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Last updated: October 8, 2008. Click here for the McCain list.
FOREIGN POLICY/ NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISORS
Top Advisors:
Foreign Policy Coordinator
Denis McDonough
Foreign Policy Coordinator, briefs the candidate on all foreign affairs issues.
Center for American Progress Senior Fellow and former policy adviser to then-Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle, and a
Full bio
Source:
"Obama's Brain Trust Taking Shape" The New York Sun, February 21, 2008
"The Obama Doctrine"The American Prospect, March 24, 2008
"Obama's Key Foreign Policy Advisors," The New York Times, July 18, 2008
Members of Obama's National Security Working Group
[The following 13 names represent the group announced by Obama on June 18, 2008. As indicated, some members of this group play an active day-to-day role; others are not as centrally involved.]
Susan E. Rice
Former Senior Director for African Affairs at the National Security Council and Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs at the State Department in the Clinton Administration. On leave from the Brookings Institution, plays a key role in foreign policy operation (along with
Full bio
Source:
"The War Over the Wonks," Washington Post, October 2, 2007
"The Democratic Foreign Policy Wars"The Nation, January 3, 2008
"The Obama Doctrine"The American Prospect, March 24, 2008
"Clinton veterans mix with new faces on Obama's campaign," AFP, June 23, 2008
"Obama's National Security Working Group," The Atlantic.com, June 18, 2008
"Obama Convenes National Security Working Group," Washingtonpost.com, June 18, 2008
"Obama's Key Foreign Policy Advisors," The New York Times, July 18, 2008
W. Anthony (Tony) Lake
National Security Adviser in the Clinton Administration (1993-1997) and now a Professor at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. Along with Rice and McDonough, a key foreign policy advisor.
Full bio
Source:
"The War Over the Wonks," Washington Post, October 2, 2007
"The Democratic Foreign Policy Wars"The Nation, January 3, 2008
"The Obama Doctrine"The American Prospect, March 24, 2008
"Obama's Brain Trust Taking Shape" The New York Sun, February 21, 2008
"Obama's National Security Working Group," The Atlantic.com, June 18, 2008
"Obama Convenes National Security Working Group," Washingtonpost.com, June 18, 2008
"Obama's Key Foreign Policy Advisors," The New York Times, July 18, 2008
Gregory B. Craig
An active advisor to the Obama campaign. State Department Director of Policy Planning in the Clinton Administration and now a partner at law firm Williams & Connolly.
Full bio
Source:
"The War Over the Wonks," Washington Post, October 2, 2007
"Obama's National Security Working Group," The Atlantic.com, June 18, 2008
"Obama Convenes National Security Working Group," Washingtonpost.com, June 18, 2008
"Obama's Key Foreign Policy Advisors," The New York Times, July 18, 2008
Richard Danzig
Key defense advisor to Obama campaign. Former Secretary of the Navy and now a fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Full bio
Source:
"The War Over the Wonks," Washington Post, October 2, 2007
"The Democratic Foreign Policy Wars"The Nation, January 3, 2008
"Obama's Inner Circle" the National Journal, March 31, 2008
"Obama's National Security Working Group," The Atlantic.com, June 18, 2008
"Obama Convenes National Security Working Group," Washingtonpost.com, June 18, 2008
"Obama's Key Foreign Policy Advisors," The New York Times, July 18, 2008
Dean of the London B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, and former Deputy National Security Advisor. Although he is based outside of
Full Bio
Source:
"Obama's National Security Working Group," The Atlantic.com,
"Obama Convenes National Security Working Group," Washingtonpost.com,
Former Secretary of State and currently Chairperson of the National Democratic Institute, Principal of The Albright Group LLC and Chair and Principal of Albright Capital Management LLC
Full bio
Source:
"Clinton veterans mix with new faces on Obama's campaign," AFP, June 23, 2008
"The War Over the Wonks," Washington Post, October 2, 2007
"The Democratic Foreign Policy Wars"The Nation, January 3, 2008
"Obama's National Security Working Group," The Atlantic.com, June 18, 2008
"Obama Convenes National Security Working Group," Washingtonpost.com, June 18, 2008
"Obama's Key Foreign Policy Advisors," The New York Times, July 18, 2008
Warren Christopher
Senior Partner at O'Melveny & Myers LLP, and U.S. Secretary of State from 1993-1997
Full bio
Source:
"Clinton veterans mix with new faces on Obama's campaign," AFP, June 23, 2008
"Obama's National Security Working Group," The Atlantic.com, June 18, 2008
"Obama Convenes National Security Working Group," Washingtonpost.com, June 18, 2008
"Obama's Key Foreign Policy Advisors," The New York Times, July 18, 2008
Sam Nunn
Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nuclear Threat Initiative, and Former U.S. Senator from Georgia
Full bio
Source:
"Clinton veterans mix with new faces on Obama's campaign," AFP, June 23, 2008
"Obama's National Security Working Group," The Atlantic.com, June 18, 2008
"Obama Convenes National Security Working Group," Washingtonpost.com, June 18, 2008
"Obama's Key Foreign Policy Advisors," The New York Times, July 18, 2008
David Boren
President of the University of Oklahoma, Former Senator and Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
Full Bio
Source:
"Obama's National Security Working Group," The Atlantic.com, June 18, 2008
"Obama Convenes National Security Working Group," Washingtonpost.com, June 18, 2008
"Obama's Key Foreign Policy Advisors," The New York Times, July 18, 2008
Eric H. Holder Jr.
Partner at Covington and Burling LLP, and former Deputy Attorney General
Full Bio
Source:
"Obama's National Security Working Group," The Atlantic.com, June 18, 2008
"Obama Convenes National Security Working Group," Washingtonpost.com, June 18, 2008
William Perry
Senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, Professor at Stanford University, and Former Secretary of Defense
Full Bio
Source:
"Obama's National Security Working Group," The Atlantic.com, June 18, 2008
"Obama Convenes National Security Working Group," Washingtonpost.com, June 18, 2008
Tim Roemer
President of the Center for National Policy, former Congressman from Indiana and member of 9/11 Commission.
Full Bio
Source:
"Obama's National Security Working Group," The Atlantic.com, June 18, 2008
"Obama Convenes National Security Working Group," Washingtonpost.com, June 18, 2008
Lee H. Hamilton
President and Director of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, former chairman of the House Foreign Affairs and Intelligence Committees
Full bio
Source:
"Former Rep Hamilton to Endorse Obama" Associated Press, April 2, 2008
"Obama's National Security Working Group," The Atlantic.com, June 18, 2008
"Obama Convenes National Security Working Group," Washingtonpost.com, June 18, 2008
"Obama's Key Foreign Policy Advisors," The New York Times, July 18, 2008
Director, John L. Thornton China Center at the Brookings Institution, National Security Council’s director of Asian affairs, 1997-1999 and Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for China, 2001-2002
Full bio
Source:
"The War Over the Wonks," Washington Post, October 2, 2007
"Obama's Key Foreign Policy Advisors," The New York Times, July 18, 2008
John Brennan
President and CEO of the Analysis Corp., an intelligence contractor in McLean, Va.
Full bio
Source:
"Obama's Inner Circle" the National Journal,
Former Director for Policy Planning at the State Department in the G.W Bush Administration and Special Middle East coordinator in the Clinton Administration. Now a Washington Institute for Near East Policy fellow. Was with Obama on his
Full bio
Source:
"The War Over the Wonks," Washington Post, October 2, 2007
"FACTBOX - Obama's advisers on Middle East policy," Reuters, March 11, 2008
"Obama's Key Foreign Policy Advisors," The New York Times, July 18, 2008
Daniel B. Shapiro
Key Middle East Advisor to Obama, Director for Legislative Affairs at the National Security Council in the Clinton Administration and now Vice President of Timmons & Company. Was with Obama on his
Full bio
Source:
"The War Over the Wonks," Washington Post, October 2, 2007
"Obama's Brain Trust Taking Shape" The New York Sun, February 21, 2008
"FACTBOX - Obama's advisers on Middle East policy," Reuters, March 11, 2008
Philip H. Gordon
Former National Security Council Director for European Affairs and now a Brookings senior fellow. Was with Obama on his
Full bio
Source:
"The War Over the Wonks," Washington Post, October 2, 2007
"Obama's Inner Circle" the National Journal, March 31, 2008
"Obama's Key Foreign Policy Advisors," The New York Times, July 18, 2008
Maj. Gen. J. (Jonathan) Scott Gration
An important advisor to Obama on military issues. Air Force veteran and now CEO of Africa anti-poverty effort Millennium Villages. Regularly blogs on the Obama campaign site
Full bio
Source:
"The War Over the Wonks," Washington Post, October 2, 2007
"The Obama Doctrine"The American Prospect, March 24, 2008
"Obama's Brain Trust Taking Shape" The New York Sun, February 21, 2008
"Obama's Inner Circle" the National Journal, March 31, 2008
"Obama's Key Foreign Policy Advisors," The New York Times, July 18, 2008
Obama Senate office staff member.
Bio
Source:
"From the Campaign to the Battlefront," The Wall Street Journal,
"Obama's Key Foreign Policy Advisors," The
Obama's national security speechwriter, and former Special Assistant to President Lee H. Hamilton at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Full bio
Source:
"The Obama Doctrine"The American Prospect, March 24, 2008
"Obama's Brain Trust Taking Shape" The New York Sun, February 21, 2008
"FACTBOX - Obama's advisers on Middle East policy," Reuters, March 11, 2008
National Security Council Director for European Affairs during the Clinton Administration and now a Brookings senior fellow. Focuses on non-proliferation issues, in particular.
Full bio
Source:
"The War Over the Wonks," Washington Post, October 2, 2007
"Obama's Inner Circle" the National Journal, March 31, 2008
"Obama's Key Foreign Policy Advisors," The New York Times, July 18, 2008
Gayle Smith
Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, and formerly Special Assistant to President Bill Clinton and Senior Director for African Affairs at the National Security Council.
Full bio
Source:
"Over 70 Foreign Policy Experts Announce Endorsement of Barack Obama for President", Obama '08 campaign website, December 19, 2007
"Getting Ready for the 2008 Presidential Election," One World United States website, August 3, 2007
Former Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Near East and North African Affairs, National Security Council, and now a Brookings senior fellow
Full bio
Source:
"The War Over the Wonks," Washington Post, October 2, 2007
"Obama's Key Foreign Policy Advisors," The New York Times, July 18, 2008
Jewish Affairs staffer for Obama, former senior legislative assistant to Rep. Peter Deutsch (D-Fla.)
Source:
"When Hillary's Josh Met Obama's Eric," The Jerusalem Post, March 18, 2008
Michael A. McFaul
Director of the Center on Democracy, Development, and Rule of Law (CDDRL) at Freeman Spogli Institute (FSI) for International Studies at Stanford University, Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, where he co-directs the Iran Democracy Project, and author of several books on Russian politics and history
Full bio
Source:
"Obama's Key Foreign Policy Advisors," The New York Times, July 18, 2008
Mark Brzezinski
Former Director of Southeast European Affairs at the National Security Council and now a partner at law firm McGuireWoods
Full bio
Source:
"The War Over the Wonks," Washington Post, October 2, 2007
"The Democratic Foreign Policy Wars"The Nation, January 3, 2008
Zbigniew Brzezinski
President Carter’s National Security Adviser and now a Center for Strategic and International Studies counselor and trustee.
Full bio
Source:
"The War Over the Wonks," Washington Post, October 2, 2007
"Obama's Brain Trust Taking Shape" The New York Sun, February 21, 2008
Joseph Cirincione
President of the Ploughshares Fund, previously Senior Vice President for National Security and International Policy at the Center for American Progress, and Director for Non-Proliferation at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Full bio
Source:
"Behind Obama and Clinton," Foreign Policy in Focus Commentary, February 4, 2008
Richard A. Clarke
President Clinton and President George W. Bush’s Chief Counterterrorism Advisor at the National Security Council, now Chairman of Good Harbor Consulting and an ABC News contributor
Full bio
Source:
"The War Over the Wonks," Washington Post, October 2, 2007
"The Democratic Foreign Policy Wars"The Nation, January 3, 2008
Gen. Wesley K. Clark
Former Supreme Allied Commander Europe, NATO, 1997-2000, and currently a Democratic fundraiser
Full bio
Source:
"The War Over the Wonks," Washington Post, October 2, 2007
"The Democratic Foreign Policy Wars"The Nation, January 3, 2008
"General Clark Says McCain Oversold Navy Experience," Bloomberg.com, June 29, 2008
Lawrence J. Korb
Assistant Secretary of Defense from 1981-1985 and now a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress
Full bio
Source:
"The War Over the Wonks," Washington Post, October 2, 2007
"The Democratic Foreign Policy Wars"The Nation, January 3, 2008
"Obama's Inner Circle" the National Journal, March 31, 2008
Lee Feinstein
Former National Security Director/ Coordinator for Hillary Clinton for President,
Principal Deputy Director of the State Department Policy Planning Staff in the Clinton Administration, and former Senior Advisor for Peacekeeping and Peace Enforcement Policy in the Office of the Secretary of Defense from 1994-1995
Full bio
Source:
"The War Over the Wonks," Washington Post, October 2, 2007
"The Democratic Foreign Policy Wars"The Nation, January 3, 2008
“Team Obama Goes Cherry-Picking” The New York Observer, July 1, 2008
Daniel Kurtzer
Former U.S. Ambassador to Egypt (1997-2001) and Israel (2001-2005). Currently Lecturer and S. Daniel Abraham Professor in Middle Eastern Policy Studies at Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs
Full bio
Source:
"Obama's New Foreign Policy Adviser Daniel Kurtzer," American Thinker, April 10, 2008
"Obama, Clinton Tout Duelling Endorsements from Ex-Ambassadors to Israel," The Jewish Daily Forward, March 3, 2008
James M. Ludes
Former defense and foreign policy adviser to Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., and now Executive Director of the American Security Project
Full bio
Source:
"The War Over the Wonks," Washington Post, October 2, 2007
Gen. Merrill A. ("Tony") McPeak
Former Air Force Chief of Staff and now a business consultant
Full bio
Source:
"The War Over the Wonks," Washington Post, October 2, 2007
Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-PA)
Pennsylvania Congressman and Iraq war veteran
Full bio
Source:
"Why I Support Senator Obama," Obama '08 Community Blog, August 21, 2007
Leon Panetta
Director of the Panetta Institute and former Chief of Staff to President Clinton.
Full bio
Source:
“Obama Camp Begins Delicate Task Of Wooing Clinton's Supporters,” The Wall Street Journal,
Jack Reed
Rhode Island Senator, serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Full bio
Source:
"Obama's Key Foreign Policy Advisors," The New York Times, July 18, 2008
Sarah Sewall
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Assistance in the Clinton Administration and now Director of Harvard’s Carr Center for Human Rights Policy
Full bio
Source:
"The War Over the Wonks," Washington Post, October 2, 2007
"The Obama Doctrine"The American Prospect, March 24, 2008
Theodore Sorensen
Former Speechwriter for President John F. Kennedy
Full bio
Source:
"The Democratic Foreign Policy Wars"The Nation, January 3, 2008
Mona Sutphen
Former aide to President Clinton’s National Security Adviser Samuel R. Berger and to United Nations Ambassador Bill Richardson and now Managing Director, New York office of Stonebridge International, a business consultancy
Full bio
Source:
"The War Over the Wonks," Washington Post, October 2, 2007
Robert Wexler
Democratic Congressman from Florida, Senior Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Chairman of its Subcommittee on Europe
Full bio
Source:
"FACTBOX - Obama's advisers on Middle East policy," Reuters, March 11, 2008
Mara Rudman
Informal advisor to the campaign, formerly supporter of Hillary Clinton. Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress and former Deputy National Security Advisor
Full bio
Source:
“Team Obama Goes Cherry-Picking” The New York Observer, July 1, 2008
Robert Einhorn
Senior adviser in the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies , and former assistant secretary for nonproliferation at the State Department
Full bio
Source:
“Team Obama Goes Cherry-Picking” The New York Observer, July 1, 2008
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ADVISORS
Jason Grumet
Official head of Environment and Energy Policy Committee for Obama '08, and President of the Bipartisan Policy Center
Full bio
Source:
"Obama's Inner Circle" the National Journal, March 31, 2008
Howard Learner
Top environmental advisor, and Executive Director of the Environmental Law and Policy Center
Full bio
Source:
"Obama's Inner Circle" the National Journal, March 31, 2008
Frank Loy
On the boards of several national green groups. Was Under-Secretary of State for Global Affairs from 1998 to January 2001, held State Department posts during the Clinton, Carter, and Johnson administrations, and spent 14 years as president of the German Marshall Fund.
Full bio
Source:
"Obama's Inner Circle" the National Journal, March 31, 2008
Daniel Esty
Environmental law professor at Yale, at Environmental Protection Agency during the George H.W. Bush Administration
Full bio
Source:
"Obama's Inner Circle" the National Journal, March 31, 2008
Daniel Kammen
Energy and public policy professor at the University of California (Berkeley)
Full bio
Source:
"Obama's Inner Circle" the National Journal, March 31, 2008
Robert Sussman
Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, spent 10 years practicing environmental law at Latham & Watkins, and was at EPA during the Clinton Administration.
Full bio
Source:
"Obama's Inner Circle" the National Journal, March 31, 2008
FOREIGN ECONOMIC POLICY ADVISORS
Jason Furman
Furman is characterized as Obama’s top economic advisor. Though his focus is not international issues, we have included him on this list given the importance of his role. He is former Director of the Hamilton Project at the Brookings Institution, and former Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy in the Clinton Administration
Full Bio
Source:
"Obama's selection of Jason Furman as economic adviser is criticized" at Los Angeles Times, June 10, 2008
Austan Goolsbee
Economic Advisor
Currently at the University of Chicago
Full bio
Source:
"Candidate's Economic Adviser's Take Center Stage" at Kiplinger Business Resource Center, March 5, 2008
"Obama's Inner Circle" the National Journal, March 31, 2008
Stuart Eizenstat
Partner, Covington and Burling LLP, chief White House domestic policy adviser to President Carter; U.S. Ambassador to the European Union, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, Under Secretary of State for Economic, Business and Agricultural Affairs, and Deputy Secretary of the Treasury in the Clinton Administration (1993-2001).
Full bio
Source:
"Former Diplomats Offer Candidates Advice" USA Today
“Team Obama Goes Cherry-Picking” The
Gene Sperling
Economic Advisor
Currently at the Center for American Progress
Full bio
Source:
"Candidate's Economic Adviser's Take Center Stage" at Kiplinger Business Resource Center, March 5, 2008
“Team Obama Goes Cherry-Picking” The New York Observer, July 1, 2008
Currently head of Corporate Responsibility at JP Morgan Chase and Co.
Former Secretary of Commerce and chairman of President Clinton's NAFTA Task Force
Bio
Source:
"Obama's Brain Trust" at Newsweek, June 3, 2008
Michael Froman
Informal adviser
Managing Director and Head of Infrastructure and Sustainable Development at Citi Alternative Investments, and former former chief of staff to Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin
Full bio
Source:
"Candidate's Economic Adviser's Take Center Stage" at Kiplinger Business Resource Center, March 5, 2008
David Lipton
Managing Director and Head of Global Country Risk Management, Citigroup, former Under Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs at the Treasury Department from 1993 to 1998..
Full bio
Source:
"Candidate's Economic Adviser's Take Center Stage" at
Daniel Tarullo
Professor of Law,
Source:
"Obama's Inner Circle" the National Journal, March 31, 2008
Paul Volcker
Chairman of the Board of Trustees, The Group of Thirty, Professor of International Economic Policy, Emeritus, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University; former Federal Reserve Chairman
Full bio
Source:
"Volcker: I Endorse Obama" The Wall Street Journal, January 31, 2008