Millennium Leadership Program Advisory Council
“The Millennium Leadership Program’s work is supported by a high-level Advisory Council that provides guidance on the program’s strategy and development. As leading philanthropists, senior executives, and distinguished international leaders, Advisory Council members bring diverse expertise, connections, and ideas to the mission of empowering a rising generation that will uphold Atlantic values in the twenty-first century. Membership on the Millennium Advisory Council is by invitation only.”
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Robert J. Abernethy Chairman, American Standard Development Company Vice Chairman, Atlantic Council Robert J. Abernethy is Chairman of American Standard Development Company and Managing Director of Metropolitan Investments, LLC. Robert received a BA from Johns Hopkins University, an MBA from Harvard Business School, certificates in Real Estate and Construction Management from UCLA and was formerly employed by Hughes Aircraft Company. |
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Chuck Hagel Distinguished Statesman, Atlantic Council Chuck Hagel is a distinguished statesman for the Atlantic Council. He was the 24th Secretary of Defense, serving from February 2013 to February 2015. He is the only Vietnam veteran and the first enlisted combat veteran to serve as Secretary of Defense. Over his tenure, he directed significant steps to modernize America’s partnerships and alliances, advance the rebalance in Asia-Pacific, bolster support for European allies, and enhance defense cooperation in the Middle East while overseeing the end of America’s combat mission in Afghanistan. In addition, he led major initiatives for service members and their families, including increasing resources for suicide prevention, combating sexual assault, and accounting for missing personnel. Further, Secretary Hagel improved partnerships with the Department of Veteran’s Affairs, to include health record interoperability, service treatment record transferability, and continuity of mental health services and support. Secretary Hagel launched the Defense Innovation Initiative to better prepare the Pentagon for future threats, and enacted comprehensive reforms to the Nuclear Enterprise and Military Health system. |
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Kåre R. Aas Ambassador of Norway to the United States Ambassador Kåre R. Aas’ distinguished career with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs began in 1983. Aas was accredited as Norway’s Ambassador to the United States on September 17, 2013. Prior to his current position, he served in Oslo as Political Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Preceding his assignment as Political Director, Aas served as Norway’s Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan from 2008-2010. During his tenure in Afghanistan, Norway focused on education, good governance, rural development and collaboration with civil society. Aas also took part in an informal dialogue between Afghanistan and neighboring countries as part of a broad political settlement. |
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Muddassar Ahmed
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Kurt E. Amend President, Raytheon International, Inc., Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Kurt Amend is president of Raytheon International, Inc., Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN), with 2015 sales of $23 billion and 61,000 employees, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, civil government and cybersecurity solutions. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts. |
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Kenneth Falke Founder/Chairman, Boulder Crest Retreat for Military and Veteran Wellness Founder/Chairman, EOD Warrior Foundation CEO, Shoulder 2 Shoulder, Inc Mr. Falke is a 21-year combat veteran of the U.S. Navy and retired Master Chief Petty Officer. Ken is highly respected around the world as an innovative and forward thinking thought leader on the subjects of wounded warrior care, military and veteran transition, counterterrorism, military training, and innovative technology development. |
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Gokhan Gundogdu Chairman, Gundogdu Holding Company and Gundogdu Foundation Gokhan Gundogdu is a Turkish entrepreneur and philanthropist based in Istanbul, Turkey. He is the founder and Chairman of both Gundogdu Holding Company and the Gundogdu Foundation. Mr. Gundogdu received the Global Education Award from the International Academic Center of San Rome, Italy in 2012 in recognition of his visionary approach to early years education by creating the International Children’s University Project. |
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Mary Howell Former Executive Vice President, Textron Inc. Mary L. Howell served as Executive Vice President for Textron Inc., from August 1995 until her retirement in December 2009. For over 15 years she served on the Management Committee of Textron, comprised of the company’s top six executives responsible for the management of the large multi-industry corporation. |
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Jon M. Hunstman, Jr. Chairman, Atlantic Council Jon M. Huntsman, Jr. is chairman of the Atlantic Council and co-chairman of No Labels. He began his career in public service as a staff assistant to President Ronald Reagan. He has served each of the four US presidents since then in critical roles around the world, including as ambassador to Singapore, deputy assistant secretary of commerce for Asia, US trade ambassador, and most recently, US ambassador to China. In all three Senate confirmations, he received unanimous votes. Twice elected governor of Utah, Huntsman brought about strong economic reforms, tripled the state’s rainy day fund, and helped bring unemployment rates to historic lows. During his tenure, Utah was named the best managed state in America. Recognized by others for his service, Governor Huntsman was elected as chairman of the Western Governors Association, serving nineteen states throughout the region. |
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Tacan Ildem Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Ambassador Tacan Ildem was appointed Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy in March 2016. He advises the Secretary General on public diplomacy issues and directs the Public Diplomacy Division (PDD), which plays a key role in conveying the Alliance’s strategic and political messages to opinion formers and to the public in general. PDD works to raise the Alliance’s profile with audiences world-wide and to build support for Alliance operations and policies. |
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Donna McLean President, Jeffrey A. McLean Foundation Donna McLean is the President of the Jeffrey A. McLean Foundation and a member of the Millennium Advisory Council. Under her leadership, the Jeffrey A. McLean Foundation provides funding for small businesses and non-profit organizations to offer paid internships to students, including three Millennium Leadership Program interns each year. |
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Matthew Swift Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO, Concordia Matthew Swift is the Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Concordia. Since Concordia’s inception in 2011, Matthew and his business partner Nicholas Logothetis have grown Concordia into a reputable and impactful nonpartisan organization providing thought leadership to bridge the private, public and nonprofit sectors. He has also brought together an impressive group of international leaders to serve on the Board of Directors, which is comprised of Heads of State from around the world and top CEOs from multinational corporations. |