Franklin D. Kramer is a distinguished fellow and board director at the Atlantic Council. Kramer has served as a senior political appointee in two administrations, including as assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs. At the US Department of Defense, Kramer was in charge of the formulation and implementation of international defense and political-military policy, with worldwide responsibilities including NATO and Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

In the nonprofit world, Kramer has been a senior fellow at CNA; chairman of the board of the World Affairs Council of Washington, DC; a distinguished research fellow at the Center for Technology and National Security Policy at National Defense University; and an adjunct professor at the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University. Kramer’s areas of focus include defense, both conventional and hybrid; China, including managing competition, military power, and China-Taiwan-US relations; NATO and Russia; cyber, including resilience and international issues; trade and globalization; irregular conflict and counterinsurgency; and innovation and national security.

Kramer has written extensively, with recent publications including “Strengthening Taiwan’s resiliency;” NATO should establish a Baltic Security Initiative at the Washington Summit;” Congress must act to deter Chinese cyberattacks; “NATO multidomain operations: Near- and medium-term priority initiatives;” “China and the new globalization;” “Free but secure trade: Priorities in support of national security;” and “Providing long-term security for Ukraine: NATO membership and other security options.” A full list of Kramer’s publications can be found in the “related content” section on this page.