The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, or ASD(PA) is the principal staff advisor and assistant to the Secretary of Defense and Deputy Secretary of Defense for public information, internal information, community relations, information training, and audiovisual matters in support of Department of Defense activities, leading a worldwide public affairs community of some 3,800 military and civilian personnel. The Assistant Secretary follows the Secretary's Principles of Information in providing Defense Department information to the public, the United States Congress and the media.