Richard Williamson Joins CNAS as Non-Resident Senior Fellow

The Center for a New American Security is pleased to announce that Ambassador Richard Williamson joins the CNAS team today as a Non-Resident Senior Fellow.  Ambassador Williamson brings to CNAS extensive foreign policy experience and will focus on diplomacy, democracy promotion, and national security policymaking. 

"Rich will bring great foreign policy expertise and experience to the Center," CNAS President Richard Fontaine said.  "We are very pleased that he is joining us and excited about the intellectual work he will take on in this new role."  

Ambassador Williamson's distinguished career includes many senior government posts.  He has served as the U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN Offices in Vienna (including the International Atomic Energy Agency) and as Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs.  He was Ambassador to the United Nations for Special Political Affairs and served as President George W. Bush's Special Envoy to Sudan. 

In addition to his government roles, Ambassador Williamson has held numerous academic and other appointments.  He is Vice Chairman of the International Republican Institute and a visiting scholar at Northwestern University.  He co-chairs, with former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, the U.S.-China High Level Political Dialogue as well as a study group on the Responsibility to Protect.  He also served as a top national security advisor to Governor Mitt Romney during the 2012 presidential campaign.

"In a town increasingly paralyzed by partisan rancor, CNAS is a place where Democrats and Republicans can work together as a team to advance strong, principled and pragmatic solutions to the toughest national security and foreign policy challenges we face," said CNAS CEO Robert Work. "When doing so, we know that right answers are often not obvious and will actively seek a diversity of views within our own ranks.  That is why I am so happy and excited that Rich Williamson is joining the CNAS team," added Mr. Work. "Given his great credentials and experience, he brings a fresh and different perspective that will only make us stronger."

Ambassador Williamson is a member of the board of several organizations, including Freedom House, the North Korea Human Rights Committee and the U.S. Institute of Peace's policy advisory board.  He has authored several books and numerous articles on national security matters. He received his B.A. with honors from Princeton University and his J.D. from the University of Virginia. 

Click here for Richard Williamson'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.