About CSIS
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is one of Washington's most influential think tanks, shaping U.S. defense and security policy through its extensive research programs, policy reports, recommendations, and close ties to defense contractors and government agencies.
Founded
1962
Location
Washington, DC
Key Publications
CSIS Briefs, Reports & Analysis
Focus Areas
Defense, Security, International Policy
Current Role & Operations
Government Relations & Policy Development
- Maintains extensive connections with Department of Defense and intelligence agencies, providing direct policy consultation
- Produces influential defense and security analysis that shapes military procurement and strategy
- Task forces regularly advise Congress and executive agencies on critical security matters
- Houses numerous former defense officials who maintain active roles in policy formation
Media & Public Influence
- Publishes authoritative reports and analysis reaching key decision-makers across government and industry
- Experts frequently quoted in major media outlets on defense and security issues
- Hosts over 2,000 events annually featuring high-level government officials and policy experts
- Maintains influential presence in policy debates through extensive media outreach and digital platforms
History & Influence
Founded in 1962 by David M. Abshire and Admiral Arleigh Burke, CSIS has evolved from a small defense-focused organization into one of Washington's most influential policy institutions, particularly in matters of national security and defense strategy.
Key Milestones
- 1962: Establishment during the height of the Cold War
- 1966: Launch of the Defense and National Security Program
- 1989: Major expansion of international security research
- 2015: Opening of new headquarters near White House
Controversies & Criticism
Notable Controversies
- Defense Industry Ties: CSIS receives substantial funding from major defense contractors, raising questions about the independence of its defense policy recommendations. Between 2014-2019, CSIS received over $5 million from defense contractors while consistently advocating for increased defense spending.
- Military Interventions: The organization has historically supported U.S. military interventions and maintains close ties with hawkish policy circles. CSIS experts played key roles in advocating for military actions in Iraq, Libya, and elsewhere.
- Foreign Influence: CSIS has been criticized for accepting millions in foreign government funding while producing research favorable to those governments' interests. Notable examples include research supporting Japanese military expansion, UAE regional policy, and increased arms sales to Taiwan - all while receiving funding from these governments.
Corporate & Defense Funding
- Major Donors: The CSIS has taken 4,115,000 in funding from defense contractors such as Lockheed Martin (450,000), Northrop Grumman (500,000), General Atomics (450,000), General Dynamics (200,000), and many others over the last 6 years.
- Foreign Government Funding: Accepts substantial donations from foreign governments including Saudi Arabia (450,000), UAE (250,000), Taiwan (250,000), South Korea (250,000), Qatar (100,000), and dozens more. These contributions often align with CSIS's policy positions regarding regional security issues such as a hawkish stance on China and continued American support for the UAE and Saudi Arabaia, including but not limited to the Saudi-Yemen war and continued arms sales.
- Transparency Issues: Has faced criticism for not fully disclosing the extent of its corporate, government, and foreign funding sources, particularly regarding how such funding might influence research outcomes and policy positions.
Key Criticisms
- Pro-military bias: CSIS consistently advocates for increased military spending and expanded defense capabilities, often aligning with the interests of its defense industry donors.
- Revolving door: Regular movement of personnel between CSIS, defense contractors, and government agencies raises questions about institutional independence and potential conflicts of interest.
Board of Directors
Key figures shaping defense and security policy
Thomas J. Pritzker
Chairman, CSIS Board of Trustees
Executive Chairman, Hyatt Hotels Corporation
Chairman & CEO, The Pritzker Organization
Corporate titan and CSIS chair, Pritzker bridges global business and policy, raising questions about think tank independence and corporate influence.
💼 Corporate Power Investigate →John J. Hamre
President & CEO, CSIS
Former US Deputy Secretary of Defense
Ex-Pentagon official and CSIS chief, Hamre exemplifies the revolving door between government and think tank, with deep defense industry ties.
🎯 Defense Pipeline Investigate →Brendan Bechtel
Trustee, CSIS
Chairman & CEO, Bechtel Group
Leads major defense contractor with a legacy of war-zone contracts and controversy, now shaping policy at CSIS.
🏗️ War Profiteering Investigate →Erskine Bowles
Trustee, CSIS
President Emeritus, UNC
Former White House Chief of Staff
Wall Street dealmaker and deficit hawk, Bowles brings a legacy of corporate-friendly austerity to CSIS policy debates.
💵 Wall Street Policy Investigate →William S. Cohen
Trustee, CSIS
Former US Secretary of Defense
Founder, The Cohen Group
Ex-Defense Secretary turned consultant, Cohen embodies the revolving door between government and defense business.
🔄 Revolving Door Investigate →Leon Cooperman
Trustee, CSIS
Founder, Omega Advisors
Ex-CEO, Goldman Sachs Asset Management
Billionaire financier with a history of insider trading and anti-tax activism, now shaping economic policy at CSIS.
💰 Hedge Fund Power Investigate →William M. Daley
Trustee, CSIS
Former White House Chief of Staff
Ex-U.S. Secretary of Commerce
Political dynasty scion and Wall Street executive, Daley exemplifies the fusion of corporate and government power.
🏦 Political Finance Investigate →Ray Dalio
Trustee, CSIS
Founder & CIO, Bridgewater Associates
Hedge fund titan with deep China ties and a record of shaping global economic policy to benefit billionaires.
🌏 Global Finance Investigate →Andreas C. Dracopoulos
Trustee, CSIS
Co-President, Stavros Niarchos Foundation
Philanthropist and global grantmaker, Dracopoulos brings elite foundation influence to CSIS, with minimal controversy.
🌐 Philanthropy Investigate →Henrietta H. Fore
Trustee, CSIS
Former Executive Director, UNICEF
Veteran of public and private sectors, Fore's career highlights the revolving door between humanitarian work and corporate boards.
🌍 Humanitarian-Corporate Investigate →Michael P. Galvin
Trustee, CSIS
President, Galvin Enterprises, Inc.
Business leader and philanthropist with roles in real estate, finance, and academia; less controversial than most CSIS trustees.
🏢 Business & Academia Investigate →Helene D. Gayle
Trustee, CSIS
Former President, Spelman College
Public health and humanitarian leader, Gayle brings expertise in global health security and equity—one of the least controversial CSIS trustees.
🌍 Global Health Investigate →Dario Gil
Trustee, CSIS
Senior Vice President & Director of Research, IBM
IBM research chief and tech policy advisor, Gil brings deep industry influence and government ties to CSIS.
💻 Tech & Policy Investigate →Evan G. Greenberg
Trustee, CSIS
Chairman & CEO, Chubb Limited
Insurance titan whose company profits from war, fossil fuels, and political risk, Greenberg brings the insurance-finance complex to CSIS policy debates.
🛡️ Insurance Power Investigate →Linda W. Hart
Trustee, CSIS
Vice Chairman, President, and CEO – Hart Group, Inc.
Corporate attorney and energy executive, Hart brings Texas energy sector power and institutional influence to CSIS's board.
💼 Energy & Law Investigate →John B. Hess
Trustee, CSIS
Chief Executive Officer – Hess Corporation
Oil and gas executive with deep ties to geopolitically sensitive energy projects, Hess brings fossil fuel power to CSIS policy debates.
🛢️ Energy & Geopolitics Investigate →Carla A. Hills
Trustee, CSIS
Former U.S. Trade Representative
Trade policy architect and corporate lawyer, Hills brings deep connections between government trade policy and corporate interests to CSIS.
🌐 Trade & Policy Investigate →Mellody Hobson
Trustee, CSIS
Co-CEO & President, Ariel Investments
Investment executive and corporate director, Hobson brings financial sector power and corporate governance influence to CSIS's board.
💼 Finance & Governance Investigate →Ray Hunt
Trustee, CSIS | Chairman & CEO, Hunt Consolidated
Oil and real estate magnate, Hunt brings energy sector power and political influence to CSIS's board.
🛢️ Energy & Influence Investigate →James L. Jones Jr.
Trustee, CSIS | Former National Security Advisor | Retired USMC General
Ex-National Security Advisor and Marine Corps Commandant, Jones exemplifies the military-to-think tank pipeline at CSIS.
🎖️ Military-Policy Nexus Investigate →Fred Khosravi
Trustee, CSIS | Managing Director, Incept LLC
Medical device entrepreneur and investor, Khosravi brings Silicon Valley and biotech capital to CSIS.
💉 MedTech Capital Investigate →Ronald Kirk
Trustee, CSIS | Former U.S. Trade Representative
Ex-U.S. Trade Representative and Dallas mayor, Kirk connects global trade policy and corporate interests at CSIS.
🌐 Trade & Policy Investigate →Kenneth G. Langone
Trustee, CSIS | Co-Founder, Home Depot
Billionaire investor and Home Depot co-founder, Langone connects corporate power with policy influence at CSIS.
🏢 Corporate Power Investigate →W. James McNerney Jr.
Trustee, CSIS | Former CEO, Boeing & 3M
Ex-CEO of Boeing and 3M, McNerney represents the intersection of manufacturing, defense, and global business at CSIS.
✈️ Industry & Defense Investigate →Henry McVey
Trustee, CSIS | Head of Global Macro & Asset Allocation, KKR
Private equity strategist, McVey brings global finance and investment expertise to CSIS's economic policy debates.
💼 Private Equity Investigate →Thomas Nides
Trustee, CSIS | Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel | Ex-Morgan Stanley COO
Diplomat and finance executive, Nides bridges Wall Street, diplomacy, and think tank influence at CSIS.
🌍 Diplomacy & Finance Investigate →Phebe Novakovic
Trustee, CSIS | Chairman & CEO, General Dynamics
Defense industry leader and General Dynamics CEO, Novakovic represents major military contractor interests at CSIS
🛡️ Defense Industry Investigate →Sam Nunn
Trustee, CSIS | Former U.S. Senator | Co-Founder, NTI
Nuclear policy architect and defense industry board member, Nunn bridges government, think tanks, and the arms sector at CSIS.
☢️ Nuclear-Defense Ties Investigate →Joseph S. Nye Jr.
Trustee, CSIS | Harvard Professor Emeritus | Former Assistant Secretary of Defense
Soft power theorist and policy architect, Nye shapes CSIS's liberal internationalist and U.S. leadership agenda.
📚 Soft Power Investigate →Leon Panetta
Trustee, CSIS | Former Secretary of Defense | Former CIA Director
Veteran of defense and intelligence leadership, Panetta brings deep government experience and national security expertise to CSIS.
🛡️ Defense & Intelligence Investigate →William K. Reilly
Trustee, CSIS | Former EPA Administrator | Environmental Policy Leader
Environmental policy architect and former EPA chief, Reilly bridges environmental protection and business interests at CSIS.
🌱 Environment & Policy Investigate →Paul Ryan
Trustee, CSIS | Former Speaker of the House | Fiscal Policy Leader
Ex-Speaker and fiscal hawk, Ryan brings conservative economic policy and corporate-friendly reforms to CSIS.
💰 Fiscal Policy Investigate →Jin Roy Ryu
Trustee, CSIS | Chairman & CEO, Poongsan Group | Korean Defense Industry Leader
Head of one of the world's largest munitions manufacturers, Ryu brings defense industry power and arms trade influence to CSIS.
🛡️ Defense Industry Investigate →Bob Schieffer
Trustee, CSIS | Former CBS News Anchor | Media and Policy Commentator
Former CBS News anchor and political journalist, Schieffer brings media expertise and policy analysis to CSIS.
📺 Media & Policy Investigate →Brad Smith
Trustee, CSIS | President & Vice Chair, Microsoft | Former Chief Legal Officer
President & Vice Chair of Microsoft, Smith bridges technology leadership and policy influence at CSIS.
💻 Technology & Policy Investigate →Frederick W. Smith
Trustee, CSIS | Founder & Executive Chairman, FedEx | Transportation Pioneer
Founder & Executive Chairman of FedEx, Smith brings logistics expertise and global trade influence to CSIS.
🚚 Logistics & Trade Investigate →Julie Sweet
Trustee, CSIS | Chair & CEO, Accenture | Former Chief Legal Officer, Accenture
Chair & CEO of Accenture, Sweet brings technology consulting and business transformation expertise to CSIS.
💼 Consulting & Innovation Investigate →Andrew C. Taylor
Trustee, CSIS | Executive Chairman, Enterprise Holdings | Former CEO, Enterprise
Executive Chairman of Enterprise Holdings, Taylor brings transportation and mobility expertise to CSIS.
🚗 Transportation & Mobility Investigate →Frances F. Townsend
Trustee, CSIS | Former Homeland Security Advisor | Former Deputy National Security Advisor
Former Homeland Security Advisor and national security expert, Townsend brings counterterrorism and intelligence expertise to CSIS.
🛡️ National Security Investigate →Byron D. Trott
Trustee, CSIS | Chairman & Co-CEO, BDT & MSD Partners | Former Goldman Sachs Vice Chairman
Elite banker and advisor to billionaires, Trott brings private capital and dynastic wealth influence to CSIS's board.
🏦 Elite Finance Investigate →Romesh Wadhwani
Trustee, CSIS | Founder & Chairman, SymphonyAI | Tech Entrepreneur & Philanthropist
AI entrepreneur and philanthropist, Wadhwani brings tech innovation and digital governance expertise to CSIS.
🤖 AI & Industry Investigate →James Winnefeld Jr.
Trustee, CSIS | Retired Admiral, USN | Former Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
Retired admiral and defense board member, Winnefeld bridges military command and corporate strategy at CSIS.
⚓ Military-Industry Investigate →Darren W. Woods
Trustee, CSIS | Chairman & CEO, ExxonMobil
Oil executive and energy lobbyist, Woods brings fossil fuel power and climate policy influence to CSIS.
🛢️ Fossil Fuel Investigate →Othman Benjelloun
Trustee, CSIS | Chairman & CEO, Bank of Africa
African banking tycoon, Benjelloun brings pan-African finance and elite capital to CSIS's board.
🏦 African Finance Investigate →Lester Crown
Trustee, CSIS | Chairman, Henry Crown and Company
Industrialist and philanthropist, Crown brings Chicago business power and defense sector ties to CSIS.
🏭 Industry & Philanthropy Investigate →Howard Leach
Trustee, CSIS | President, Leach Capital | Former U.S. Ambassador to France
Investor and diplomat, Leach brings political fundraising and transatlantic business to CSIS's board.
💵 Diplomatic Capital Investigate →Sue M. Cobb
Trustee, CSIS | Principal, Cobb Partners | Former U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica
Attorney, real estate developer, and diplomat, Cobb brings private sector and political access to CSIS.
🏘️ Real Estate & Policy Investigate →Maurice R. Greenberg
Trustee, CSIS | Chairman & CEO, C.V. Starr & Co. | Former CEO, AIG
Insurance and finance titan, Greenberg brings global risk management and U.S.-China business ties to CSIS.
🛡️ Insurance Power Investigate →