Under Secretary for Political Affairs

The Under Secretary for Political Affairs is the fourth ranking position in the United States Department of State, after the Secretary and the two Deputy Secretaries. While the positions of Secretary and Deputy Secretary are occupied by political appointees, the position of Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs is usually (but not always) occupied by a career Foreign Service Officer, making the occupant the highest-ranking member of the Foreign Service. The position has been vacant since Wendy Sherman's departure in October 2015. Thomas A. Shannon, Jr. is slated to succeed Sherman as the new Under Secretary, pending confirmation by the U.S. Senate.