Chairs

The Honorable Robert Wilkie

Co-Chair, Center for American Security

All the greatest things are simple and many can be expressed in a single word: Freedom; Justice; Honor; Duty; Mercy; Hope.

- Winston Churchill

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The Honorable Robert Wilkie is from Fayetteville, North Carolina, and serves as a Co-Chair, Center for American Security at AFPI. Wilkie was nominated by President Donald J. Trump to serve as the tenth Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA). He was confirmed by the United States Senate after previously serving as the acting Secretary of VA. Before confirmation as VA Secretary, Wilkie was the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. In that role, Wilkie served as the principal advisor to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense for Total Force Management as it relates to readiness, National Guard and Reserve component affairs, health affairs, training, and personnel requirements and management, including equal opportunity, morale, welfare, recreation, and the quality of life for military families. He also previously served as Assistant Secretary of Defense and Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. Wilkie is a Colonel in the United States Air Force Reserve. He holds an Honors degree from Wake Forest University, a Juris Doctor from Loyola University College of Law in New Orleans, a Master of Laws in international and comparative law from Georgetown University, and a master’s in strategic studies from the United States Army War College. A graduate of the College of Naval Command and Staff, Air Command and Staff College, the United States Army War College, and the Joint Forces Staff College, Wilkie has published many articles. Wilkie also serves as Senior National Security Analyst for Newsmax Television. He holds personal and unit decorations, as well as the Defense Distinguished Public Service Medal, the highest noncareer civilian award of the Department.