Tag Archives: National Security Advisor Donilon

White House Announces New Coordinator for Defense Policy, Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction, and Arms Control

By The White House

Today, National Security Advisor Tom Donilon announced that Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for European Affairs Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall will be moving to a new position on the National Security Staff as the White House Coordinator for Defense Policy, Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction, and Arms Control. She will take up her duties on April 8.

National Security Advisor Donilon said, “As one of the President’s closest advisors for the past four years, Liz’s leadership and advice have been instrumental as we have successfully strengthened our alliances and partnerships across Europe, helped to revitalize NATO, and worked with Europe to advance the President’s global agenda. Liz brings deep expertise and a track record of accomplishment in defense issues and in proliferation prevention. The President will look to her to bring significant energy and capability to his second term as we pursue the ambitious goals he set forth in his Prague speech in 2009 and prepare our military to defend the American people and our allies against the threats we face today and in the future.”

During the Clinton Administration, Dr. Sherwood-Randall served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia, where she played a central role in the denuclearization of Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Belarus. She has also held positions at Harvard University, Stanford University, the Council on Foreign Relations, and the Brookings Institution, and previously served as the Chief Foreign Affairs and Defense Policy Advisor to Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr.

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Source: White House Press Office

White House Announces New Coordinator for the Middle East, North Africa, and the Gulf Region

By The White House

Today, National Security Advisor Tom Donilon announced that Philip Gordon will be joining the National Security Staff as Special Assistant to the President and White House Coordinator for the Middle East, North Africa, and the Gulf Region. He will take up his duties beginning on March 11.

National Security Advisor Donilon said, “Phil has been a key member of President Obama’s foreign policy team for the past four years and his work with our European Allies and partners has been indispensable in helping us to formulate policy and address issues around the globe, including Libya, Syria and Iran. His work on international security, international economics and European and Middle Eastern Affairs make him the perfect person to coordinate our policy in this time of great challenge and opportunity in the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf. His appointment further strengthens a superb team that includes Puneet Talwar, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for the Gulf States, Iran and Iraq, and Prem Kumar, Acting Senior Director for the Middle East and North Africa.”

Since May 2009, Dr. Gordon has served as Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs. As Assistant Secretary he was responsible for U.S. policy with regard to 50 countries in Europe and Eurasia as well as NATO, the EU and the OSCE. Prior to joining the Administration, Dr. Gordon was a senior foreign policy advisor to the 2008 presidential campaign of then-Senator Barack Obama, and served as: a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC; Director for European Affairs at the National Security Council under President Bill Clinton; and a Senior Fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, London.

He has a Ph.D. and M.A. in international relations from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and a B.A. from Ohio University.

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Source: White House Press Office