July 15, 2019
Contact: Jessica Moreno
jmoreno7@gmu.edu
703-993-8165
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty as New President and CEO
Arlington, VA – On Wednesday, July 10, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s (RFE/RL) Board of Directors announced that NSI Visiting Fellow Jamie Fly will serve as the President and CEO, effective August 1, 2019.
Mr. Fly is a recognized foreign policy thought leader and proven manager, currently serving as a Senior Fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States. In addition, he is Director of GMF’s Future of Geopolitics and Asia programs and Co-Director of its trans-Atlantic Alliance for Securing Democracy. Mr. Fly previously served across the legislative and executive branches as a senior staffer in the U.S. Congress, the National Security Council, and the U.S. Department of Defense.
Mr. Fly most recently served as counselor for Foreign and National Security Affairs to Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) from 2013–17, also serving as his foreign policy advisor during his presidential campaign. Prior to joining Senator Rubio’s staff in February 2013, Mr. Fly served as the executive director of the Foreign Policy Initiative (FPI) from its founding in early 2009. Prior to joining FPI, Mr. Fly served in the Bush administration at the National Security Council (2008–09) and in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (2005–08).
Mr. Fly’s cybersecurity work at the German Marshall Fund to reduce the risk of Russian cyberattacks against the United States was highlighted by The Washington Post in 2017. “Jamie is one of the leading foreign policy thinkers and practitioners of our generation, and while we are sorry to lose him at NSI, we are proud that he will be going on to lead one of the key Western institutions serving to promote freedom and democracy in Europe, particularly as Russia seeks to get more aggressive against our allies in Eastern Europe,” said Jamil N. Jaffer, Founder and Executive Director of the National Security Institute at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School. “We look forward to working with Jamie and RFE/RL to hold the line against Russia aggression worldwide and to promote the cause of freedom and democracy globally,” said Jaffer.
“I am honored by this opportunity to lead RFE/RL,” Mr. Fly said in a press release. “RFE/RL staff are on the front lines bringing independent news and information to those who need it most. I look forward to being their advocate and supporter in this essential mission.”
About the National Security Institute
The National Security Institute serves as a platform for research, teaching, scholarship, and policy development that incorporates a realistic assessment of the threats facing the United States and its allies, as well as an appreciation of the legal and practical challenges facing U.S. intelligence, defense, law enforcement, homeland security, and cybersecurity communities. NSI draws on the experience of its visiting fellows, as well as its highly distinguished advisory board and faculty, to produce timely research and policy materials that deliver insightful analysis and actionable recommendations to senior policymakers in the White House and key departments and agencies, as well as those on Capitol Hill.
About George Mason
George Mason University is Virginia’s largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason enrolls more than 33,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Mason has grown rapidly over the past half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity, and commitment to accessibility.
About the Scalia Law School
The Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University is defined by three words: Learn. Challenge. Lead. Students receive an outstanding legal education (Learn), are taught to critically evaluate prevailing orthodoxy and pursue new ideas (Challenge), and, ultimately, are well prepared to distinguish themselves in their chosen fields (Lead). It has been one of America’s top-ranked law schools for the last fifteen years.