Dr. Walter L. Christman
“The MIIS Cyber Initiative explores the leading edge of the knowledge revolution. It poses the questions the few ask, recognizing that the integration of people, technology, processes and organizations is constantly changing and adapting thereby creating new possibilities for both creativity and chaos. We can be a positive force on a global basis in order ‘win in a complex world’ in support of more free and open society everywhere.
I hope to add to the program’s ability to ask the right questions, helping it to move from challenges to opportunities to solutions. Two initial questions come to mind: How can we promote an innovative systems approach that can help cultivate and sustain more effective security partnerships around the globe? What are the key challenges and collectively owned opportunities that a global network of people, ideas and processes must confront to enable smart decision making everywhere by tomorrow’s agile, resilient and effective leaders?”
Dr. Walter L. Christman is a pioneer in the adoption of new cooperative ventures in education and research to enable enhanced, regional and global security. His 30-year career with the U.S. Government includes service in the White House, Department of State, Congress, Pentagon and the U.S. Armed Forces. This includes service as a diplomat for 10 years in the international community of Geneva, Switzerland and travel to more than 50 countries.
He is the principal architect of seven U.S. Secretary of Defense initiatives, three of which were endorsed by a President of the United States. In addition, on behalf of the U.S. Office of the Secretary Defense and the U.S. Joint Forces Command, Dr. Christman oversaw strategic collaboration efforts with the United Nations and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as well as bilateral agreements with Partner nations in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. He also conceived and established the George C. Marshall Center for European Security Studies in Garmisch, Germany, which has educated tens of thousands of participants in defense and security topics over the past 20 years.
Dr. Christman’s academic career includes service as an Associate Professor of Global Public Policy with the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, a Visiting Fellow of the Center for Technology and National Security Policy at the U.S. National Defense University and Visiting Scholar at Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a Trustee of the Marshall Foundation. In addition, he serves on the editorial board of the journal “European Security” and is presently a co-editor of the “SUNY Series on Global Challenges in the 21st Century.” His forthcoming book under contract is entitled: “Framing NATO’s Engagement with China: Relationality and Partnership.“
Following his service an active duty member of U.S. Army Special Forces, Dr. Christman was awarded Bachelor of Arts from Duke University, a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard University, a Masters in International Affairs from Columbia University and a Ph.D. in International Relations from the University of Geneva. For his leadership in establishing the Marshall Center, he received the U.S. Secretary of Defense Meritorious Service Medal.
Dr. Christman is currently the Chairman and Co-Founder of the Global Challenges Forum (GCF) foundation in Geneva, Switzerland with offices in Switzerland, Jordan, India and California. GCF is an organization of think tanks, research centers and academic institutions that aims to positively address existing and future global security challenges. Through the GCF, he established and promotes the “Leadership Education for the Advancement of Development and Security (LEADS)” Institute. He is also President of Global Strategic Analysis, LLC, which offers confidential, analytic support and creative services to clients world-wide. It seeks to foster innovative solutions for a secure and sustainable world by providing access to credible, unconventional thinkers as well as building entrepreneurial networks and strategic partnerships.
A MIIS press release about Dr. Christman can be found here.
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