Three Experts Join CNAS Natural Security and Asia-Pacific Security Programs

Dr. Nancy Brune Joins CNAS Natural Security Program; Oriana Skylar Mastro and Dr. Ely Ratner Join CNAS Asia-Pacific Security Program

cnas, nancy brune, oriana mastro, ely ratner, asia

Washington, April 4, 2012 — The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) is pleased to welcome three distinguished experts to its senior research team: Dr. Nancy Brune, Senior Policy Analyst at Sandia National Laboratories; Oriana Skylar Mastro, a Northeast Asia and China expert and doctoral candidate in the Politics department at Princeton University; and Dr. Ely Ratner, Associate Political Scientist at the RAND Corporation on leave at the China Desk at the State Department.

Dr. Brune joins CNAS as a Non-Resident Senior Fellow and was previously the Director of Research and Policy at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Institute for Security Studies, where she directed the Energy Security Policy Initiative. She is currently on the international advisory board of the Journal of Energy Security, and has worked on issues of renewable energy, the smart grid and energy storage. "Nancy's extensive research on issues of energy security, the energy-water-security nexus and the impacts of climate change will be an enormous asset to our Natural Security program," said CNAS Vice President and Director of Studies Dr. Kristin Lord. "CNAS has strived to highlight energy, natural resources and climate change as issues that deserve serious attention from the national security and defense community, and Nancy's deep expertise in these areas will further our research in this critical field."

Ms. Mastro is a Center for Strategic and International Studies Pacific Forum Sasakawa Peace Fellow, a 2012-2013 University of Virginia Miller Center National Fellow and a United States Air Force Reserve Officer. She joins the CNAS Asia-Pacific program as a Fellow. "Oriana brings deep expertise as a leading scholar on U.S.-China policy and fluent Mandarin skills. She is also an Air Force Reserve Officer, and so she understands first-hand the importance of the military perspective in her field of research," said CEO Nathaniel Fick.

Dr. Ratner will join CNAS as a Fellow in September when he completes his Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellowship, which he is currently pursuing in the Office of Chinese and Mongolian Affairs at the State Department as the lead political officer covering China's external relations in Asia. "Ely's experience conducting research and long-term analysis on the rise of China, the People's Liberation Army and East Asian security will be a tremendous asset to the Center's Asia program," said Dr. Lord. "At a time when U.S. policymakers and military leaders are increasingly looking at the national security challenges and opportunities in Asia, Oriana and Ely's expertise in this area will significantly enhance our ability to provide cutting-edge analysis of this critical region."

Click here for Dr. Nancy Brune's full biography.

Click here for Oriana Skylar Mastro's full biography.

Click here for Dr. Ely Ratner's full biography.

The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) is an independent and nonpartisan research institution that develops strong, pragmatic and principled national security and defense policies. CNAS leads efforts to help inform and prepare the national security leaders of today and tomorrow.

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