WASHINGTON, DC – The Atlantic Council today named Christine Wormuth, a former under secretary of defense for policy under President Obama, as the first director of its new Adrienne Arsht Center for Resilience.
Capping a two-decade career in government, Wormuth, as under secretary, was responsible for advising two secretaries of defense—Chuck Hagel and Ash Carter—on crafting national defense and security policy, as well as integrating and aligning Pentagon policy and plans to achieve national security objectives. Prior to that she served at the Pentagon as deputy under secretary of defense for strategy, plans, and force development from 2012 to 2014, and as special assistant to the president and senior director for defense policy and strategy on the National Security Council from 2010 to 2012.
“Christine brings to the Atlantic Council and its ground-breaking focus on resilience a wealth of experience that includes perspectives from all levels of government,” said Atlantic Council President and CEO Frederick Kempe. “At a time when volatility and change is the only certainty, we are delighted that such a capable leader will lead our pioneering work on resilience.”
Adrienne Arsht, chairman emerita of TotalBank and executive vice chair of the Atlantic Council, founded the Adrienne Arsht Center for Resilience in 2016 in response to a growing need for strategies that help nations, cities, communities, and individuals respond effectively to disruptions, understand and manage complex interdependent systems, and thrive in today’s unpredictable global environment.
“In Christine, the Council has found someone with the skills, wisdom, and experience to lead our work in this crucial new area of resilience,” said Arsht. “She will leverage the Council’s unparalleled convening power and focus on innovation and cutting-edge tools to impact challenges from natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and other major disruptions.”
Aside from her many government positions, Wormuth was a senior fellow in the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies where she worked on defense and homeland security issues, including issues that are crucial to resilience such as emergency response, preparedness, homeland security policy development, and military capabilities and readiness.
“I am excited to serve as the first director for the Arsht Center for Resilience and to be joining the dynamic team at the Atlantic Council,” said Wormuth. “This is an incredible opportunity to build a center of excellence that injects the concept of resilience into policymaking to help people, communities, and institutions anticipate, manage, and adapt to change.”
For more information about the Adrienne Arsht Center for Resilience or to schedule interviews with any of its experts, please contact us at press@AtlanticCouncil.org.