Clinton Administration CIA Director R. James Woolsey Named Chairman of the Foundation for Defense of

Clinton Administration CIA Director R. James Woolsey Named Chairman of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies

WASHINGTON, DC (March 24, 2011) — Former Director of Central Intelligence R. James Woolsey has been named Chairman of the Board of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a non-partisan think tank dedicated to combating terrorism and defending free nations.

“We have long been privileged to have Jim as one of our closest advisors and he is passionately committed to FDD’s mission,” said FDD President Clifford D. May. “He’s a natural fit for Chairman. His long and distinguished background and many skills — for example, in intelligence, international negotiations, energy security and national security – will be of great value to this organization and its vital work. We’re delighted that he’s chosen to serve with us, and we look forward to working with him for a long time to come.”

Mr. Woolsey, a life-long Democrat, served as Director of Central Intelligence for President Bill Clinton from 1993 to 1995, after a long history of working in both Democratic and Republican administrations.

He served as an advisor to the United States delegation to the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT I) in 1969-1970, as General Counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services, as Under Secretary of the Navy, as Ambassador to the Negotiation on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe and as Chairman of Freedom House.

Mr. Woolsey was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1941. He is a 1963 graduate of Stanford University — where he was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa honors society — a Rhodes Scholar, and a 1968 graduate of Yale Law School.

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The Foundation for Defense of Democracies is a non-profit, non-partisan policy institute dedicated exclusively to promoting pluralism, defending democratic values, and fighting the ideologies that drive terrorism. Founded shortly after the attacks of 9/11, FDD combines policy research, democracy and counterterrorism education, strategic communications, and investigative journalism in support of its mission. For more information, please visit www.defenddemocracy.org.