Dr. Kathleen Hicks, Ambassador Robert C. O’Brien, and Dr. Kiana Aran Join CEPA’s International Leadership Council

Washington, DC, April 23, 2026 – Today, the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) is pleased to announce that Dr. Kathleen Hicks, Ambassador Robert C. O’Brien, and Dr. Kiana Aran have joined the organization as the newest members of its International Leadership Council (ILC). 

Together, they bring decades of distinguished experience in national security, defense policy, and emerging technologies to CEPA’s high-level advisory group of global thought leaders and decision-makers, co-chaired by Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, former Minister of Defence of the Federal Republic of Germany, and H.R. McMaster, former US National Security Advisor and Lieutenant General (Ret.) in the United States Army. 

McMaster and Kramp-Karrenbauer said: “The addition of Dr. Hicks, Ambassador O’Brien, and Dr. Aran will help CEPA identify opportunities for transatlantic cooperation that extend beyond traditional defense to include the development and application of technologies critical to preserving peace and promoting prosperity.” 

CEPA’s President and CEO, Dr. Alina Polyakova, said: “We are honored to welcome three extraordinary leaders to CEPA’s International Leadership Council. Dr. Hicks and Ambassador O’Brien bring unparalleled experience at the highest levels of US national security, while Dr. Aran represents the cutting edge of biotechnology innovation that is increasingly central to transatlantic competitiveness. Together, they strengthen CEPA’s capacity to lead on the issues that matter most — from deterrence and defense to the strategic technologies shaping our future.” 

Dr. Kathleen Hicks served as the 35th United States Deputy Secretary of Defense and previously held other senior defense roles, including Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, and Forces. She currently holds appointments at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, the Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, and Johns Hopkins University’s Kissinger Center for Global Affairs. 

Dr. Hicks said: “Effective deterrence and defense depend on the strength of the transatlantic bond. CEPA plays an essential role in forging that unity — bringing together the leaders, ideas, and strategies needed to meet the security challenges of this era. I look forward to contributing to that mission and am delighted to join CEPA’s Advisory Group to help guide its critical work on the future of technology and defense innovation.” 

Ambassador Robert C. O’Brien served as the 27th United States National Security Advisor and previously as the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs with the personal rank of ambassador. He is the Co-founder and Chairman of American Global Strategies. 

Amb. O’Brien said: “I am delighted to join this group of leaders committed to allied security. I believe that the transatlantic alliance can return to being the cornerstone of global security, and work to strengthen that partnership has never been more vital. I am proud to join the International Leadership Council and to contribute to the effort to keep Europe and America united in the face of shared threats to Western security.” 

Dr. Kiana Aran is a globally recognized biotechnology innovator, entrepreneur, and professor at the University of California, San Diego. Her pioneering work at the intersection of biology and technology has earned international acclaim and established her as a leading force shaping the next generation of the biotech ecosystem. 

Dr. Aran said: “The race to lead in biotechnology and other critical technologies will be won or lost based on how well the United States and Europe work together. I am excited to join CEPA’s International Leadership Council and to help ensure that the transatlantic alliance remains at the forefront of innovation in an era of intensifying competition.” 

For media inquiries, please contact press@cepa.org.

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