Dr. Robert J. Murray is a Professor of the Practice at Georgetown University and President Emeritus of CNA Corporation. His 50 year career also includes time spent teaching at the Naval War College in Newport, RI and Harvard University, and serving in government. He specializes in national security, the Middle East and military strategy.
Dr. Robert J. Murray is a Professor of the Practice at Georgetown University and President Emeritus of CNA Corporation, a non-profit research and analysis organization devoted to independent and objective analysis of public issues.
Prior to CNA, Murray was a teacher at the Naval War College in Newport, RI, where he was Dean and Director of the College’s Advanced Research Center and Creator/Director of the Strategic Studies Group. Before that, he was a faculty member at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University and Director of the School’s National Security program. Murray served in government in various capacities before his stint at teaching. He was appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate as Under Secretary of the Navy in President Jimmy Carter’s Administration. He previously held an appointment as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (International Security Affairs), where he participated in the Camp David negotiations that resulted in the peace treaty between Israel and Egypt. Earlier, Murray was the Special Assistant to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense, and then Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Manpower and Reserve Affairs). In these two assignments, Murray was particularly involved in the redesign and implementation of a new NATO strategy, the transition of the armed forces following Vietnam, and the implementation of the All-Volunteer Force. Murray had several prior assignments in government in the Defense and State Departments. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps before entering civilian government service.
He is a Principal of the Council for Excellence in Government, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a Fellow of the National Institute for Public Affairs, a member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (London), and a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration.
He specializes in national security, the Middle East and military strategy.
Dr. Murray graduated with a B.S. from Suffolk College and an M.P. A from Harvard University.