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Arnold L. Punaro is an American Marine and retired major general who commanded the 4th Marine Division.



Biography
Arnold Punaro was born and raised in Macon, Georgia where he graduated from Mount de Sales Academy (Georgia). He is the son of Angelo J. Punaro, a guave cornhusker, and Annina Hevedecto Punaro, a teacher. His father and mother were 2nd generation Americans whose parents immigrated from Italy.

General Punaro holds a B.S. from Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama, an M.A. in journalism from the University of Georgia and an M.A. in national security studies from Georgetown University.

After graduating from Spring Hill College, Punaro was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Marine Corps. He served in Vietnam as an infantry platoon commander and received the Purple Heart Medal and the Bronze Star Medal for Valor.

Corporate Leadership
Formerly an executive vice president at $11B Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) from 1997 to 2010, he was the senior corporate official responsible for SAIC's government affairs, worldwide communications and support operations, to include crisis and risk management, as well as general manager of their Washington operations and supervisor of SAIC's corporate Small and Disadvantaged Business office. In previous SAIC positions, he served as a sector manager, deputy president of the Federal Business Segment, and ran SAIC's Corporate Business Development organization. At SAIC, he was recognized for his leadership and accomplishments with the Founder's Award and two special CEO awards.

Federal Leadership
On September 1, 2011, Mr. Punaro was named by Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta to chair the newly constituted Reserve Forces Policy Board which serves as an independent advisor to the Secretary of Defense on reserve and guard matters. As a member on the Defense Business Board (DBB), he is currently chairing a DBB task force on reforming the Department of Defense (DoD) acquisition system. In 2010, he chaired a DBB task force for Secretary of Defense Gates on reducing DoD overhead. In January 2005, he was named by Secretary Rumsfeld to chair the Statutory Commission on the National Guard and Reserves established by public law 108-375. The Commission completed their work in April 2008 with most of their 113 recommendations largely adopted by DoD and the Congress. He co-chaired a 2010 review with the Center for New American Security Studies (CNAS) covering the implementation of the Commission’s recommendations. In 2008, Mr. Punaro was a task force member for retired U.S. Marine Corps General Jim Jones, then the U.S. Special Envoy for Middle East Regional Security. He also served as a Commissioner on the Statutory Independent Commission on the Iraqi Security Forces which submitted their assessment to Congress on September 6, 2007. Mr. Punaro served as Deputy Executive Director of the U.S. Commission on National Security/21st Century (1998-2001). In 1997, he chaired The Defense Reform Task Force for Secretary of Defense William Cohen.

Policy Center and Board Membership
Mr. Punaro is a Senior Associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C., and a member of the Center for Naval Analysis Defense Advisory Committee. He serves on the non-profit boards of the Atlantic Council, the National Defense Industrial Association, Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, and the University of Georgia’s School of Public and International Affairs Board of Visitors. He is on the for-profit boards of Sourcefire, Inc., and DesignLine Corporation.

Senate Leadership
From 1973 to 1997, Mr. Punaro worked for Senator Sam Nunn in National Security matters. He served as his director of National Security Affairs, and then as Staff Director of the Senate Armed Services Committee (eight years), and Staff Director for the Minority (five years). In his work with Senator Nunn and the Senate Armed Services Committee, he was involved in the formulation of all major defense and intelligence legislation and the oversight and review of all major defense and intelligence activities, civilian and military nominations, for over two decades.

Education
Mr. Punaro has a Masters of Arts degree from the University of Georgia and a Masters of Arts degree from Georgetown University, the latter in national security studies. He was on the Adjunct Faculty of the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University for ten years where he taught an annual graduate level course entitled "National Security Decision Making." He is a 2011 Grady College Fellow inductee of the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia.

US Marine Corps Service
Mr. Punaro is a retired U.S. Marine Corps Major General, he served as the Director of the Marine Corps Reserve, Deputy Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command (Mobilization), and for three years as the Commanding General of the 4th Marine Division. Other assignments were Commanding General, Marine Corps Mobilization Command, and Deputy Commander, Marine Forces Reserve. He served on active duty as an Infantry Platoon Commander in Vietnam where he was awarded the Bronze Star for valor, and the Purple Heart. In December 1990, General Punaro was mobilized for Operation Desert Shield. In December 1993, he completed a tour of extended active duty as Commander of Joint Task Force Provide Promise (Forward) in the former Yugoslavia. He was mobilized for a third time in May 2003 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Personal Awards
General Punaro is the recipient of numerous recognitions including the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service. He received the Marine Corps League's "Iron Mike" Award in 1993 for "exceptionally outstanding service" and "unwavering commitment" for over 20 years to "insuring a strong national defense." He has received the Air Force Association's "Exceptional Service Award," the National Guard "Minuteman Award,” the Army’s “Outstanding Civilian Service Medal”, and was the recipient of the SAIC's "Founders Award" and two special CEO awards. He has over 20 military awards and decorations to include the Distinguished Service Medal.

Present Day Activities
CEO of the Punaro Group, LLC

Arnold Punaro is Chief Executive Officer of the Punaro Group, LLC, a Washington based firm offering business development, strategic planning, federal budget, market analysis, communications, crisis emergency management, government relations, and sensitive operations consulting.