Arnold L. Punaro

Executive Vice President

Arnold Punaro is executive vice president at Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). He is the senior corporate official responsible for SAIC's government affairs, worldwide communications, real estate and support operations as well as general manager of their Washington operations with over 17,500 employees in this region. He also supervises SAIC's corporate Small Business Development office. In previous SAIC positions, he served as a sector manager, deputy president of the Federal Business Segment, and ran SAIC's Corporate Business Development organization. He joined SAIC in March 1997 and works in their McLean, Virginia, headquarters.

He serves as a Senior Fellow on Secretary of Defense Gates' Defense Business Board and as a Senior Associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. He serves on the Boards of the Atlantic Council, the National Defense Industrial Association, and Wolf Trap. In January 2005, he was named to chair the independent Commission on the National Guard and Reserves (CNGR). The Commission submitted three reports and completed its work in April 2008. CNGR was charged by Congress to recommend changes in law and policy to ensure that the National Guard and Reserves are organized, trained, equipped, compensated and supported to best meet the national security requirements of the U.S.

In 1997, he chaired The Defense Reform Task Force for Secretary of Defense William Cohen supporting the Secretary's Defense Reform Initiative. He served as Deputy Executive Director of the U.S. Commission on National Security/21st Century (1998-2001). He served as a Commissioner on the Statutory Independent Commission on the Iraqi Security Forces which submitted their assessment to Congress on September 6, 2007. He also served in 2008 as a task force member for retired U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Jim Jones, then U.S. Special Envoy for Middle East Regional Security.

From 1973 to 1997, he worked for then Senator Sam Nunn in National Security matters. He served as his director of National Security affairs and then as Staff Director of the Senate Armed Services Committee (eight years) and Staff Director for the Minority (five years). In his work with Senator Nunn and the Senate Armed Services Committee, he was involved in the formulation of all major defense and intelligence legislation and the oversight and review of all major defense and intelligence activities for over two decades.

He has a Masters of Arts degree from the University of Georgia and a Masters of Arts degree from Georgetown University, the latter in national security studies. He was on the Adjunct Faculty of the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University for 10 years where he taught an annual graduate level course entitled "National Security Decisionmaking."

He is a retired U.S. Marine Corps Major General. He served as the Director of the Marine Corps Reserve from May 2001 to October 2003, as Deputy Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command (Mobilization) from August 2000 to May 2001. From 1997 to 2000, he served as the Commanding General of the 4th Marine Division. His previous assignments as a general officer were Commanding General, Marine Corps Mobilization Command, and Deputy Commander, Marine Forces Reserve. He served on active duty as an Infantry Platoon Commander in Vietnam where he was awarded the Bronze Star for valor and Purple Heart. In December 1990, he served in Operation Desert Shield in Saudi Arabia. In December 1993, he completed a tour of active duty as Commander of Joint Task Force Provide Promise (Forward) in the former Yugoslavia. He was activated for a third time in May 2003 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

He has received numerous recognitions. In August 1993, he received the Marine Corps League's "Iron Mike" Award for "exceptionally outstanding service" and "unwavering commitment" for over 20 years to "insuring a strong national defense." He has received the Air Force Association's "Exceptional Service Award," the National Guard "Minuteman Award," and the Army's "Outstanding Civilian Service Medal." He has over 20 military awards and decorations to include the Distinguished Service Medal.