Josh Kirshner

Throughout his career, Mr. Kirshner has worked on a wide variety of international security issues, including arms sales, intelligence, counterterrorism and WMD proliferation.

From 2009-2013, he was the Special Assistant for Political-Military Affairs to the Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security. He was the Under Secretary’s principal advisor on arms sales, including unmanned systems. He also served as the Under Secretary’s Special Assistant for International Security and Nonproliferation, and was a key contributor to both the President’s Nuclear Security Summit and the creation of the Secretary of State’s Office of the Coordinator for Cyber Issues.

As a Professional Staff Member on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence from 2007-2009, Mr. Kirshner focused on HUMINT, terrorism and the Near East/South Asia. In this capacity he traveled extensively to the Middle East and Europe, and authored a report on the threat of and efforts to prevent a WMD attack on the homeland. In addition, he was responsible for oversight of the intelligence activities of the Departments of State, Treasury, and Energy, including the National Labs.

In 2006, Mr. Kirshner was a part of then-Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s national security team, supporting the Senator’s efforts on the Senate Armed Services Committee and working on issues ranging from foreign policy, to trade, to appropriations.

He also served at the State Department from 2000-2005, holding positions in the Nonproliferation and Counterterrorism bureaus. In the former, he was part of the teams responsible for the successful elimination of Libya’s nuclear weapons program and shutting down nuclear procurement networks worldwide. In the days after 9/11, he worked to prevent terrorist attacks in sub-Saharan Africa, and later, the Middle East.

Mr. Kirshner graduated from Yale University with an M.A. in International Affairs, including coursework in the law and business schools. He graduated from Binghamton University, cum laude, with a B.A. in Political Science.