Tommy Ross

Guest Author

Tommy Ross is a career national security professional and has worked in senior leadership positions in both chambers of Congress, the executive branch, and the private sector. As a senior associate at CSIS, his interests include U.S. security assistance, democracy promotion and institutional capacity building, defense strategy, and congressional national security oversight. In addition, Ross serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors for Mines Advisory Group – America, the U.S. affiliate of one of the world’s largest humanitarian demining NGOs.  Previously, Ross served as the first deputy assistant secretary of defense for security cooperation, in which capacity he led the most significant reforms to Department of Defense security cooperation, resources, and implementation in the department’s history. He joined the Defense Department after 12 years as a staff member in Congress. He served as senior intelligence and defense adviser to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and as legislative director for Representative David Price (D-NC) and Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD), advising each on national security policy. During his time with Representative Price, he also supported the House Democracy Partnership, a congressional commission working to strengthen institutional capabilities of legislatures in developing democracies. Ross is a graduate of Davidson College in North Carolina and holds an M.A. in theology and ethics from Union Theological Seminary in New York.