Mark Kennedy
Director, The Wilson Center’s Wahba Institute for Strategic Competition
“Kennedy doesn’t ignore the elephant in the room; to the contrary, he looks it straight in the eye.” John King - CNN
As Director of the Wilson Center’s Wahba Institute for Strategic Competition, Hon. Mark R. Kennedy (U.S. Congress 2001-07 MN) defines paths to strengthening America’s alliances, and the technology, trade, energy, infrastructure and industrial base foundations of its economic and global leadership.

As a Senior Fellow at CNA – Center for Naval Analyses and an appointed Civic Leader supporting the Secretary of the Air Force, Kennedy champions the grand strategy and military needed to deter aggression.

Mark applies experiences as a first-generation college graduate, President Emeritus of the University of Colorado, President of the University of North Dakota, presidentially appointed member of the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations, author of Shapeholders, Business Success in the Age of Activism (Columbia University Press), member of the Council on Foreign Relations, member of the Boston Global Forum’s Board of Thinkers, Chairman Emeritus of the Economic Club of Minnesota, corporate executive, University of Michigan MBA (with distinction) and St. John’s University (MN) graduate.

Kennedy has engaged wide cross-sections of society in over 45 countries, including refugee camps, war zones, 55+ military bases and three aircraft carriers at sea.