Undersecretary of Defense for Policy (2009-2012), Co-Founder & Managing Partner of WestExec Advisors, Co-Founder & Former CEO of Center for a New American Security (CNAS)
Michèle Flournoy: Biography at a Glance
- Michèle Flournoy is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of WestExec Advisors, and former Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), where she currently serves on the board.
- From the stage, Michèle breaks down the most difficult international challenges facing the country and puts them in a broader strategic context, distilling lessons for today’s leaders.
- Michèle served as the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy from February 2009 to February 2012. She was the principal advisor to the Secretary of Defense in the formulation of national security and defense policy, oversight of military plans and operations, and in National Security Council deliberations.
- Prior to confirmation, Michèle co-led President Obama’s transition team at the Defense Department.
- Michèle co-founded CNAS, a bipartisan think tank dedicated to developing strong, pragmatic and principled national security policies. She served as CNAS’ President until 2009, and returned as CEO in 2014. In 2017, she co-founded WestExec Advisors, a strategic advisory firm.
- Michèle serves on the boards of Booz Allen Hamilton, Amida Technology Solutions, The Mission Continues, Spirit of America, and CARE. She serves on the advisory boards The War Horse and on the honorary advisory committee of The Leadership Council for Women in National Security.
Biography
Michèle Flournoy is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of WestExec Advisors, and former Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), where she currently serves on the board.
Michèle served as the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy from February 2009 to February 2012. She was the principal advisor to the Secretary of Defense in the formulation of national security and defense policy, oversight of military plans and operations, and in National Security Council deliberations. She led the development of the Department of Defense’s 2012 Strategic Guidance and represented the Department in dozens of foreign engagements, in the media and before Congress.
Prior to confirmation, Michèle co-led President Obama’s transition team at the Defense Department.
In January 2007, Michèle co-founded CNAS, a bipartisan think tank dedicated to developing strong, pragmatic and principled national security policies. She served as CNAS’ President until 2009, and returned as CEO in 2014. In 2017, she co-founded WestExec Advisors, a strategic advisory firm.
Previously, she was senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies for several years and, prior to that, a distinguished research professor at the Institute for National Strategic Studies at the National Defense University (NDU).
In the mid-1990s, she served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy and Threat Reduction and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy.
Michèle is the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including: the American Red Cross Exceptional Service Award in 2016; the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service in 1998, 2011, and 2012; the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff’s Joint Distinguished Civilian Service Award in 2000 and 2012; the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service in 1996; and CARE’s Global Peace, Development and Security Award in 2019. She has edited several books and authored dozens of reports and articles on a broad range of defense and national security issues. Michèle appears frequently in national and international media, including CNN’s State of the Union, ABC’s This Week, NBC’s Meet the Press, BBC News, NPR’s Morning Edition and All Things Considered and PBS’ News Hour, and is frequently quoted in top tier newspapers.
Michèle serves on the boards of Booz Allen Hamilton, Amida Technology Solutions, The Mission Continues, Spirit of America, and CARE. She serves on the advisory boards The War Horse and on the honorary advisory committee of The Leadership Council for Women in National Security. Michèle is also a former member of the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board, the CIA Director’s External Advisory Board, and the Defense Policy Board, and is currently a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Aspen Strategy Group, and is a Senior Fellow at Harvard’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs.
Michèle earned a bachelor’s degree in social studies from Harvard University and a master’s degree in international relations from Balliol College, Oxford University, where she was a Newton-Tatum scholar.
Topics
National Security Around the World
Michèle Flournoy has served in senior positions in National Security and Defense policy-making over the span of more than 25 years. She has deep knowledge of all aspects of National Security decision-making, as well as defense and intelligence policy. Based on her extensive experience in government, think tanks, and the private sector, she offers a unique perspective and ability to explain how external factors ranging from geopolitical trends to the evolving technology landscape, to changes in Washington and in other capitals around the world affect our security and prosperity here at home. Flournoy offers an “around the world” assessment of the challenges and opportunities we face in today’s dynamic environment, including: China and the Indo-Pacific; Europe and NATO; Russia; the Arab world and the Middle East; South Asia; evolving terrorist threats and U.S. homeland security; and transnational challenges like climate change, pandemics threats and proliferation.
Women in Leadership
Study after study has shown that more diverse teams make better decisions and that organizations that include women in their senior leadership ranks outperform those that don’t. Nevertheless, women still face numerous obstacles and challenges in advancing in their careers and reaching their full potential in nearly every sector. Drawing on her own experience as the most senior woman in the Department of Defense and her work with other organizations to enhance the diversity of their leadership, Flournoy details the challenges that remain as well as some of the most promising approaches.
Leadership Lessons Learned: Effectively Managing Dynamic Organizations
From transforming the culture and performance of a large Pentagon bureaucracy, to turning an idea into a high-impact non-profit, to starting a successful new business from scratch, Flournoy shares insights from her experience as a leader and entrepreneur in the public, non-profit and private sectors. Drawing from more than 30 years working with Presidents and Cabinet members, CEOs and nonprofit leaders, Flournoy offers 10 lessons on how to lead change and create collaborative, high performance teams and organizations.
Innovation and National Security in a Time of Technological Change
With the emergence of competitors like a resurgent Russia and a rising China, the advent of new technologies and military capabilities, and increased competition in domains like space and cyberspace, the United States can no longer take its technological edge for granted. Decades ago, most significant technologies originated in the United States, with the bulk of research and development sponsored by the Department of Defense. Today, while the government remains an important sponsor of innovation, the cutting edge of technological innovation in many areas has shifted to the commercial sector. And with a technology base that is now truly global, other countries are investing heavily to catch up. Flournoy will discuss the critical questions these new realities raise for industry leaders and policymakers: How can our national security community better access and leverage new commercial technologies to keep the country safe? How can we restore trust and improve the partnership between government and the tech community in the post-Snowden era? And how can traditional technology sources for government (e.g., defense contractors) be part of the solution in helping the government access and adapt cutting-edge technologies?
