Robert Gard
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant General Robert G. Gard, Jr. is the Senior Military Fellow at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation where his work focuses on nuclear nonproliferation, missile defense
, Iraq
, Iran
, military policy, nuclear terrorism
, and other national security issues.
. He subsequently took both an M.P.A. and a Ph.D in Political Economy & Government from Harvard University
. During his military career, Gard served in both Korea
and Vietnam
, and a three year tour in Germany
. He held several positions in the United States Department of Defense
, serving as Executive Assistant to two secretaries of defense; as the first Director of Human Resources Development for the U.S. Army, as Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, and as President of National Defense University
(NDU).
After retiring from the U.S. Army in 1981 after 31 years of service, Gard served for five years as director of the Johns Hopkins University Center in Bologna
, Italy
, and then as President of the Monterey Institute of International Studies
from 1987 to 1998.
Gard has written for well-known journals and periodicals that focus on military and international affairs and lectured widely at U.S. and international universities and academic conferences, and research institutions. Since 1998, he has been an active consultant in Washington, D.C., on national security issues. In 1996, General Gard joined Veterans for America
as its military advisor. He has been active in VFA’s efforts to enact an international and U.S. ban on the production, sale, transfer, and use of antipersonnel landmines.
He serves on the board of eight non-profit organizations and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations
.
Gard holds a B.A. from the U.S. Military Academy, West Point
and both an M.P.A. and Ph.D in Political Economy & Government from Harvard University
.
Missile defense
Missile defense is a system, weapon, or technology involved in the detection, tracking, interception and destruction of attacking missiles. Originally conceived as a defence against nuclear-armed Intercontinental ballistic missiles , its application has broadened to include shorter-ranged...
, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, military policy, nuclear terrorism
Nuclear terrorism
Nuclear terrorism denotes the use, or threat of the use, of nuclear weapons or radiological weapons in acts of terrorism, includingattacks against facilities where radioactive materials are present...
, and other national security issues.
History
Gard was educated at TMI — The Episcopal School of Texas before receiving a place at the United States Military AcademyUnited States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
. He subsequently took both an M.P.A. and a Ph.D in Political Economy & Government from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. During his military career, Gard served in both Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
and Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, and a three year tour in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. He held several positions in the United States Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
, serving as Executive Assistant to two secretaries of defense; as the first Director of Human Resources Development for the U.S. Army, as Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, and as President of National Defense University
National Defense University
The National Defense University is an institution of higher education funded by the United States Department of Defense, intended to facilitate high-level training, education, and the development of national security strategy. It is chartered by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, with Navy Vice Admiral...
(NDU).
After retiring from the U.S. Army in 1981 after 31 years of service, Gard served for five years as director of the Johns Hopkins University Center in Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, and then as President of the Monterey Institute of International Studies
Monterey Institute of International Studies
The Monterey Institute of International Studies is a graduate school of Middlebury College, located in Monterey, California, United States...
from 1987 to 1998.
Current work
Gard's current work focuses on the need to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq. He has joined several other retired military officers in signing petitions and letters to elected government officials in opposition to the war and in support of a diplomatic solutions to U.S.-Iran tensions.Gard has written for well-known journals and periodicals that focus on military and international affairs and lectured widely at U.S. and international universities and academic conferences, and research institutions. Since 1998, he has been an active consultant in Washington, D.C., on national security issues. In 1996, General Gard joined Veterans for America
Veterans For America
Veterans for America is an advocacy and humanitarian organization that works to ensure that America meets the needs of servicemembers and veterans who have served in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom . VFA focuses specifically on the signature wounds these conflicts:...
as its military advisor. He has been active in VFA’s efforts to enact an international and U.S. ban on the production, sale, transfer, and use of antipersonnel landmines.
He serves on the board of eight non-profit organizations and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
.
Gard holds a B.A. from the U.S. Military Academy, West Point
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
and both an M.P.A. and Ph.D in Political Economy & Government from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
.