International Daily - English Edition
November 20, 2006
Secret War that Undermined Saddam
The Scotsman by Alex Massie
April 26, 2003
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Michael G. Vickers Biographical Data
The White House, President George W. Bush
For Immediate Release - Office of the Press Secretary
April 4, 2007
President George W. Bush today announced his intention to nominate ten individuals, appoint twelve individuals, recess appoint four individuals and designate one individual to serve in his Administration. The President today also announced that he has appointed one individual to serve in his Administration.
The President intends to nominate Michael G. Vickers, of California, to be Assistant Secretary of Defense (Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict, and Interdependent Capabilities). Mr. Vickers currently serves as Senior Vice President for Strategic Studies at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments. Prior to this, he served as an Operations Officer at the Central Intelligence Agency. Earlier in his career, he served as a Special Forces Officer with the United States Army. Mr. Vickers received his bachelor's degree from the University of Alabama and his master's degree from the University of Pennsylvania.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/04/20070404-4.html
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Mr. Michael G. Vickers, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low-Intensity Conflict & Interdependent Capabilities (SO/LIC&IC)
CURRENT ASSIGNMENTS: Michael G. (“Mike”) Vickers was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Special Operations/Low-Intensity Conflict & Interdependent Capabilities) on July 23, 2007. He is the senior civilian advisor to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense on the capabilities and operational employment of special operations forces, strategic forces, and conventional forces. He is also the senior civilian advisor on counterterrorism strategy, irregular warfare, and force transformation.
PAST EXPERIENCES: Prior to his appointment as ASD (SO/LIC&IC), Mr. Vickers served as Senior Vice President, Strategic Studies, at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA). In this capacity, Mr. Vickers provided advice on Iraq strategy to President Bush and his war cabinet. He also was a senior advisor to the 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review, and Executive Director of the QDR “Red Team,” which provided an assessment of the QDR for the Deputy Secretary and Vice Chairman. In late 2005, Mr. Vickers conducted an independent assessment of special operations forces (“The Downing Report”) for the Secretary of Defense. He is the author of numerous publications, among which is “The Revolution in War” (2004).
From 1973 to 1986, Mr. Vickers served as an Army Special Forces Non-Commissioned Officer, Special Forces Officer, and CIA Operations Officer. During this period, Mr. Vickers had operational and combat experience in Central America and the Caribbean, the Middle East, and Central and South Asia. His operational experience spans covert action and espionage, unconventional warfare, counterterrorism (including hostage rescue operations), counterinsurgency, and foreign internal defense.
During the mid-1980s, Mr. Vickers was the principal strategist for the largest covert action program in the CIA’s history: the paramilitary operation that drove the Soviet army out of Afghanistan. Mr. Vickers oversaw a major change in U.S. strategy, provided strategic and operational direction to an insurgent force of more than 300 unit commanders, 150,000 full-time fighters, and 500,000 part-time fighters, coordinated the efforts of more than ten foreign governments, and controlled an annual budget in excess of $2 billion in current dollars.
Mr. Vickers received his B.A., with honors, from the University of Alabama. He also holds an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He is married to Melana Zyla Vickers, and has five daughters.
Source: Department of Defense: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
http://www.defenselink.mil/policy/sections/leadership/asd/vickers.html