Leo Michel Email and Phone Number

Leo Michel's research interests focus on: NATO's adaptation to the evolving international security environment: US defense relations with France, the UK, and the Nordic states; and the EU's Common Defense and Security Policy.Prior to joining the Council in July 2015, Mr. Michel was a Distinguished Research Fellow at the Institute for National Strategic Studies, the think-tank component of the US Defense Department’s National Defense University. He also directed seminars on transatlantic defense relations at the National War College. During 1986-2002, Mr. Michel served in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD.) His positions included: Director for NATO Policy; Director for Non-Nuclear Arms Control; Deputy US Representative to the US-Russia Bilateral Consultative Commission; and Deputy Director, Verification Policy. During 1996-99, he represented OSD on the faculty of the Geneva Centre for Security Policy. Mr. Michel was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in 2000.Before OSD, Mr. Michel served in the CIA's Directorate for Intelligence. He also has worked as a legislative aide to a Member of Congress and as a reporter for French media. He served as a US Navy officer during 1969-1972. Mr. Michel holds a MA from Johns Hopkins School for Advanced International Studies and a BA from Princeton University. In addition to numerous monographs published by INSS, Mr. Michel has contributed chapters to several books dealing with NATO, European defense. and US defense relations with the UK and France. His commentaries have appeared in a range of American and European publications, including the Los Angeles Times, Newsweek, Defense News, Foreign Policy, Le Monde,and Revue Défense Nationale. Mr. Michel is a native English speaker and is fluent in French. He lives in Bethesda, MD.