Arnold L. Punaro
Visiting Scholar
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From 1973 to 1997, Mr. Punaro worked for 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. 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, civilian and military nominations, for over two decades.
A retired U.S. Marine Corps Major General, he served as the Director of the Marine Corps Reserve and for three years as the Commanding General of the 4th Marine Division. He served on active duty as an Infantry Platoon Commander in Vietnam where he was awarded the Bronze Star for valor and the Purple Heart. In December 1990, he was mobilized for Operation Desert Shield. In December 1993, he completed a tour of extended active duty as Commander of Joint Task Force Provide Promise (Forward) in the former Yugoslavia. He was mobilized for a third time in May 2003 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
On September 1, 2011, he was named by Secretary of Defense Panetta to chair the newly constituted Reserve Forces Policy Board which serves as an independent advisor to the Secretary of Defense on reserve and guard matters. He is a member on the Defense Business Board (DBB), and is currently chairing a DBB task force on reforming the Department of Defense (DoD) acquisition system. In 2010, he chaired a DBB task force for Secretary of Defense Gates on reducing DoD overhead. In January 2005, he was named by Secretary Rumsfeld to chair the statutory Commission on the National Guard and Reserves established by public law 108-375. The Commission completed their work in April 2008 with most of their 113 recommendations now largely adopted by DoD and the Congress. He also served as a Commissioner on the Statutory Independent Commission on the Iraqi Security Forces which submitted their assessment to Congress on September 6, 2007. In 1997, he chaired The Defense Reform Task Force for Secretary of Defense William Cohen.
He serves on the boards of the Atlantic Council, the National Defense Industrial Association, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, and the University of Georgia’s School of Public and International Affairs Board of Visitors.
Formerly an executive vice president at $11B Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) from 1997 to 2010, he was the senior corporate official responsible for SAIC's government affairs, worldwide communications and support operations, to include crisis and risk management, as well as general manager of their Washington operations and supervisor of SAIC's corporate Small and Disadvantaged Business office.
He is currently chief executive officer of the Punaro Group, LLC, a Washington based firm offering business development, strategic planning, federal budget and market analysis, communications, crisis and emergency management, government relations and sensitive operations consulting.
General Punaro is the recipient of numerous recognitions including the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service. He has over 20 military awards and decorations to include the Distinguished Service Medal as well as numerous civic awards.
He has a Masters of Arts degree from the University of Georgia and a Masters of Arts degree from Georgetown University.
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