John Hamre

Hamre is the son of Melvin Sanders and Ruth Lucile (Larson) Hamre. He attended primary and secondary school in Clark, South Dakota. He earned a B.A. (with high distinction) in political science and economics from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota (1972).[2] The following year he was a Rockefeller Fellow at Harvard Divinity School. He earned an M.A. (1976) and Ph.D. (1978) with distinction from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).[3][4][5][2][6][7]

John Hamre (right) with Ash Carter (center) and Sam Nunn

Hamre served in the Congressional Budget Office (1978–1984), where he became its deputy assistant director for national security and international affairs. In that position, he oversaw analysis and other support for committees in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. In the 1980s, he worked for ten years at the Senate Armed Services Committee.[5] During that time, he was primarily responsible for the oversight and evaluation of procurement, research and development programs, defense budget issues, and relations with the Senate Appropriations Committee.[3]

Hamre was DoD Comptroller (1993–1997) and Deputy Secretary of Defense (1997–1999), both under President Bill Clinton.[5][3]

The Senate appointed Hamre (2001) to the Commission on the Future of the United States Aerospace Industry.[8]

Hamre worked on the Obama transition team. He is chairman of the Defense Policy Board.[4][8] Hamre's continued involvement in the defense establishment has put him on the short list for the position of Secretary of Defense multiple times, including during the formation of the first term of the Obama administration and most recently after the president's re-election in 2012.[9]

John Hamre, President and CEO of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, in Washington, D.C. in February 2013

In 2008, the Norwegian King Harald V appointed Hamre Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit for his efforts "to promote collaboration between Norwegian and American politicians, authorities and researchers".[10]

• Hamre, John J. (1979). U.S. airlift forces : enhancement alternatives for NATO and non-NATO contingencies. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Budget Office. LCCN 79601973.
• Hamre, John J. (1981). Strategic command, control, and communications : alternative approaches for modernization. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Budget Office. LCCN 81603396.
• R. B., Byers; Hamre, John J.; Lindsey, George (1985). Aerospace defence: Canada's future role? (paperback ed.). Toronto, Ontario: Canadian Institute of International Affairs. ISBN 0-919084-52-4. LCCN 85154659. Retrieved 2009-11-10.
• Hamre, John J.; et al. (2001). Technology and security in the twenty-first century : U.S. military export control reform : a report of the CSIS Military Export Control Project. Washington, D.C.: CSIS. ISBN 0-89206-401-3. LCCN 2001002850.
• Hamre, John J.; Gordon R. Sullivan (Autumn 2002). "Toward Postconflict Reconstruction" (PDF). The Washington Quarterly. 25 (4): 85–96. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2009-11-10.
• Hamre, John; et al. (July 17, 2003). Iraq's post-conflict reconstruction a field review and recommendations : Iraq reconstruction assessment mission, June 27-July 7, 2003 (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Center for Strategic and International Studies. LCCN 2003543617. Retrieved 2009-11-10.

• Appearances on C-SPAN