The Department of Defense announced that Robert L. Wilkie was sworn in today as assistant secretary of defense for legislative affairs succeeding Dan Stanley. Wilkie was confirmed by the Senate Sept. 29, 2006. He has been serving as the acting assistant secretary of defense for legislative affairs since Jan. 31, 2006.

The Legislative Affairs Office provides support to the Secretary of Defense in his dealings with the White House, cabinet members, members of Congress, and the Department of State.

Wilkie has served 16 years in the military, on Capitol Hill and in the Bush Administration.

Prior to being named assistant secretary, Wilkie served as special assistant to the President for national security affairs and a senior director of the National Security Council where he was a senior policy advisor to then-National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice as well as her successor, Stephen Hadley.

He began his professional career on Capitol Hill as Counsel to Jesse Helms, and later served as legislative director for Rep. David Funderburk of North Carolina. In 1997, he began service as counsel and advisor on international security affairs to Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott.

Wilkie is an intelligence officer in the Navy Reserve on active reserve status. He is a graduate of the College of Naval Command and Staff and received a master's degree from the Army War College. He is also a graduate of the Joint Forces Staff College.

As the son of an Army artillery officer, he resided at Fort Bragg, N.C. and graduated from Fayetteville's Reid Ross Senior High School.

He graduated with honors from Wake Forest University. Wilkie received his Juris Doctor degree from Loyola University, New Orleans. He was also awarded a master's of law in international and comparative law from Georgetown University.