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JINSA Gemunder Center for Defense and Strategy Welcomes New Leadership

- Wednesday, April 30, 2014 |

(WASHINGTON, DC) – We are pleased to announce that the Gemunder Center for Defense and Strategy will add five prominent new Senior Advisors to play a critical role in its mission to formulate and advocate policy on vital national security issues: Gen. Charles Wald, USAF (ret.), Lt. Gen. David Deptula, USAF (ret.), Stephen Rademaker, John Hannah, and Larry Goldstein. The Center will benefit greatly from the knowledge and experiences of these new Senior Advisors, all of whom currently serve on its Iran Task Force.

JINSA CEO Dr. Michael Makovsky expressed his excitement at the new leadership: “These five additions to JINSA’s Gemunder Center for Defense and Strategy bring with them a over a century of senior policy experience and a wealth of knowledge in military, foreign policy, Congressional, bureaucratic, and economic matters. We are thrilled to have experts of their caliber as Senior Advisors who will help the new Gemunder Center become an important voice in U.S. defense and strategic issues.”

General Charles Wald, USAF (ret.), former Deputy Commander of United States European Command (EUCOM) – General Charles Wald is a proven leader who specializes in global military strategy and development. As EUCOM Deputy Commander he was responsible for developing the air campaign in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Gen. Wald has also served as the Director of Strategic Planning and Policy at USAF Headquarters, Chief of USAF Combat Terrorism Center, and Deputy Chief of Staff for Air and Space Operations at the Pentagon. In 35 years as a USAF command pilot, Gen. Wald accumulated more than 3,600 flying hours and 430 combat hours.
Lieutenant General David Deptula, USAF (ret.), former Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance, U.S. Air Force Headquarters – Lt. Gen. David Deptula is a world-recognized expert in conceptualizing, planning, and executing military operations from humanitarian relief to major combat operations. He served as the principal planner for the air campaigns in Operations Desert Storm and Enduring Freedom, and was twice a Combined/Joint Task Force Commander. During his 34 years of service, Gen. Deptula piloted more than 3,000 flying hours and 400 combat hours. He is a member of the 2013 class of JINSA’s Generals and Admirals Trip participants, and has been published regularly in the Wall Street Journal and multiple defense publications.
The Honorable Stephen Rademaker, former Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Nonproliferation – The Hon. Stephen Rademaker has over 20 years’ experience working on national security issues in multiple branches of government. As Assistant Secretary of State he led multiple bureaus at the State Department, and also directed the Proliferation Security Initiative and nonproliferation policy toward Iran and North Korea. During this time he also headed U.S. delegations to the 2005 Review Conference of Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). On Capitol Hill, Rademaker served as Chief Counsel for the House Select Committee on Homeland Security, and as Deputy Staff Director and Chief Counsel of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. He also held several positions in the George H. W. Bush Administration, including Deputy Legal Advisor to the National Security Council.
John Hannah, former National Security Advisor to the Vice President – John Hannah served in senior foreign policy positions for both Democratic and Republican administrations over the last 20 years. He is currently a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, where he focuses on U.S. strategy. From 2005-2009, he was chief foreign policy advisor in Vice President Dick Cheney’s Office of National Security Affairs, after serving as Deputy National Security Advisor for the Middle East for the Vice President from 2001-2005. Mr. Hannah also served as a senior advisor and speechwriter for Secretary of State Warren Christopher during the Clinton administration, and was a senior member of the State Department’s Policy Planning Staff under George H.W. Bush.
Larry Goldstein, Founder of Energy Policy Research Foundation, Inc. – Larry Goldstein is an internationally-recognized leader in the petroleum industry with experience testifying before both congressional committees and regulatory bodies. He is an expert on developments in domestic and international petroleum markets and has been appointed to the National Petroleum Council, an oil and natural gas advisory committee to the Secretary of Energy. Mr. Goldstein is credited with co-creating the concept of the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve with Mr. John Lichtblau, former Chairman of the Petroleum Industry Research Foundation. Mr. Goldstein is currently a trustee for the Energy Policy Research Foundation and serves as their Director of Special Projects. He was also a founder and President of PIRA Energy Group, a consulting firm retained by nearly 500 companies.

JINSA’s Gemunder Center for Defense and Strategy performs innovative research and advocacy on vital U.S. defense, strategic and other national security issues relating to Israel and the Middle East. The Center’s Iran Task Force examines the diplomatic, economic, and military options available to the United States and its allies to prevent a nuclear-capable Iran.