The U.S. Senate on Tuesday confirmed Elbridge Colby as undersecretary for policy in the Defense Department, elevating an Asia-focused hawk who argues that allies in the region should pull more weight amid the threat from China.
Despite his relative youth at age 45, Colby — who spent several years of his childhood in Japan — has substantial experience in the Defense and State departments as well as in intelligence. During President Donald Trump’s first administration, he co-led development of the Pentagon’s National Defense Strategy as a deputy assistant secretary.
