National Security and Homeland Security Veterans:  

Statement Endorsing Vice President Biden for President 2020 

The undersigned have served in various capacities in the U.S. National Security and Homeland Security Communities. As Intelligence Officers, defense policy makers, diplomats and Congressional staffers, we have served the country during Democratic and Republican administrations.  Some of us are lifelong Democrats; others, Republicans; some resolutely independent.

We write to endorse Vice President Joe Biden for President of the United States.

Our nation’s foreign affairs are in disarray; our alliances frayed, and our national prestige declining.  Our approach to both friends and enemies abroad has been chaotic and unprincipled. Our credibility as a nation has been lessened.  And, perhaps most importantly, our place in the world as a source of moral leadership has nearly been lost. As a country, we are increasingly less secure and less safe.

To be clear, those of us signing this letter do not agree on everything, or even most things, concerning foreign policy, defense or homeland security.  Our policy views cover most of the spectrum, and many of us have often been in opposition, sometimes bitterly, with each other. But we have always been bound by profound patriotism, and a deep belief in our American democracy. 

But the course of events since the 2016 Presidential election has been deeply troubling.  It is not just policy differences. President Trump, and his approach to leadership at home and abroad, has created an existential danger to the United States, its place in the world, and the values we share.  His reelection would continue this downward spiral, and will likely have catastrophic results. Democracy itself is at stake.

We believe that Joe Biden has the best chance, of all the Democratic candidates, to ensure that Donald Trump does not continue as President for four more years, and for that reason alone would endorse him.  But we also believe that, of the candidates, he is best suited to reverse the course of American national security decline. We endorse him because we believe our Country is in grave danger, and Vice President Biden represents the best chance of surviving that danger, reversing course, and rebuilding a strong, safe and democratic America that is a global leader.

We are not, of course, giving up our views and approaches to national security; should Vice President Biden be elected President, many of us will take up the honorable position of “loyal opposition,” and will fight as we have before for the policies we think best.  But now, and today, it is necessary to put aside our differences, and our party affiliations, and voice our support for Vice President Biden.

Dr. Gordon Adams: Professor Emeritus, School of International Service, American University, Political Appointee, Administrations: Obama, Clinton

Mr. Javed Ali: Former Senior Director for Counterterrorism, Senior Executive Service, Senior National Intelligence Service, Administrations: Trump, Obama, Bush II

Mr. Brigham Blase Bechtel: Former Intelligence Officer, Commissioned Officer (Non-Flag Rank), General Services (GS Scale), Administrations: Trump, Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan

Mr. Rand Beers: Former Deputy Homeland Security Advisor, Senior Executive Service, Foreign Service (FS Scale), Political Appointee, Administrations: Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, Carter, Ford, Nixon, Johnson

Prof. Jason Blazakis: Professor, General Services (GS Scale), Administrations: Trump, Obama, Bush II, Clinton

Prof. Philip C. Bobbitt: Professor of Law, Columbia University, Senior Executive Service,  Administrations: Obama, Clinton, Bush I, Carter, Johnson

Mr. Zachery Tyson Brown: General Services (GS Scale), Administrations: Trump, Obama, Bush II

Mr. David Michael Buss: FSO, Retired, Foreign Service Officer (Ambassadorial Rank), Administrations: Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, Carter, Ford, Nixon

Mr. Bruce Robert Butterworth: Independent Transportation Security Consultant, Senior Executive Service, Administrations: Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, Carter, Ford

Dr. Daniel Byman: Georgetown University, General Services (GS Scale), Senior Congressional Staff, Administrations: Clinton, Bush I

Mr. Marc R. Cardwell: General Services (GS Scale), Administrations: Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, Carter

Mr. Evan Carlson: Retired, General Services (GS Scale), Administrations: Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan

Mr. Ned Foley Carmody, Operations Officer, General Services (GS Scale), Administrations: Trump, Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan

Mr. Kevin Thomas Carroll: Senior Counselor to the Secretary of Homeland Security, Senior Executive Service, Commissioned Officer (Non-Flag Rank), General Services (GS Scale), Senior Congressional Staff, Political Appointee, Administrations: Trump, Obama, Bush II, Clinton

Ms. Christy Carter: General Services (GS Scale), Administrations: Obama, Bush II, Clinton

Mr. Edmund Carter: General Services (GS Scale), Administrations: Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, Carter, Ford, Nixon, Johnson

Mr. Steven Abram Cash: CIA Intelligence Officer; Chief Counsel to U.S. Senator, General Services (GS Scale), Senior Congressional Staff, Administrations: Bush II, Clinton

Ms. Judith Beth Cefkin: U.S. Ambassador, Retired, Foreign Service Officer (Ambassadorial Rank), Administrations: Trump, Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan

Ambassador Wendy Jean Chamberlin: Ambassador, Foreign Service Officer (Ambassadorial Rank), Administrations: Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, Carter, Ford

Ms. Deborah P Christie: Assistant Secretary of the Navy, FM&C, Senior Executive Service, Political Appointee,  Administrations: Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, Carter, Ford, Nixon

Hon. James Clapper: 4th Director of National Intelligence, Senior Executive Service, Commissioned Officer (Flag Rank),  Administrations: Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, Carter, Ford, Nixon, Johnson, Kennedy

Hon. Richard Danzig: 71st Secretary of the Navy, Senior Executive Service, Political Appointee,  Administrations: Obama, Clinton, Carter

Mr. Gregory Delawie: Ambassador (Ret.), Foreign Service Officer (Ambassadorial Rank), Administrations: Trump, Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan

Ms. Vicki Divoll: Former General Counsel Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Senior Intelligence Service, Senior Congressional Staff,  Administrations: Bush II, Clinton

Mr. Melvin Dubee: Former Deputy Staff Director, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence,  Senior Executive Service, Senior Congressional Staff, Administrations: Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan

Ambassador Susan Marsh Elliott: NCAFP President and CEO, Foreign Service Officer (Ambassadorial Rank),  Administrations: Trump, Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I

Dr. Anthony Fainberg: Retired, US Government, Senior Executive Service, Administrations: Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan

Ambassador Gerald Michael Feierstein: Former Ambassador to Yemen, Foreign Service Officer (Ambassadorial Rank),  Administrations: Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, Carter, Ford

Ambassador Jeffrey Feltman: Former United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Senior Executive Service, Foreign Service Officer (Ambassadorial Rank), Foreign Service (FS Scale), Administrations: Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan

Mr. Jon Finer: Former Chief of Staff and Director of Policy Planning, U.S. Department of State, Senior Executive Service, Political Appointee, Administrations: Obama

Mr. Mark Fitzpatrick: Associate Fellow, IISS, Foreign Service (FS Scale), Administrations: Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, Carter

Mr. Paul Frandano: Retired CIA Analyst and Program Manager, Co-founder, DCI Red Cell, Senior Intelligence Service, Administrations: Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, Carter

Mr. Douglas Frantz: Former Assistant Secretary of State, Senior Congressional Staff, Political Appointee, Administrations: Obama

Dr. Henry H Gaffney: Retired from OSD 28 yrs and CNA 23 yrs, Senior Executive Service, Commissioned Officer (Non-Flag Rank), Administrations: Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, Carter, Ford, Nixon, Johnson, Kennedy

Mr. Melvin L Gamble: Former Chief Africa Division, Senior Intelligence Service, Administrations: Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, Carter, Ford

Dr. Joshua A. Geltzer: Former Senior Director, Counterterrorism & Deputy Legal Advisor, National Security Council, General Services (GS Scale), Administrations: Trump, Obama

Mr. William Green: General Services (GS Scale), Administrations: Clinton, Bush I, Reagan

Ambassador Nina Hachigian: Ambassador (ret.), U.S. Mission to ASEAN, Foreign Service Officer (Ambassadorial Rank), Political Appointee, Administrations: Obama, Clinton

Dr. James Harris: Senior Intelligence Service, Administrations: Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, Carter

Prof. Oona Hathaway: Professor of Law, Yale Law School, General Services (GS Scale), Administrations: Obama

Ms. Margaret Helen Henoch: Senior Intelligence Service/Chief of Station, Senior Intelligence Service, Administrations: Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, Carter

Ms. Heather A Higginbottom: Political Appointee, Administrations: Obama

Dr. William H Hill: Retired Foreign Service Officer, Foreign Service Officer (Ambassadorial Rank), Administrations: Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, Carter

Mr. Paul Hollingsworth: Senior Intelligence Service, Administrations: Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan

Ambassador Vicki Huddleston: Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and Defense for Africa, Foreign Service Officer (Ambassadorial Rank), Administrations: Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, Carter

Mrs. Carol W. Humphries: Commissioned Officer (Non-Flag Rank), General Services (GS Scale), Administrations: Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan

Dr. Paul Douglas Humphries: Intelligence officer, Commissioned Officer (Non-Flag Rank), General Services (GS Scale),  Administrations: Trump, Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, Carter

Mr. Oliver John: Political/Economic Consultant, Retired FSO, General Services (GS Scale), Foreign Service (FS Scale),  Administrations: Trump, Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I

Mr. Andy Johnson: Staff Director, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, General Services (GS Scale), Senior Congressional Staff, Administrations: Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I

Ambassador Beth Jones: Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia, Foreign Service Officer (Ambassadorial Rank), Administrations: Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, Carter, Ford, Nixon

Ambassador Deborah K Jones: Ambassador – Retired, Senior Executive Service, Foreign Service Officer (Ambassadorial Rank), Foreign Service (FS Scale), Administrations: Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan

Dr. Colin Kahl: Former National Security Advisor to VP Biden, Senior Executive Service, General Services (GS Scale), Political Appointee, Administrations: Obama, Bush II

Ambassador Richard Dale Kauzlarich: Distinguished Visiting Professor, Schar School of Policy and Government, George Mason University, Senior National Intelligence Service, Foreign Service Officer (Ambassadorial Rank), Foreign Service (FS Scale), Administrations: Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, Carter, Ford, Nixon, Johnson

Ambassador Laura E. Kennedy: Former Ambassador (Bush and Obama), Deputy Asst Secy of State, Foreign Service Officer (Ambassadorial Rank), Administrations: Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, Carter, Ford

Dr. Richard J Kessler: Senior Congressional Staff, Administrations: Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, Carter, Ford, Nixon

Mr. Timothy D Kilbourn: Former Dean, Sherman Kent School and PDB Briefer to the President, Senior Intelligence Service, Administrations: Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan

Mr. Daniel Charles Kiryelejza: General Services (GS Scale), Administrations: Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan

Dr. Susan J Koch: Senior Executive Service, Administrations: Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, Carter, Ford

Mr. Christopher Kojm: Senior Executive Service, Senior National Intelligence Service, Senior Congressional Staff, Political Appointee, Administrations: Obama, Bush II, Clinton

Mr. Paul Richard Kolbe: Director, The Intelligence Project, Harvard Kennedy School Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs; Former CIA Chief of Station and Component Chief, Senior Intelligence Service, Administrations: Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan

Ambassador Lisa Kubiske: Ambassador (ret.), Foreign Service Officer (Ambassadorial Rank), Administrations: Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan

Mr. James C. Lawler: National Security Consultant and Author, Senior Intelligence Service, Administrations: Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, Carter

Mr. Jonathan L. Lee: Former Deputy Chief of Staff, Department of Homeland Security; Former Director for Human Rights, National Security Council Staff, Senior Executive Service, General Services (GS Scale), Political Appointee, Administrations: Obama

Mr. J. William Leonard: Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Security & Information Operations), Senior Executive Service, Administrations: Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, Carter, Ford, Nixon

Mr. Andrew Liepman: Former deputy director, NCTC, Senior Intelligence Service, Administrations: Trump, Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan

Mr. William Linder: President, 14 North, General Services (GS Scale), Administrations: Trump, Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan

Dr. George E Little: Former Pentagon Press Secretary and CIA Spokesman, Senior Intelligence Service, Administrations: Obama, Bush II

Mr. James Francis Mcilmail: National Security Professional, Senior Executive Service, Administrations: Trump, Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, Carter

Mr. Jason McNamara: Former Chief of Staff, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Senior Executive Service, Senior Congressional Staff, Administrations: Obama, Bush II, Clinton

Ambassador James Desmond Melville, Jr.: U.S. Ambassador (retired), Foreign Service Officer (Ambassadorial Rank),  Administrations: Trump, Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan

Ms. Molly Montgomery: Former U.S. Foreign Service Officer, Foreign Service (FS Scale), Administrations: Trump, Obama, Bush II

Mr. Rolf Mowatt-Larssen: Former Director of Intelligence and Counterintelligence, Department of Energy, Senior Intelligence Service, Administrations: Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, Carter, Ford, Nixon

Mr. Scott Nathan: Former Associate Director, OMB, Senior Executive Service, Administrations: Obama

Dr. Gary Rohde Nelson: Chairman, Sigma Federal, Senior Executive Service, Senior Congressional Staff, Political Appointee,  Administrations: Reagan, Carter

Mr. Tom Newcomb: Former Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs and former CIA Chief of Station,  Senior Executive Service, General Services (GS Scale), Senior Congressional Staff, Administrations: Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan

Ms. Suzanne Nossel: Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Senior Executive Service, Administrations: Obama, Clinton

Mr. James C O’Brien: Special Presidential Envoy, Senior Executive Service, Political Appointee, Administrations: Obama, Clinton, Bush I

Mr. Christopher Painter: Former Coordinator for Cyber Issues, US State Dept., former Senior Director for Cybersecurity Policy, NSC, Senior Executive Service, Administrations: Trump, Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I

Mr. Thomas Parker: FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge (Retired), General Services (GS Scale), Administrations: Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, Carter, Ford, Nixon

Ambassador Anne Patterson: Ambassador to Egypt, Pakistan, Colombia, El Salvador, Foreign Service Officer (Ambassadorial Rank), Administrations: Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, Carter, Ford, Nixon

Ambassador June Carter Perry: Ambassador (Ret), Foreign Service Officer (Ambassadorial Rank), Administrations: Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, Carter

Mr. Larry Pfeiffer: Former Chief of Staff, CIA & Former Senior Director, White House Situation Room, Senior Executive Service, Senior Intelligence Service, Administrations: Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan

Hon. Robert Burns Pirie: Former Assistant Secretary of Defense, Commissioned Officer (Non-Flag Rank), Senior Congressional Staff, Political Appointee, Administrations: Bush II, Clinton, Carter, Ford, Nixon, Johnson

Mr. Marc Elias Polymeropoulos: Retired Senior Intelligence Service Officer, Directorate of Operations, CIA, Senior Intelligence Service, Administrations: Trump, Obama, Bush II, Clinton

Mr. Stephen Pomper: Former Special Assistant to the President and NSC Senior Director for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights, Senior Executive Service, Administrations: Obama, Bush II

Hon. Neil Quinter: Minority Chief Counsel and Staff Director, Subcommittee on Technology, Terrorism and Government Information, U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, Senior Congressional Staff, Elected Official, Administrations: Obama, Clinton

Mr. Thomas B Robertson: Former US Ambassador to Slovenia, Foreign Service Officer (Ambassadorial Rank), Foreign Service (FS Scale), Administrations: Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, Carter, Ford

Mr. Todd M Rosenblum: Former Deputy Under Secretary of Intelligence, DHS, Senior Executive Service, General Services (GS Scale), Senior Congressional Staff, Political Appointee, Administrations: Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan

Mr. DJ Rosenthal: Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for National Security, General Services (GS Scale), Administrations: Obama

Mr. Paul Rosenzweig: Senior Fellow, R Street Institute (former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, DHS), General Services (GS Scale), Senior Congressional Staff, Political Appointee, Administrations: Bush II, Bush I, Reagan

Mr. Scott Michael Rubin: Senior Manager, Adjunct Professor, General Services (GS Scale), Administrations: Trump, Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I

Mrs. Brigitta Rubin: General Services (GS Scale), Administrations: Trump, Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I

Mr. D. Craig Russell: Senior Intelligence Service, Administrations: Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I

Mr. James Schumaker: Foreign Service Officer, ret., Foreign Service Officer (Ambassadorial Rank), Foreign Service (FS Scale), Administrations: Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, Carter, Ford, Nixon

Mr. Nick Shapiro: Former Senior Advisor and Deputy Chief of Staff to the CIA Director, Senior Intelligence Service,  Administrations: Obama

Mr. John R. Sipher: Senior Intelligence Service, Administrations: Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan

Ms. Mariah Sixkiller: Former National Security Advisor to the House Majority Leader, Senior Congressional Staff, Political Appointee, Administrations: Clinton

Ambassador Dana Shell Smith: Former Ambassador to the State of Qatar, Foreign Service Officer (Ambassadorial Rank), Administrations: Trump, Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I

Mr. Gregory Stuart Smith: Senior Congressional Staff, Political Appointee, Administrations: Clinton

Mr. Thomas Tiernan: Minister Counselor, Foreign Service (FS Scale), Administrations: Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan

Ambassador Alexander Vershbow: Former NATO Deputy Secretary General, US Assistant Secretary of Defense, Ambassador to NATO, Russia and Republic of Korea

Ms. Elizabeth G Verville: Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Senior Executive Service, Administrations: Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, Carter, Ford, Nixon

Mr. David Eckels Wade: Chief of Staff to US Department of State, Senior Executive Service, Administrations: Obama

Ambassador Jenonne Walker: Ambassador of the United States to the Czech Republic (retired), Senior Executive Service, Foreign Service Officer (Ambassadorial Rank), Administrations: Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, Carter, Ford, Nixon, Johnson

Hon. Andy Weber: Former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Defense Programs, Senior Executive Service, General Services (GS Scale), Foreign Service (FS Scale), Political Appointee, Administrations: Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan

Mr. William F. Wechsler: Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Combatting Terrorism, Senior Executive Service, Political Appointee, Administrations: Obama, Clinton

Mr. Donald Haywood White: Chief Cryptologic Technician (Interpretive), Senior Intelligence Service, Administrations: Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, Carter, Ford

Prof. Jon A. Wiant: Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Intelligence and Research and Director of Intelligence Policy, National Security Council, Senior Executive Service, Senior Intelligence Service, Foreign Service (FS Scale), Administrations: Trump, Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, Carter, Ford

Mr. Jonathan M. Winer: Former US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State International Law Enforcement, Senior Executive Service, Senior Congressional Staff, Political Appointee, Administrations: Obama, Clinton

Mr. Douglas H Wise: Retired CIA Senior Intelligence Service officer and former Deputy Director DIA, Senior Intelligence Service, Administrations: Obama, Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, Carter

Mr. Edward M Wittenstein: Lecturer in Global Affairs, Yale University, General Services (GS Scale), Administrations: Bush II

Ambassador Lee Wolosky: Former U.S. Ambassador and NSC Official, Senior Executive Service, Foreign Service Officer (Ambassadorial Rank), Political Appointee, Administrations: Obama, Bush II, Clinton

Mr. Carl Woog:NSC Director for Strategic Communication, Senior Executive Service, Political Appointee, Administrations: Obama

Ambassador Norman Alan Wulf: Special Representative of the President for Nuclear Nonproliferation–Civil Service, Senior Executive Service, Administrations: Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, Carter, Ford, Nixon, Johnson