Eric Fanning, former Secretary of the Army, Joins CNAS Board of Advisors

The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) announced today that Eric Fanning, former Secretary of the Army, has joined the CNAS Board of Advisors. He previously served as Chief of Staff to the Secretary of Defense, Under Secretary of the Air Force, Acting Secretary of the Air Force, and Deputy Under Secretary of the Navy, making him the first person to have held senior Presidential appointments in all three military departments.

CNAS’s Board of Advisors is comprised of prominent leaders from the private sector, academia, the military, and government who help inform the Center’s research and expand its community of interest.

“I have known and worked with Eric for many years,” said CNAS Chief Executive Officer Michèle Flournoy. “His broad leadership experience across DoD gives him a unique perspective on the issues confronting our military and the Department. The Board of Advisors is an intellectual resource for CNAS. Eric will bring a broad base of knowledge and insight to helping CNAS craft solutions for U.S. national security.”

Fanning served as Secretary of the Army until January 20, 2017, having previously served as Acting Secretary of the Army and Acting Under Secretary of the Army. Prior to that, he was Chief of Staff to Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter. From 2013 to 2015, he was Under Secretary of the Air Force, also serving as Acting Secretary of the Air Force for much of 2013. From 2009-2013, he served as Deputy Under Secretary of the Navy.

He previously worked for Business Executives for National Security, CBS News, the House Armed Services Committee, and the White House, where he was Associate Director of Political Affairs.

Fanning holds his B.A. from Dartmouth College.

For more information, please contact Neal Urwitz at nurwitz@cnas.org or 202-457- 9409.