Arnold Punaro

Arnold Punaro is chief executive officer of The Punaro Group, LLC, a Washington-based firm he founded in 2010 specializing in federal budget and market analysis, business strategy and capture, acquisition due diligence, government relations, communications, sensitive operations, business risk analysis and compliance, and crisis management. He consults for a broad array of Fortune 100 companies and was recognized by Defense News as one of the 100 most influential individuals in U.S. Defense in 2012 and 2013.

In November 2013, Mr. Punaro was selected to a two-year term as the Chairman of the National Defense Industrial Association, the country’s largest defense industry association with over 1,600 corporate and 91,000 individual members. He’s also Chairman of the Reserve Forces Policy Board, which serves as an independent advisor to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel on Reserve and National Guard matters.

He served on the Defense Business Board as a founding member since its inception in 2001 until the completion of his current term in January 2014. From 2005-2008, he was the Chairman of the Independent Commission on the National Guard and Reserves. He’s also served as a task force member for U.S. Special Envoy for Middle East Regional Security, a Commissioner on the Independent Commission on the Iraqi Security Force, Deputy Executive Director of the U.S. Commission on National Security/21st Century, and chaired the Defense Reform Task Force for Secretary of Defense William Cohen in 1997.

As an executive vice president at Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) from 1997 to 2010, Mr. Punaro served as a sector manager, deputy president of the Federal Business Segment, and led SAIC's Corporate Business Development organization. He was the senior corporate official responsible for SAIC's government affairs, worldwide communications and support operations, to include crisis and risk management, as well as general manager of their Washington operations and supervisor of SAIC's corporate Small and Disadvantaged Business office.

From 1973 to 1997, Mr. Punaro worked for Senator Sam Nunn in National Security matters. He served as his director of National Security Affairs and then as Staff Director of the Senate Armed Services Committee (eight years) and Staff Director for the Minority (five years). In his work with Senator Nunn and the Senate Armed Services Committee, he was involved in the formulation of all major defense and intelligence legislation, the oversight and review of all policy and programs, and civilian and military nominations.

A retired U.S. Marine Corps Major General, he served as the Director of the Marine Corps Reserve, Deputy Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command (Mobilization), and for three years as the Commanding General of the 4th Marine Division. Other assignments were Commanding General, Marine Corps Mobilization Command, and Deputy Commander, Marine Forces Reserve. In December 1990, he was mobilized for Operation Desert Shield. In December 1993, he completed a tour of active duty as Commander of Joint Task Force Provide Promise (Forward) in the former Yugoslavia. He was mobilized for a third time in May 2003 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He served on active duty as an Infantry Platoon Commander in Vietnam where he was awarded the Bronze Star for valor and the Purple Heart.

He is on the Board of Advisors for Center for a New American Security, Senior Adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. and a visiting scholar at the Bipartisan Policy Center. He serves on the non-profit boards of the Atlantic Council, the University of Georgia’s School of Public and International Affairs, the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, and the Georgia Institute of Technology Sam Nunn School of International Affairs.

Mr. Punaro is the recipient of numerous recognitions including two Secretary of Defense Medals for Exceptional Public Service. He received the Marine Corps League's "Iron Mike" Award in 1993 for "exceptionally outstanding service" and "unwavering commitment" for over 20 years to "insuring a strong national defense." He has received the Air Force Association's "Exceptional Service Award," the National Guard "Minuteman Award,” the Army’s “Outstanding Civilian Service Medal,” the Reserve Officers Association’s “Minuteman of the Year “ Award, and was the recipient of the SAIC's "Founders Award" and two special CEO awards. He has over 20 military awards and decorations to include the Distinguished Service Medal as well as numerous civic awards.

He has a Masters of Arts degree from the University of Georgia and a Masters of Arts degree from Georgetown University, the latter in national security studies. He was on the Adjunct Faculty of the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University for ten years where he taught an annual graduate level course entitled "National Security Decision Making."