Washington, D.C. – The Center for American Progress announced today that Frank Kendall is joining the organization’s National Security and International Policy team as a senior fellow. At CAP, Kendall will focus on defense policy and budgeting, emerging threats, technology, and the future of warfare.
Kendall has had a distinguished career in engineering, management, defense acquisition, and national security affairs in private industry, government, and the military. In the Obama administration, he served as undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics from May 2012 to January 2017.
“We are delighted to welcome Frank Kendall to the CAP team,” said Neera Tanden, president and CEO of CAP. “He brings more than four decades of experience in national security matters with expertise across all aspects of the U.S. defense, intelligence, and nuclear enterprises and with our international partners.”
Kendall’s deep expertise with specific Pentagon programs and systems, combined with his broad grasp of strategic decision making and the intricacies of defense budgeting, will help CAP develop progressive solutions to the threats of the moment and the challenges of tomorrow.
As a defense undersecretary, Kendall was responsible for all matters pertaining to acquisition, research and engineering, developmental testing, contract administration, logistics and materiel readiness. He has been a consultant to defense industry firms, nonprofit research organizations, and the Department of Defense in areas including strategic planning, engineering management and technology assessment.
“Frank Kendall’s expertise in defense policy, strategy and technology makes him an outstanding addition to our team as we think through the future of U.S. national security strategy,” said Kelly Magsamen, vice president for National Security and International Policy at CAP.
Kendall previously served as vice president of engineering for Raytheon Company, where he directed engineering functions and internal research and development. He also an attorney and has been active in the field of human rights, working primarily on a pro bono basis.
Kendall is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and he holds a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from the California Institute of Technology, an MBA from the C.W. Post Center of Long Island University, and law degree from Georgetown University Law Center.
For more information, or to talk to an expert, please contact Sam Hananel at [email protected], or 202-478-6327.