Rachel Ellehuus appointed director general at security Think Tank RUSI

Currently the US Secretary of Defence’s representative in Europe and the defence advisor for the US Mission to NATO, Ellehuus will take up her new post on 6 January.

In addition to her current senior policy roles for the US Department of Defence, Ellehuus has previously served as acting deputy assistant secretary of defence within the same US Government Department.

Between 2009 and 2012, Ellehuus was assigned to the Strategy Unit in the UK’s Ministry of Defence, subsequently working on the National Defence Green Paper published at the time, the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review and also the 2012 Defence Engagement Strategy.

Her career has also included spells with leading Think Tanks, among them the CSIS in Washington DC, the Danish Institute of International Affairs in Copenhagen and the Prague Centre of the East-West Institute.

Transformation period

During Karin von Hippel’s tenure, the Institute has been transformed, with the director general overseeing a doubling of RUSI’s size and a near trebling in revenues. Indeed, RUSI’s long-term future was secured with a successful fundraising initiative that allowed the purchase of the freehold of the Institute’s historic Whitehall home in central London and a complete renovation and extension of the building.

Reflecting on the transition to a new era, Dr von Hippel said: “I congratulate the Appointments Board on choosing Rachel. She will make an outstanding director general and bring her many years of practical defence and security experience and expertise to RUSI, thereby assuring the organisation will contribute to critical defence and security debates and issues for many years to come. I’m confident that RUSI will be in good hands under her leadership.”

Commenting on her appointment, Ellehuus responded: “I’m honoured to join RUSI as the next director general. RUSI boasts a distinguished reputation for high-quality research and thought leadership in security and defence. In today’s world, where security challenges are becoming more intricate and intertwined with political, economic and technological issues, the organisations’s cross-disciplinary approach and commitment to incisive analysis are critically important. I look forward to working alongside our esteemed team and valued partners to further RUSI’s mission.”

Deep understanding

Sir David Lidington KCB CBE, chair of the Trustees at RUSI who headed the selection process, observed: “I’m delighted to welcome Rachel Ellehuus as our new director general. She brings to the role a deep understanding of the security and defence challenges that NATO and the entire democratic world is facing at the present time.”

Sir David added: “Under the leadership of Karin von Hippel, RUSI has established itself as one of the world’s most respected and trusted voices on security policy. Rachel has the depth of experience and energy to build on Karin’s achievements and lead RUSI to new heights in the years ahead.”

*Further information is available online at www.rusi.org