Center for a New American Security Names New President

The Board of Directors of the Center
for a New American Security (CNAS) is pleased to announce that today it
selected Richard Fontaine as the
Center's next President.  Mr. Fontaine, who joined CNAS in 2009 and
currently serves as a Senior Advisor and Senior Fellow, will assume his
new role immediately.



Mr. Fontaine is a leading expert on foreign policy and national security
matters.  While at CNAS he has written or contributed to major studies on
U.S.-India relations, Internet freedom and cyber security, the management of
21st-century diplomacy and American grand strategy.



"I first came to know Richard when we had opposing roles as national
security advisors - him for Senator McCain and me for then-Senator Obama. 
I greatly respected him then and greatly admire him now. CNAS will be much
enhanced by his service as its president," said CNAS Board Chairman Dr. Richard
Danzig.



Mr. Fontaine succeeds Dr. John Nagl, who was named the Minerva Research Fellow
at the U.S. Naval Academy in December 2011 and remains a Non-Resident Senior
Fellow at CNAS. Mr. Fontaine joins the CNAS leadership
team with CEO Nathaniel C. Fick and Executive Vice President and Director of
Studies Dr. Kristin Lord.



"Kristin and I have had the pleasure of working with Richard over the past
three years, and we are delighted to have him assume the presidency of
CNAS," said Mr. Fick.  "He is a terrific colleague, and I look
forward to seeing CNAS continue to flourish under his leadership."



Before joining CNAS, Mr. Fontaine served as the foreign policy advisor to
Senator John McCain from 2004 to 2008 and as foreign policy advisor to the
McCain 2008 presidential campaign. Prior to working for Senator McCain,
Mr. Fontaine was Associate Director for Near Eastern Affairs on the National
Security Council (NSC) staff and a policy analyst in the NSC's Asian Affairs
Directorate.  He worked at the State Department in the office of former
Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and in the Department's South Asia
bureau. He previously served as the Legislative Assistant responsible for
Middle East and South Asian affairs on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
staff and has worked in Japan.



A native of New Orleans, Mr. Fontaine graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in
International Relations from Tulane University. He also holds an M.A. in
International Affairs from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International
Studies in Washington, and he attended Oxford University. He is a member of the
Council on Foreign Relations and an adjunct professor in the Security Studies
Program at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service.



"Richard is one of the most thoughtful and highly-respected foreign policy
experts of his generation, known not only for his intellect but for his ability
to work effectively with everyone," stated CNAS Board member and former
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.



Deputy Secretary Armitage, who is also a CNAS Board member, added,
"Richard was a great asset to our team at State and will be a superb
leader at CNAS. You will be hearing plenty from him in the future."



For all press inquiries, contact Deputy Director of External Relations Sara
Conneighton at (202) 457-9429 or [email protected].

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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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