On Tuesday 29 September 2009 James J Townsend Jr, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for European and NATO Policy will speak on “Issues in Transatlantic Security and Defence” with particular reference to the Obama administration's Missile Defence policy from 1-2pm.
Prior to being named Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for European and NATO Policy, Jim Townsend was the Vice President and Director of the International Security Program at the Atlantic Council. Before taking up this position, Jim was the Principal Director of European and NATO Policy in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, responsible for managing the day-to-day defence relationship between the United States, NATO and the nations of Europe. Prior to this assignment, Mr. Townsend was the Director of NATO Policy (2002-2003) and the Director of the Defense Plans Division at the US Mission to NATO (1998-2002).
Before beginning his tour at NATO, Mr. Townsend served for eight years (1990-1998) in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. His last post in OSD was Deputy Director of European Policy where he played a pivotal role in building new relations between the US and the emerging democracies of Central and Eastern Europe. From 1990 – 1994, Mr. Townsend was the Country Director for Northern Europe, where he developed new, post-Cold War defence relations between the US and the Scandinavian nations.
Mr. Townsend has been awarded a Presidential Rank Award (Meritorious Executive), Secretary of Defense Meritorious Civilian Service Award, the Office of the Secretary of Defense Exceptional Civilian Service Award (twice), the Office of the Secretary of Defense Award for Excellence and the Department of the Army Superior Civilian Service Award.
Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, he earned a B.A. in History and Political Science from Duke University in 1979, graduating Cum Laude. He earned an M.A. from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in 1982 in International Economics and American Foreign Policy. In 1986, Mr. Townsend received a direct commission in the U.S. Navy Reserve (intelligence) leaving the Reserves as a Lieutenant Commander.
This discussion will be held off-the-record.
It will be moderated by Mark Fitzpatrick, Senior Fellow for Non-proliferation at the IISS, and will take place on the Fifth Floor at Arundel House, 13–15 Arundel Street, Temple Place, London WC2R 3DX.
If you would like to attend please RSVP to Rebecca Fishley e-mail: currentevents@iiss.org or tel. no. 020 7379 7676.
