CNAS Names Michèle Flournoy as CEO; Selects New Board Members

WASHINGTON, May 1, 2014 - The Board of Directors of the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) is pleased to announce that it has selected the Honorable Michèle Flournoy as the Center's next CEO, joining the CNAS executive team with President Richard Fontaine and Executive Vice President and Director of Studies Shawn Brimley.
 
“Michèle Flournoy is widely considered to be one of America’s foremost contributors on national security. Her appointment as CEO is not just good for CNAS, it’s good for America,” said CNAS Board Member Gen. John Allen, USMC, Ret.
 
“Michèle Flournoy is the ideal person to raise CNAS to the next level and in doing so make a significant contribution to the nation,” said Board Member and former Lockheed Martin CEO Norman Augustine. “She is a person of integrity who has the intellectual capacity to address the complex problems that will affect national security in the years ahead.”

February 2009 to February 2012, Ms. Flournoy served as Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. In that capacity, she was the principal adviser to the Secretary of Defense in the formulation of national security and defense policy, oversight of military plans and operations and in National Security Council deliberations. She is a co-founder and former president of CNAS, and has most recently co-chaired the Center’s Board of Directors. She has also been a senior adviser at the Boston Consulting Group.

“I am honored and thrilled to be taking on this leadership position at CNAS at such a consequential time for the United States in the world,” said Ms. Flournoy.

Former CNAS CEO Robert Work was confirmed yesterday by the Senate as the nation’s Deputy Secretary of Defense. During his tenure as the Center's chief executive officer, Mr. Work oversaw the establishment of seven research programs, an increase in the size of the research staff, and a move to new offices.  
 
"Bob Work is among the most gifted analysts and defense leaders of his generation. He will do extraordinary things helping Secretary Hagel lead the Department of Defense,” said former Secretary of the Navy Richard Danzig, a current member and former Chairman of the CNAS Board of Directors. “I am delighted that Michèle will serve as CEO following Bob’s confirmation. CNAS exists to serve the national security. Secretaries Work and Flournoy help us all by their service."

New Board Members

The CNAS Board of Directors is also pleased to announce the selection of four new members: David Hogan, Lewis Kaden, William Kennard and David Schwimmer.

Mr. Hogan has more than 30 years of experience in investment banking and merchant banking. He is currently the non-executive chairman of Mannheim LLC and previously served as senior managing director at the firm since 2001. Hogan has also held executive positions at Citigroup, Saudi International Bank (then an affiliate of J.P. Morgan) and the Gefinor Group. He has been a member of the CNAS Board of Advisors for several years.

Mr. Kaden is the chairman of the Markle Foundation Board of Directors and a trustee at the Century Foundation. Prior to these roles, Kaden was vice president of Citigroup, Inc., where he was a member of Citigroup’s Executive Committee.  He also served at Davis, Polk & Wardwell for more than 30 years.

Amb. Kennard served as United States ambassador to the European Union from 2009-2013 where he focused on promoting transatlantic trade and investment, and eliminating regulatory barriers to commerce. Prior to this appointment, Amb. Kennard was managing director of The Carlyle Group. He joined the firm in 2001 and specialized in telecommunications and media investments.

Mr. Schwimmer is a partner at Goldman Sachs, which he joined in 1998. Before becoming partner, he held a variety of positions at the firm including head of investment banking in Russia, Central and Eastern Europe; co-CEO of Goldman Sachs for Russia/CIS; and chief of staff to the firm’s president.

These new members join a dynamic CNAS board committed to supporting the mission of the Center.

Dr. Kurt Campbell, Chairman of the CNAS Board and former Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs, said, “These important new additions to an already strong and innovative organization help position CNAS for an exciting and productive period ahead.”