Well-Known Think Tank Heads Turn to Lobbying, Consulting

Two big names in the think tank world are turning to a new and likely more profitable career: lobbying and consulting.

One is Ed Feulner, the founder and former president of the Heritage Foundation, who will sit on the advisory board of a newly-created lobbying firm called Potomac International Partners.

The other is Michele Flournoy, co-founder and former CEO of the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), who, along with several other former Obama Administration officials, is launching a strategic advisory firm called WestExec.  [Apparently, the firm will do no lobbying.]

In 2015, as CEO of CNAS, Flournoy was paid a salary of around $360,000.  In 2016, Feulner made around $200,000 as a trustee of Heritage.

As well-known figures with deep connections in Washington, the two will likely be able to help land big clients and generate large sums of money for their firms.

It will be interesting to see if Flournoy and Feulner bring in any clients who are donating to the think tanks they founded...

Flournoy Stepping Down as CEO of CNAS to Start New Firm

Michele Flournoy, Co-Founder and CEO of the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), will be stepping down from her position to start a new strategic advisory firm.  Here is more from a CNAS press release:

The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) Board of Directors today announced that former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson; former commander of U.S. Strategic Command Adm. Cecil D. Haney, USN (Ret.); Vice Chairman, Investment Banking (USA) for Credit Suisse Frederick O. Terrell; and CNAS CEO Michèle Flournoy will join the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors also announced that Flournoy will transition from her current position as CEO to the Board of Directors effective December 31, 2017.

CNAS said that is board has established a CEO search committee to identify and recruit a new CEO.

Flournoy, who was undersecretary of defense for policy during the Obama Administration, was considered the favorite to be defense secretary in a Hillary Clinton Administration.

She was also under consideration for the #2 defense post in the Trump Administration, but faced stiff resistance and ultimately opted against taking the job.