The Honorable Maurice L. Todd
The Honorable Maurice L. Todd was sworn in as the Assistant Secretary of War for Readiness on February 23, 2026. As the Assistant Secretary, Dr. Todd serves as the principal staff assistant and advisor to the Secretary of War and Under Secretary of War for Personnel and Readiness on all matters related to the readiness of the Total Force.
Dr. Todd is a graduate of West Point with a Bachelor of Science in General Engineering and Mideast Studies. He earned a Master of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University, a Master of Arts in Military Art & Science from the U.S. Army School of Advanced Military Studies, and a Ph.D. in International Relations from the University of St. Andrews.
Dr. Todd has served in senior roles across the Department of War, the Department of State, and international organizations, as well as in the private sector. Most recently, he was Professor and the Director of the Countering Transnational Organized Crime Program at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies. His previous positions include Deputy Director for Intelligence and Security for U.S. Joint Interagency Task Force South, Deputy Director for Strategy, Plans, and Engagement for U.S. Special Operations Command Africa, and Special Advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy.
He has extensive operational experience, having served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for the Intelligence Enterprise at NATO’s Operation Resolute Support Headquarters and Senior Advisor to the Commander of Nato Special Operations Command/U.S. Special Operations Joint Task Force in Kabul, Afghanistan. Dr. Todd has also served as a senior intelligence and counterterrorism advisor to the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Defense Intelligence Agency, U.S. Central Command, and the New York City Police Department Counterterrorism Bureau. Furthermore, he was seconded by the Department of State to serve as Deputy Head of Mission to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina following the Dayton Accords.
Dr. Todd served as a Combat Arms Officer, War Planner, Strategist, Intelligence Officer, and Foreign Area Officer in the U.S. Army in assignments around the world. He is a rated U.S. Army aviator and airborne qualified. Dr. Todd was also awarded British Army Pilot Wings by the U.K. MOD while serving on exchange with the British Army in support of the Gurkha Field Force in Hong Kong.
Dr. Todd has received multiple awards and decorations for his distinguished civilian and military service.