WASHINGTON, DC– The Project on National Security Reform (PNSR) today hailed the selection by President-elect Barack Obama of PNSR Guiding Coalition members Admiral Dennis C. Blair for Director of National Intelligence and Michèle Flournoy to Under Secretary of Defense for Policy.

PNSR also congratulates General James L. Jones on his earlier selection as the National Security Adviser.

In response, PNSR Executive Director James R. Locher III issued the following statement:

“In selecting General Jim Jones as National Security Adviser and Admiral Denny Blair as Director of National Intelligence, President-elect Barack Obama has added two highly capable, experienced leaders to his national security team. Jones and Blair have distinguished themselves in challenging leadership assignments throughout their varied national security careers. They bring the right mixture of leadership, experience, and knowledge to confront the complex threats of the 21st Century.

“PNSR has recommended that the National Security Adviser position be transformed into a National Security Manager. The president needs a principal national security assistant who is much more than just an adviser. The top assistant must help produce unity of purpose and unity of effort and ensure that the national security system is decisive, agile, and fast. General Jones would excel in this new role.

“Admiral Blair is extremely well prepared to lead the intelligence community. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence is still under development, and Denny Blair understands the organizational changes that are required. As his career has demonstrated, he has the leadership skills to bring about these changes and integrate the expertise and capabilities of the sixteen intelligence components.

“Michèle Flournoy is an outstanding selection for the Defense Department where she had previously served as deputy assistant secretary of defense for strategy and threat reduction. She is well-grounded and highly effective in policy formulation and implementation, and represents another superb selection by the incoming administration.

“The other members of the Guiding Coalition and the entire PNSR community congratulate Jim Jones, Denny Blair and Michèle Flournoy on their selections for these important positions.”

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Judith Evans (703) 387-7610 (o) (202) 679-6668 (c)
www.pnsr.org