Michèle Flournoy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michèle Flournoy
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Flournoy in 2009
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| 9th Under Secretary of Defense for Policy | |
| In office February 9, 2009 – February 3, 2012 |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Eric Edelman |
| Succeeded by | James Miller |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 14, 1960 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Spouse | W. Scott Gould |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Harvard University (BA) Balliol College, Oxford (MLitt) |
Michèle Angélique Flournoy (born December 14, 1960) is an American expert in defense policy. She has worked for several U.S. presidents.
She was a deputy assistant secretary of defense for strategy under President Bill Clinton. Later, she became the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy under President Barack Obama.
As Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Michèle Flournoy was the highest-ranking woman ever in the United States Department of Defense. She helped create the Obama administration's plan for fighting in Afghanistan. She also helped convince President Obama to get involved in Libya.
In 2007, Flournoy helped start a group called the Center for a New American Security. She is also a co-founder and managing partner of WestExec Advisors.
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Early Life and Education
Michèle Flournoy was born in Los Angeles, California, on December 14, 1960. Her father, George Flournoy, was a cinematographer. He worked on TV shows like I Love Lucy. He passed away when she was 14 years old.
Flournoy went to Beverly Hills High School. She spent a year as an exchange student in Belgium, where she learned French.
In 1983, she earned a bachelor's degree in social studies from Harvard University. In 1986, she received a master's degree in international relations from Oxford University in England. She was a special scholar at Balliol College there.
After college, she worked as a research analyst. She also worked at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Career in Government and Policy
Clinton Administration (1996–2000)
Michèle Flournoy worked in the Clinton administration at the United States Department of Defense. She held roles like deputy assistant secretary of defense for strategy.
During her time with President Clinton, she helped write important defense reports. These reports talked about how the U.S. military should be ready for different types of wars.
Public Policy Research
After working for President Clinton, Flournoy joined the Institute for National Strategic Studies. She led a group that studied defense reviews.
She then moved to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). There, she advised on defense and international security. In 2002, before the 2003 invasion of Iraq, she discussed the idea of striking enemy weapons stockpiles first. She believed this could prevent attacks on the U.S.
Founder of CNAS (2007)
In 2007, Michèle Flournoy co-founded the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). She became its president. CNAS is a think tank that studies national security issues.
She and co-founder Kurt M. Campbell wrote a paper. It suggested that U.S. foreign policy should be based on common sense, not just ideas.
Obama's First Term (2009–2012)
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After the 2008 election, President-elect Obama chose Flournoy for a key role. She was nominated as Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. The United States Senate approved her nomination in February 2009. This made her the highest-ranking woman in the history of the Department of Defense.
In this role, Flournoy advised U.S. Secretaries of Defense Robert Gates and Leon Panetta. She helped shape the Obama administration's strategy in Afghanistan. She supported sending more troops to Afghanistan. She also pushed for more civilian experts and economic aid there.
In December 2011, Flournoy announced she would leave her position. She wanted to return to private life.
Libya
In 2011, Flournoy played a big part in convincing President Obama to get involved in Libya. This was despite some opposition from other officials.
She supported a "no-fly zone" over Libya. This was meant to stop leader Muammar Gaddafi from attacking his own people. She explained that this would involve destroying Libya's air defenses first.
After Government Service (Since 2012)
After leaving the Obama administration, Flournoy became a senior advisor at Boston Consulting Group. This company works with government agencies.
In 2013, she defended the U.S. military action in Libya. She believed it was the right thing to do for humanitarian reasons.
Flournoy has also been a senior fellow at Harvard University's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. She has served on advisory boards for intelligence agencies.
Co-founder WestExec Advisors (2017)
In 2017, Flournoy co-founded WestExec Advisors with Antony Blinken. It is a consulting firm. She is a managing partner there.
As Corporate Director
In 2018, Flournoy joined the board of Booz Allen Hamilton. This is a large consulting firm. She also became an advisor to Pine Island Capital, a private investment firm.
Possible Role in Biden Administration (2020)
Michèle Flournoy was considered a top choice for Secretary of Defense under President Joe Biden. However, General Lloyd Austin was chosen instead.
In 2020, Flournoy shared her views on several international issues. She expressed concern that Israel's plans for the West Bank could affect U.S. aid. She also opposed lifting economic sanctions on North Korea and Iran.
She has also talked about the need for the U.S. military to invest in new technologies. These include unmanned systems and artificial intelligence. She believes this will help the U.S. stay ahead of countries like China. She has suggested increasing U.S. troop presence and military exercises in the South China Sea. This is to prevent conflict over Taiwan.
Political Views
Experts have described Michèle Flournoy as a "centrist." This means her views are often in the middle, not extreme. She is also seen as a "liberal internationalist." This means she believes countries should work together to solve global problems.
Other Activities
Michèle Flournoy is a member of several important groups. These include the Aspen Strategy Group and the Council on Foreign Relations.
In 2012, she was chosen as a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration. She also serves on the board of directors for Spirit of America, a charity. As of 2023, she is on the board of advisors for the Special Competitive Studies Project.
She is also a member of the Defense Policy Board Advisory Committee. This committee advises the Secretary of Defense.
Personal Life
Michèle Flournoy is married to W. Scott Gould. He is a retired United States Navy Reserve captain. He also served as the United States Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
They have three children. The family lives in Bethesda, Maryland.
