Secretary Christine E. Wormuth, a defense and national security leader who recently served as Secretary of the Army, joins the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) as its new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective November 17, 2025.
A national security leader with more than 30 years of experience in defense policy, strategic planning, and international security, Wormuth brings an extensive record of leadership and service at the Department of Defense, the White House, and prominent think tanks.
“I’m honored to join NTI and follow in the footsteps of both Ernie Moniz and Sam Nunn, whose leadership delivered lasting, tangible results,” said Wormuth. “NTI’s mission to reduce global nuclear, biological, and emerging technology threats is more vital than ever. I’m excited to lead this exceptional team as it builds on NTI’s legacy and helps shape a safer, more resilient future.”
As the 25th Secretary of the U.S. Army, Wormuth oversaw a $186 billion budget and was responsible for nearly one million soldiers and 300,000 civilian employees. Her tenure was marked by a commitment to innovation, people, and modernizing the Army’s equipment and force posture.
Prior to her service as Army Secretary, Wormuth held several senior roles in the Department of Defense, including Under Secretary of Defense for Policy from 2014 to 2016, where she advised the Secretary of Defense on a wide range of national security issues. She also served as Deputy Under Secretary for Strategy, Plans, and Forces, leading the 2014 Quadrennial Defense Review, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs and Senior Director for Defense at the National Security Council, and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense.
Outside of government, Wormuth was the Director of the International Security and Defense Policy Center at the RAND Corporation, where she oversaw more than $30 million in research and was the author of “America at Risk,” a classified study examining state actor threats to the U.S. homeland. She holds a BA in Political Science and Fine Arts from Williams College and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Maryland.
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