Washington, D.C. — Former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall is returning to the Center for American Progress to join the organization’s National Security and International Policy department as a nonresident senior fellow. At CAP, Kendall will focus on national defense policy and security policy.
Kendall has more than five decades of experience in national security affairs, engineering, management, and defense acquisition across private industry, government, and the military. During the Biden administration, he served as the 26th secretary of the Air Force, responsible for organizing, training, and equipping the U.S. Air and Space forces.
“We’re excited for Frank to rejoin our team,” said Damian Murphy, senior vice president for National Security and International Policy at CAP. “He’ll bring his decades of experience to bear in advancing a national security agenda that is accountable, transparent, and effective in defending against 21st century threats.”
In the Obama administration, Kendall served as undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology, and logistics. He has been a consultant to defense industry firms, nonprofit research organizations, and the U.S. Department of Defense in areas including strategic planning, engineering management, and technology assessment.
Kendall previously served as vice president of engineering for Raytheon Company, where he directed engineering functions and internal research and development. He is 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 United States Military Academy at West Point and holds a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from the California Institute of Technology, an MBA from the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University, and a law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center.
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Sam Hananel at [email protected].