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International Health Division

The International Health Division of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs) advises the Assistant Secretary on international health issues The division develops policy and sponsors research on health stability operations, humanitarian assistance, disaster response and counterinsurgency.

In 2005, the Department of Defense issued DoDD 3000.05, based upon recent experience in Iraq and Afghanistan. This directive requires that "stability, security, transition and reconstruction operations" be given the same emphasis in planning, resourcing and training as major combat operations receive. The newly-confirmed ASD(HA), Dr. S. Ward Casscells, recognized the essentially neutral nature of health and its potential contribution to stability operations. He created the International Health Division (IHD) within Force Health Protection and Readiness. In this scheme, the division's head is a GS-15 who reports to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (FHP&R), while receiving primary tasking from the ASD(HA).