The Potomac Institute is proud to welcome the Honorable Alan R. Shaffer to our Board of Regents. Most recently serving as Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition & Sustainment), Mr. Shaffer’s career of service to our nation in both civilian and military roles stretches back almost fifty years.

"I have spent my entire adult life in National Security; now I see as uncertain a future as I remember,” said Shaffer. “I believe that the Potomac Institute provides the opportunity to examine issues facing the nation in a meaningful way, and to frame decisions in a way that can be actioned. In my experience, the Potomac Institute is a premier institute to bring together people from different perspectives to find the best possible solution to a problem.”

Before entering the federal government in 2000, Mr. Shaffer served 24 years as a commissioned officer in the United States Air Force and retired in the grade of Colonel, holding positions in command, weather, intelligence and acquisition oversight. He has employed these skills furthering our nation’s science and technology progress at home and abroad, including three years as Director of the NATO Collaboration Support Office, where he was responsible for promoting S&T collaboration in the 5,000-scientist-strong NATO network.

“We are honored and excited to welcome Alan Shaffer to the Board of Regents,” said Potomac Institute CEO Dr. Jennifer Buss. “Our working relationship with Mr. Shaffer has always been strong, and we know him to have always sought bold solutions to our national security challenges. His past work earned him the Potomac Institute’s highest honor, the Navigator Award, in 2015, and we know that he will bring that same focus on the demands of the future to the Institute.”

“The Potomac Institute Board of Regents is a who’s who of talent at the top of their respective fields, and Al Shaffer is no exception. He brings years of national security and military experience as well as public service to the Institute. We look forward to his expertise and insight on the work we will be doing,” said General Al Gray, Chairman of the Board of Regents.

Mr. Shaffer earned a B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Vermont in 1976, a second B.S. in Meteorology from the University of Utah, a M.S. in Meteorology from the Naval Postgraduate School, and a M.S. in National Resource Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He was awarded the Meritorious Executive Presidential Rank Award in 2004, the Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Award, and the Distinguished Executive Presidential Rank Award in 2007 and 2015.

 

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