Center for a New American Security

Arnold Punaro is chief executive officer of the Punaro Group, LLC, a Washington-based firm offering government relations, strategic planning, federal budget and market analysis, communications, crisis and emergency management, business development and sensitive operations consulting.
Formerly an executive vice president at Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) from 1997 to 2010, 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. In previous SAIC positions, he served as a sector manager, deputy president of the Federal Business Segment, and ran SAIC's Corporate Business Development organization.

Serving as a member on the Defense Business Board (DBB), he is currently chairing a DBB task force for Secretary of Defense Gates on reducing Department of Defense (DoD) overhead. He is a Senior Associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. He serves on the non-profit boards of the Atlantic Council, the National Defense Industrial Association, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) and Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, as well as the for-profit boards of Sourcefire, Inc., and DesignLine Corporation. In January 2005, he was named to chair the statutory Commission on the National Guard and Reserves established by public law 108-375. The Commission submitted three reports and completed their work in April, 2008 with most of their recommendations largely adopted by DoD and the Congress. In partnership with the Center for New American Security Studies (CNAS), he is co-chairing a review and will issue a “Report Card” in September 2010 covering the implementation of the Commission’s recommendations. In 1997, he chaired The Defense Reform Task Force for Secretary of Defense William Cohen, supporting the Secretary’s Defense Reform Initiative. He served as Deputy Executive Director of the U.S. Commission on National Security/21st Century (1998-2001). He also served as a Commissioner on the Statutory Independent Commission on the Iraqi Security Forces which submitted their assessment to Congress on September 6, 2007. In 2008 he was a task force member for retired U.S. Marine Corps General Jim Jones, then the U.S. Special Envoy for Middle East Regional Security.

 
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 and the oversight and review of all major defense and intelligence activities for over two decades.

 

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 Decisionmaking."
 
A retired U.S. Marine Corps Major General, he was assigned as the Director of the Marine Corps Reserve from May 2001 to October 2003, as Deputy Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command (Mobilization) from August 2000 to May 2001. From 1997 to 2000, he served as the Commanding General of the 4th Marine Division headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana. His previous assignments as a general officer were Commanding General, Marine Corps Mobilization Command, Kansas City, Missouri, and Deputy Commander, Marine Forces Reserve. 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. In December 1990, he was mobilized for Operation Desert Shield in Saudi Arabia. In December 1993, he completed a tour of extended 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.

Mr. Punaro is the recipient of numerous recognitions including the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service in March, 2009. In August 1993, he received the Marine Corps League's "Iron Mike" Award 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” and was the recipient of SAIC's "Founders Award" and two special CEO awards. He has over 20 military awards and decorations to include the Distinguished Service Medal.