Elissa Slotkin
| Elissa Slotkin | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Nationality | American |
| Education | Cornell University (B.A.) Columbia University (M.A.) |
| Home town | Holly, Michigan |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | David Moore |
| Children | 2 |
| Awards | Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service |
Elissa Slotkin is the former Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs under the Obama Administration. She was the principal advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense and Secretary of Defense on security strategy and policy issues related to the nations and international organizations of Europe (including the North Atlantic Treaty Organization), Russia, the Middle East, Africa, and the Western Hemisphere. She also had oversight for security cooperation programs, including foreign military sales in these regions. Previously, from September 2012 to January 2015, Elissa served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs. From July 2013 to August 2014, she performed the duties of Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy.
Elissa is a third-generation Michigander who spent her early life on a farm in Holly, Michigan. Her great-grandfather arrived on Ellis Island and eventually founded the family meat business Hygrade Foods, establishing its Detroit headquarters in 1949. Hygrade invented a number of foods that have been staples in the lives of Michiganders for generations, including the famous Ballpark Frank, first sold at Tiger Stadium. Elissa received a B.A. from Cornell University and an M.A. from Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs.
Elissa played a leading role designing the counter-ISIS strategy and standing up the international coalition fighting in Iraq and Syria. Most recently, she chaired the U.S.- Russia channel on flight safety over Syria, the senior-most channel between the two governments. Along with the Undersecretary, she served as the principal advisor to the Secretary of Defense on all national security and defense policy, including on issues of unmanned aerial vehicles, homeland defense, disaster response, and cyber warfare. Elissa joined the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Policy in 2011 as the Senior Advisor for Middle East Transition, and prior to that served in the State Department where she worked closely on Iraq policy during the transition from military to civilian lead. She has also served on the U.S. National Security Council as Director for Iraq, where her portfolio included a leading role in drafting of the U.S. - Iraq Status of Forces Agreement. She also worked in the intelligence community, where she served three tours of duty in Iraq and as Special Assistant to the first Director of National Intelligence, John Negroponte. In addition to her government experience, Elissa has worked at non-profit organizations throughout the Middle East and East Africa. She has studied Arabic and Swahili. Elissa frequently speaks on international security issues.
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