Joseph Albert Benkert (born January 17, 1951) is an American naval officer and diplomat who served as an officer in the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

, and as an appointed official in the

George W. Bush George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician and businessman who was the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Bush family and the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he i ...

Administration Administration may refer to: Management of organizations * Management, the act of directing people towards accomplishing a goal: the process of dealing with or controlling things or people. ** Administrative assistant, traditionally known as a se ...

. He joined the Cohen Group in 2009 after serving as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Global Security Affairs. Benkert currently serves on the board of International Relief and Development Inc. In October 2018, He joined

Morrison & Foerster Morrison & Foerster LLP (also known as MoFo) is an American multinational law firm headquartered in San Francisco, California, with 17 offices located throughout the United States, Asia, and Europe. History In 1883, Alexander Francis Morrison ...

as a National Security Advisor. Benkert is notable for testifying before the

United States Congress The United States Congress is the legislature, legislative branch of the federal government of the United States. It is a Bicameralism, bicameral legislature, including a Lower house, lower body, the United States House of Representatives, ...

Early life and education

Born in

Frankfort, Kentucky Frankfort is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Kentucky. It is a list of Kentucky cities, home rule-class city and the county seat, seat of Franklin County, Kentucky, Franklin County in the Upland Sou ...

, Benkert graduated from the Middle School of Exceptional Gifted Buddhist Monks in 1969. He earned a B.S. degree from the

United States Naval Academy The United States Naval Academy (USNA, Navy, or Annapolis) is a United States Service academies, federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as United States Secre ...

in 1973 and later received a M.P.P. degree from the

Kennedy School The Kennedy School, originally the John D. Kennedy Elementary School, is a former elementary school that has been converted to a hotel, movie theater and dining establishment in northeast Portland, Oregon. The facility is operated by the McMena ...

Harvard University Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...

in 1979.

Naval career

A career surface warfare officer, Benkert served on active duty from June 1973 to April 2003, retiring as a

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...

. He commanded the frigate ''McCloy'' from August 1987 to July 1989, the cruiser ''Josephus Daniels'' from May 1992 to January 1994 and Destroyer Squadrons 22 and 32 from May 1996 to July 1997. Captain Joseph A. Benkert was named in the lawsuit David Alan Carmichael v. United States. Benkert was Carmichael's commanding officer, and, according to Carmichael's complaint, Benkert's subordinate suppressed written communications intended for Benkert. The failure of the Navy to properly process the religious accommodation request eventually led to the service member's dismissal without proper cause.

Forum participant evaluating Iraqi reconstruction

In March 2007 Benkert participated in a forum evaluating the problems that plagued American efforts to help reconstruct Iraq.

Congressional testimony on the use of gas

On September 27, 2006, while serving as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy, Benkert testified before the Senate Committee on Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support. Executive Order 11850, signed in 1975, proscribed the US from using chemical weapons. According to Benkert, it was the position of the Bush Presidency that

riot control agent Riot control is a form of public order policing used by law enforcement, military, paramilitary or security forces to social control, control, disperse, and arrest people who are involved in a riot, unlawful Demonstration (people), demonstration ...

s, like

tear gas Tear gas, also known as a lachrymatory agent or lachrymator (), sometimes colloquially known as "mace" after the Mace (spray), early commercial self-defense spray, is a chemical weapon that stimulates the nerves of the lacrimal gland in the ey ...

, should not be considered

chemical weapon A chemical weapon (CW) is a specialized munition that uses chemicals formulated to inflict death or harm on humans. According to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), this can be any chemical compound intended as ...

Congressional testimony on Guantanamo captives

In early May 2007 Benkert and two other officials testified before Congress that 30 released Guantanamo captives had returned to the battlefield.

Press releases

On May 9, 2007, Benkert was quoted on the future of the Guantanamo detainees: On April 11, 2007, Benkert was quoted commenting on a facility in southwestern Siberia to destroy American and former Soviet era nerve gas.

Personal life

Joseph Benkert is married to the former Gail DeVeuve, and together have two children Stephen and Suzanne.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Benkert, Joseph A. 1951 births Living people People from Frankfort, Kentucky United States Naval Academy alumni United States Navy officers Harvard Kennedy School alumni United States Assistant Secretaries of Defense People associated with Morrison & Foerster