Paul R.S. Gebhard is a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security where he focuses on transatlantic security, European defense, the US role in Europe, and the future of NATO.

He works as a vice president at the Cohen Group, in Washington, DC, where he advises and assists clients in the aerospace and defense field on strategic planning, business development, and corporate transactions.

Gebhard served for fifteen years in the US government in a number of senior executive career positions, including as special assistant to Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld; assistant chief of staff to Secretary of Defense Cohen; director for defense plans at the US Mission to NATO, Brussels, Belgium; director for counterproliferation policy, Office of the Secretary of Defense; director for conventional forces policy, Office of the Secretary of Defense; and director for European security negotiations, Office of the Secretary of Defense. Mr. Gebhard was awarded a fellowship to the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), London, United Kingdom, where he published on US defense policy in Europe.

He has participated in policy making on a wide range of US national security and US-European defense issues, including US force posture and basing in Europe; NATO policy on the development of conventional forces; the post-Cold War enlargement of NATO; NATO’s Strategic Concept; the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty; US Counterproliferation Policy; NATO’s Policy on Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD); development of US forces; transatlantic defense cooperation and export control issues; the Partnership for Peace; and US-Europe Defense Mergers and Acquisitions.

Gebhard has published several papers including, “NATO Defense Capabilities: A Guide for Action,” with Ralph Crosby (Atlantic Council, Washington, DC, 2010); “Not By Diplomacy or Defense Alone: The Role of Regional Security Strategies in U.S. Proliferation Policy.” (Washington Quarterly 18:167-179 Winter 1995); and, “The United States and European Security” (International Institute of Strategic Studies, London, UK, Adelphi Paper #286, 1993).

Gebhard received his masters in international affairs from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, and his BA with Honors in history from Brown University. He has been awarded the Department of Defense Medals for Distinguished Civilian Service, Meritorious Service, and for Exceptional Service.