The Pentagon has quietly appointed Michael Gancio as the acting assistant secretary for space policy, succeeding Marc Berkowitz, whose departure has not been officially detailed by the Department of Defense (DOD). A spokesperson thanked Berkowitz for his service, marking a transition that was reflected in updates to the DOD’s website but not publicly announced.
Berkowitz, who started his role in January after Senate confirmation, was responsible for the strategic oversight of space and missile defense policy. Gancio, who previously served as Berkowitz’s deputy, has now taken on dual roles within the department. He has extensive experience in the intelligence community, including positions at the Defense Intelligence Agency and as the deputy national intelligence officer for space.
This shift in leadership follows the DOD’s rebranding as the War Department under the Trump administration.
