Dr. Hans Binnendijk is a Distinguished Fellow at the Atlantic Council. Until recently he was also an Adjunct Political Scientist at the RAND Corporation and a Senior Fellow at the School of Advanced International Studies.
Until July 4, 2012, he was the Vice President for Research and Applied Learning at the National Defense University and Theodore Roosevelt Chair in National Security Policy. He served twice as Director of NDU’s Institute for National Strategic Studies. From 2001 to 2009 he was the founding Director of NDU’s Center for Technology and National Security Policy.
In the Executive Branch, Dr. Binnendijk served twice on the National Security Council staff: as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Defense Policy and Arms Control (1999-2001) and as Director for Southern Europe (1976-1977). At the State Department, he was Principal Deputy Director and Acting Director of the Policy Planning Staff (1993-1994) and Director of the Center for the Study of Foreign Affair (1985-1987). He served at the Office of Management and Budget (1974-1976), focusing on Asia, the Middle East, and Law of the Seas.
On the Hill, he was Deputy Staff Director of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (1979-1985), Legislative Director (1981-1985), and a senior staff member (1977-1979).
In academia, Dr. Binnendijk was Director of the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University, where he was also the Marshall B. Coyne Professor at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service (1991-1993). He was Deputy Director and Director of Studies at London’s International Institute for Strategic Studies and Editor of Survival (1988-1991).
Dr. Binnendijk has published widely including dozens of books, reports, articles, and frequent op.eds. (see HansBinnendijk.com). He speaks often on national security issues.
Dr. Binnendijk served on the Board of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy for a quarter century and as Chairman of the Board of Humanity in Action for nine years. He recently joined the Board of the American Civil War Museum and the International Advisory Council of the US Institute of Peace. He previously served on the U.S. Committee of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the Studies Committee of the Council on Foreign Relations, the CSIS International Research Council, and as a Senior Advisor to both the Atlantic Council and the Center for a New American Security.
Dr Binnendijk has received three Distinguished Service Awards, a Superior Service Award, and multiple other awards for his service in the Executive Branch. He has also received the Cross of the Order of Merit from the Federal Republic of Germany.
Dr. Binnendijk has championed many NATO reform efforts including NATO enlargement, creation of the NATO Response Force, development of NATO’s comprehensive approach, deployment of NATO Battle Groups in the Baltic States, a new NATO readiness initiative, and a smooth transition for Finnish and Swedish membership.
Dr. Binnendijk is a 1968 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where he was alumni class vice president. He received his M.A., M.A.L.D. and Ph.D. (orals with distinction) in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University.