Center for a New American Security

The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) is a Washington, D.C.-based national security think tank established in 2007.

It was initially led by co-founders Dr. Kurt M. Campbell, who then served as CEO, and Michèle Flournoy, who then served as President. CNAS says its goal is to develop "strong, pragmatic and principled national security and defense policies that promote and protect American interests and values."

As of November 2008, its program topics include Iraq, energy security and climate change, WMD and nuclear proliferation, terrorism and irregular warfare, U.S. foreign policy, and U.S. military forces and operations.

In 2011 Nathaniel C. Fick was their CEO, and John A. Nagl was their President.

Involvement in the Obama transition team
"When President-elect Barack Obama released a roster of his transition advisers last week, many of the national-security appointments came from the ranks of the center," reported the Wall Street Journal in November 2008. CNAS co-founder Michele Flournoy "is one of two top members of Mr. Obama's defense transition team and is likely to be offered a high-ranking position at the Pentagon. ... Wendy Sherman, co-head of the Obama State Department transition team, also serves on the center's board of advisers and is expected to land a high-ranking post [in the new Administration]. Richard Danzig, a front-runner for defense secretary, is on the think tank's board of directors. Susan Rice and James Steinberg, both of whom are on Mr. Obama's short list for national security adviser, serve on its board of advisers."

Principals and Personnel
Previous CNAS Personnel

Advisory Board
Accessed January 2011:


 * Steve Biegun, Hans Binnendijk, Victor Cha, Dell L. Dailey, Robert Leslie Deak, Peter B. deNeufville, David A. Deptula, Charles Dunlap, Peter D. Feaver, Stephen Friedman, Michael Green, Andrew R. Hoehn, Mary L. Howell, Jill Iscol, Marc Lasry, Jaekwan Lee, Michael O'Hanlon, Chris Raymond, Randy Schriver, Sarah Sewall, Wendy Sherman, Tobby Simon, Jim Thomas, Alexia von Lipsey

Contact information

 * Center for a New American Security
 * 1301 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 403
 * Washington, DC 20004
 * Phone: 202-457-9400
 * Website: www.cnas.org

Related SourceWatch articles

 * Think tanks
 * Center for American Progress
 * Senior Writer in Residence (2011), David Finkel

External articles

 * E.J. Dionne Jr, "The Real Iraq Debate," Washington Post, June 26, 2007.
 * Anne Flaherty, "Marine Chief Worries Force Growing Heavy," The Associated Press, October 15, 2007.
 * Aamer Madhani, "Joint Chiefs Chairman: Army not broken but 'breakable'," Baltimore Sun blog "The Swamp," October 26, 2007.
 * Yochi J. Dreazen, "Obama Dips Into Think Tank for Talent," Wall Street Journal (sub req'd), November 16, 2008.