Leslye A. Arsht

Leslye A. Arsht has served as the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy since February 2006. In this role, she is responsible for policy, advocacy and oversight for all community support to service members and their families, including: quality of life issues; state liaison initiatives; child development and youth programs; military spouse career advancement; the off-duty education program for military personnel; tuition assistance; the Morale, Welfare and Recreation program; defense resale for commissaries and exchanges; transition assistance for separating service members; and family violence prevention and intervention. Her oversight also includes casualty and mortuary affairs, military funeral honors and oversight of Military OneSource.

Arsht has been part of the office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness since June 2004. Her focus since that time has been on education, military spouse career opportunities and employment for severely injured service members.

Prior to this appointment, Arsht was a senior advisor to Iraq's Ministry of Education. For nine months, she aided in the re-establishment of Iraq's primary and secondary schools, developing a four-year strategic plan and advising The New ministry as it began a national dialogue on curriculum reform. She was presented the Joint Civilian Service Commendation award by Ambassador Paul Bremer for her service. In June 2005, Arsht was chosen as the grand prize winner of the Good Housekeeping Award for Women in the Government.

Arsht's career in communications and education policy spans over 30 years. She has been counselor to now U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee during his term as the U.S. secretary of education; co-founder of the non-profit education consulting firmStandards Work;and associate vice chancellor for news and public affairs at Vanderbilt University. She also served as a deputy press secretary and deputy assistant to President Ronald Reagan from 1987-1989.

A native of Houston, Arsht is a graduate of the University of Houston. She sits on the board of trustees at Franklin Pierce College in New Hampshire.