Department of Defense
DIRECTIVE
NUMBER 5205.75
December 4, 2013
Incorporating Change 1, May 22, 2017
USD(I)/USD(P)
SUBJECT: DoD Operations at U.S. Embassies
References: See Enclosure 1
1. PURPOSE. This directive:
a. Reissues DoD Directive (DoDD) 5105.75 (Reference (a)) as DoDD 5205.75 to establish
policy and assign responsibilities for the operation of DoD elements at U.S. embassies pursuant
to sections 2321i and 3927(a) and (b) of Title 22, United States Code (U.S.C.) (Reference (b))
and section 113(b) of Title 10, U.S.C. (Reference (c)), and consistent with the President’s letter
of instruction to Chiefs of Mission (Reference (d)).
b. Designates the senior defense official/defense attaché (SDO/DATT) as the principal DoD
official in U.S. embassies, who serves as the diplomatically accredited defense attaché (DATT)
and chief of the security cooperation organization (SCO) (if an SCO is present).
c. Provides direction to the SDO/DATT and establishes the management relationship
between the SDO/DATT and the heads of other DoD elements at U.S. embassies.
d. Provides guidance on the consolidation of U.S. defense attaché offices (DAOs) and SCOs
in diplomatic missions.
e. Incorporates and cancels DoDD 5132.12 (Reference (e)).
2. APPLICABILITY. This directive applies to OSD, the Military Departments (including the
Coast Guard at all times, including when it is a Service in the Department of Homeland Security
by agreement with that Department), the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and
the Joint Staff, the Combatant Commands, the Office of the Inspector General of the Department
of Defense, the Defense Agencies, the DoD Field Activities, and all other organizational entities
within the DoD (referred to collectively in this directive as the “DoD Components”).
