At A Glance:

Lewis Libby was senior vice president and a distinguished fellow at Hudson Institute.

Biography

Lewis Libby was senior vice president and a distinguished fellow at Hudson Institute. He led policy work on national security and defense issues, devoting particular attention to US national security strategy, strategic planning, the future of Asia, the Middle East, and the war against Islamic radicalism.

Before joining Hudson, Mr. Libby held several high level positions in the federal government related to his current work on national security and homeland security affairs. This included roughly a dozen years working in the White House, the US Department of Defense, and the US Department of State.

From 2001 to 2005, Mr. Libby served as chief of staff to Vice President Richard B. Cheney, assistant to the vice president for national security affairs, and assistant to the president. In these roles he attended nearly all National Security Council and Homeland Security Council meetings and participated in numerous high level meetings, at home and abroad, with foreign government and US officials. Mr. Libby's responsibilities covered a broad range of topics, including those related to US national security strategy, the response to the 9/11 attacks, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the broader War on Terror, the Israeli-Palestinian dispute and Middle East matters, East Asian security, US relations with Russia, Central and Western Europe, Homeland Security organization, domestic preparedness and response to attacks involving weapons of mass destruction, and US economic and energy-related issues.

From 1998 to 1999, Mr. Libby served as the legal advisor to the US House of Representatives' Select Committee on US National Security and Military/Commercial Concerns with the Peoples' Republic of China, commonly known as the "Cox Committee." The committee issued a unanimous, bipartisan multi-volume report in 1999.

From 1989 to 1993, during the George H. W. Bush administration, Mr. Libby served in the United States Department of Defense as principal deputy under secretary (strategy and resources), and later was confirmed by the US Senate as deputy under secretary of defense for policy. His responsibilities included contingency planning, defense strategy, policy aspects of the defense budget, policy planning, and defense relations with the newly emerging countries of Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia. In this period, he led a number of official delegations to foreign capitals.

Mr. Libby first entered government service with the Department of State in 1981 as a member of the Policy Planning Staff in the Office of the secretary. From 1982 to 1985 he served in the Department of State as director of special projects in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. During these years he had extensive experience with US national security issues relating to Asia.

Prior to joining the George W. Bush administration, Mr. Libby served as the managing partner of the Washington office of the international law firm Dechert. He was a member of the firm's litigation department and chaired the Washington office's Public Policy Practice Group. He also served as the managing partner of the Washington office of the law firm, Mudge, Rose, Guthrie, Alexander & Ferdon. His legal practice in those years involved work on a major study of the legal framework for domestic security response, and a number of corporate governance and international and homeland security-related transactions or matters, as well as representation of major international corporations from various industries, including television and cable media, finance, energy, trading, computer, transportation, and defense. During these years Mr. Libby provided pro bono legal services to writers, artists, actors, scholars, public servants, and the arts.

In 1993, Mr. Libby was awarded the Department of Defense Distinguished Service Award and the Department of the Navy Distinguished Public Service Award. He received the Department of State's Foreign Affairs Award for Public Service in 1985.

A magna cum laude graduate of Yale University, Mr. Libby received the Robert D. French Award for leadership and scholarship. He also graduated Columbia University Law School, where he was the Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar.

Mr. Libby's notable publications and lectures on strategy, national security and homeland defense over the past dozen years range from "Twilight of the Arabs: The Contest for Leadership in the Muslim World" (with Hillel Fradkin), Weekly Standard, 2010, to recent works on COVID-19, China, Russia, and the war in Ukraine. 

He was the executive editor of Conduct of the Persian Gulf War in 1992. His novel, The Apprentice, is set in Japan in 1903, and was published by Graywolf Press, 1996, and St. Martin's Press, 2001, 2005.

25
July 2023
Past Event
Lessons from the World War II Arsenal of Democracy
Featured Speakers:
Miles Yu
Arthur Herman
Dr. Mark Wilson
Dr. Larrie Ferriero
Moderator:
Lewis Libby
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25
July 2023
Past Event
Lessons from the World War II Arsenal of Democracy
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Featured Speakers:
Miles Yu
Arthur Herman
Dr. Mark Wilson
Dr. Larrie Ferriero
Moderator:
Lewis Libby
26
May 2021
Past Event
Virtual Event | “History of the Future”: A Symposium Celebrating Max Singer
Featured Speakers:
John P. Walters
Kenneth R. Weinstein
Leon R. Kass
Christopher DeMuth
Lewis Libby
Nicholas Eberstadt
Dorothea Israel Wolfson
Saul Singer
26
May 2021
Past Event
Virtual Event | “History of the Future”: A Symposium Celebrating Max Singer

Please be advised: This event will premiere on this page at 9:00 a.m. EDT, Wednesday, May 26. Register for the event here or via the register button.

Featured Speakers:
John P. Walters
Kenneth R. Weinstein
Leon R. Kass
Christopher DeMuth
Lewis Libby
Nicholas Eberstadt
Dorothea Israel Wolfson
Saul Singer
17
April 2020
Past Event
Video Event | Meeting the Challenge of the Chinese Communist Party During and After COVID-19
Featured Speakers:
Eric Brown
Patrick Cronin
John Lee
Lewis Libby
17
April 2020
Past Event
Video Event | Meeting the Challenge of the Chinese Communist Party During and After COVID-19

**__Please be advised: This event will premier at 9:00 a.m. EDT, Friday, April 17.__**

After allowing the COVID-19 pandemic to spread through reckles

Featured Speakers:
Eric Brown
Patrick Cronin
John Lee
Lewis Libby
11
February 2020
Past Event
President Trump's Plan for Peace in the Middle East
Featured Speakers:
Michael Doran
Jon Lerner
Lewis Libby
11
February 2020
Past Event
President Trump's Plan for Peace in the Middle East

On Tuesday, February 11, join Hudson Institute for a panel discussion on President Trump’s plan for peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

Featured Speakers:
Michael Doran
Jon Lerner
Lewis Libby
10
February 2020
Past Event
Containing the Coronavirus: Challenges to Thwarting the Outbreak
Featured Speakers:
Eric Brown
Dr. Daniel Chertow
Dr. Julie Gerberding
Dr. William Karesh
Tim Morrison
Senator Joe Lieberman
Lewis Libby
10
February 2020
Past Event
Containing the Coronavirus: Challenges to Thwarting the Outbreak

Hudson Institute and the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense will host a panel discussion on the ongoing coronavirus outbreak and how the United State

Featured Speakers:
Eric Brown
Dr. Daniel Chertow
Dr. Julie Gerberding
Dr. William Karesh
Tim Morrison
Senator Joe Lieberman
Lewis Libby
03
May 2019
Past Event
Seminar on the North Korean Abductions Issue
Featured Speakers:
Nick Eberstadt
Keiji Furuya
Koichiro Iizuka
Hwang Incheol
Melanie Kirkpatrick
Akira Sato
Greg Scarlatoiu
Michael Sneddon
Cindy Warmbier
Ken Weinstein
Takuya Yokota
Lewis Libby
03
May 2019
Past Event
Seminar on the North Korean Abductions Issue

Experts discuss the North Korean abductions issue

Featured Speakers:
Nick Eberstadt
Keiji Furuya
Koichiro Iizuka
Hwang Incheol
Melanie Kirkpatrick
Akira Sato
Greg Scarlatoiu
Michael Sneddon
Cindy Warmbier
Ken Weinstein
Takuya Yokota
Lewis Libby
19
February 2019
Past Event
Protecting a Free and Open Indo-Pacific: Strengthening the U.S.-Japan-India Trilateral Relationship
Featured Speakers:
Nobukatsu Kanehara
Tom Rose
Vice Admiral (ret.) Shekhar Sinha
Michael Pillsbury
Patrick Cronin
Arthur Herman
Lewis Libby
19
February 2019
Past Event
Protecting a Free and Open Indo-Pacific: Strengthening the U.S.-Japan-India Trilateral Relationship

Experts discuss the U.S.-India-Japan trilateral partnership

Featured Speakers:
Nobukatsu Kanehara
Tom Rose
Vice Admiral (ret.) Shekhar Sinha
Michael Pillsbury
Patrick Cronin
Arthur Herman
Lewis Libby
18
January 2017
Past Event
Asian Shadows: The Hidden History of World War II in the Pacific
Featured Speakers:
Sarah Paine
Shin Kawashima
Junichiro Shoji
Michael Sheng
Edward J. Drea
Daqing Yang
Arthur Herman
Lewis Libby
(L) General Douglas MacArthur signs the formal surrender on the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, September 2, 1945 (US Navy/Released) (R) Chinese communist guerrilla leader Mao Tse-Tung, November 12, 1944. (Fox Photos/Getty Images)
18
January 2017
Past Event
Asian Shadows: The Hidden History of World War II in the Pacific

Sarah Paine, Shin Kawashima, Junichiro Shoji, Michael Sheng, Edward Drea and Daqing Yang on the strategic jostling underlying WWII and the Korean War.

(L) General Douglas MacArthur signs the formal surrender on the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, September 2, 1945 (US Navy/Released) (R) Chinese communist guerrilla leader Mao Tse-Tung, November 12, 1944. (Fox Photos/Getty Images)
Featured Speakers:
Sarah Paine
Shin Kawashima
Junichiro Shoji
Michael Sheng
Edward J. Drea
Daqing Yang
Arthur Herman
Lewis Libby
16
September 2015
Past Event
Assessing 2016: The Presidential Election and Prospects for U.S. National Security
Featured Speakers:
Paul Gigot
Lewis Libby
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16
September 2015
Past Event
Assessing 2016: The Presidential Election and Prospects for U.S. National Security

Paul Gigot spoke at Hudson’s 2015-16 New York Discussion Series.

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Featured Speakers:
Paul Gigot
Lewis Libby
08
May 2015
Past Event
The Future of the Himalayas
Featured Speakers:
His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa
Ambassador Husain Haqqani
J.M. Mauskar
Dr. Kenneth R. Weinstein
Dr. Arvind Gupta
Dr. Sunjoy Joshi
Dr. C. Raja Mohan
Eric Brown
Ashok Malik
Lewis Libby
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08
May 2015
Past Event
The Future of the Himalayas

The Future of the Himalayas conference addresses the area’s strategic, ecological, and cultural importance, and the challenges it confronts today.

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Featured Speakers:
His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa
Ambassador Husain Haqqani
J.M. Mauskar
Dr. Kenneth R. Weinstein
Dr. Arvind Gupta
Dr. Sunjoy Joshi
Dr. C. Raja Mohan
Eric Brown
Ashok Malik
Lewis Libby
07
May 2014
Past Event
The Second Nuclear Age: A Conversation with Professor Paul Bracken
Featured Speakers:
Kenneth R. Weinstein
Lewis Libby
Paul Bracken
William Schneider, Jr
Sarah May Stern
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07
May 2014
Past Event
The Second Nuclear Age: A Conversation with Professor Paul Bracken

Last year’s North Korean launch of a long-range missile illustrated the frightening prospect of old rivalries in the Middle East, South Asia and Eas

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Featured Speakers:
Kenneth R. Weinstein
Lewis Libby
Paul Bracken
William Schneider, Jr
Sarah May Stern
12
March 2014
Past Event
Two Papers on American Innovation
Featured Speakers:
Jim Manzi
Charles Murray
Christopher DeMuth
Dan Arvizu
Robert Atkinson
Claude Barfield
Kimberly Dennis
Carrie Filipetti
Harold Furchgott-Roth
Ted Gayer
Peter Huber
Leon Kass
Arnold Kling
Ira Kuhn
Hanns Kuttner
Yuval Levin
Lewis Libby
Robert Litan
Michael Mandel
Jerry Muller
Robert Poole
Jonathan Rauch
Reihan Salam
Jeffrey Salmon
Joel Scanlon
Nick Shultz
Sarah Stern
Bret Swanson
David Tell
Edward Tenner
Peter Thiel
John Walters
John Weicher
Kenneth R. Weinstein
Margaret Whitehead
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12
March 2014
Past Event
Two Papers on American Innovation

A March 12, 2014 workshop discussion at Hudson Institute of two new papers on the current status and future prospects of American innovation.

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Featured Speakers:
Jim Manzi
Charles Murray
Christopher DeMuth
Dan Arvizu
Robert Atkinson
Claude Barfield
Kimberly Dennis
Carrie Filipetti
Harold Furchgott-Roth
Ted Gayer
Peter Huber
Leon Kass
Arnold Kling
Ira Kuhn
Hanns Kuttner
Yuval Levin
Lewis Libby
Robert Litan
Michael Mandel
Jerry Muller
Robert Poole
Jonathan Rauch
Reihan Salam
Jeffrey Salmon
Joel Scanlon
Nick Shultz
Sarah Stern
Bret Swanson
David Tell
Edward Tenner
Peter Thiel
John Walters
John Weicher
Kenneth R. Weinstein
Margaret Whitehead
25
September 2013
Past Event
2013 Herman Kahn Award Luncheon Honoring Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
Featured Speakers:
Sarah May Stern
Kenneth R. Weinstein
Lewis Libby
Shinzo Abe
25
September 2013
Past Event
2013 Herman Kahn Award Luncheon Honoring Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

At a gala luncheon in New York on September 25, 2013, Hudson presented its annual Herman Kahn Award to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in recogniti

Featured Speakers:
Sarah May Stern
Kenneth R. Weinstein
Lewis Libby
Shinzo Abe
12
September 2013
Past Event
Organization and Innovation in Air Traffic Control
Featured Speakers:
Robert W. Poole, Jr.
Christopher DeMuth
James Burnley
Gary Church
Kimberly Dennis
Gerald Dillingham
George Donohue
Chris Edwards
Jack Fearnsides
Craig Fuller
Richard Golaszewski
Tim Kane
Heather Krause
Ira Kuhn
Hanns Kuttner
Eli Lehrer
Lewis Libby
Paul Rinaldi
William Ris
John Strong
David Tell
Tevi Troy
Steve Van Beek
Marc Viggiano
John P. Walters
Kenneth R. Weinstein
Margaret Whitehead
Clifford Winston
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12
September 2013
Past Event
Organization and Innovation in Air Traffic Control

On September 12, 2013, Hudson Institute's "Initiative on Future Innovation(Initiative on Future Innovation)":http://dev.hudson.org/policycenters/16-in

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Featured Speakers:
Robert W. Poole, Jr.
Christopher DeMuth
James Burnley
Gary Church
Kimberly Dennis
Gerald Dillingham
George Donohue
Chris Edwards
Jack Fearnsides
Craig Fuller
Richard Golaszewski
Tim Kane
Heather Krause
Ira Kuhn
Hanns Kuttner
Eli Lehrer
Lewis Libby
Paul Rinaldi
William Ris
John Strong
David Tell
Tevi Troy
Steve Van Beek
Marc Viggiano
John P. Walters
Kenneth R. Weinstein
Margaret Whitehead
Clifford Winston
08
April 2013
Past Event
Reclaiming Innovation in the Life Sciences: Reform FDA, Modernize its Culture
Featured Speakers:
Dr. Scott Gottlieb
Tevi Troy
Christopher DeMuth
Margaret Anderson
Joe Grogan
Brian Harvey
Tim Kane
Coleen Klasmeier
Hanns Kuttner
Dan Leonard
Lewis Libby
Jennifer Luray
Michael Mandel
Robert Popovian
David Tell
Marc Tessier-Lavigne
John P. Walters
Kenneth R. Weinstein
Margaret Whitehead
Benjamin Zycher
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08
April 2013
Past Event
Reclaiming Innovation in the Life Sciences: Reform FDA, Modernize its Culture

On April 8, 2013, Hudson Institute’s "Initiative on Future Innovation(Intiative on Future Innovation)":http://dev.hudson.org/policycenters/16-initia

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Featured Speakers:
Dr. Scott Gottlieb
Tevi Troy
Christopher DeMuth
Margaret Anderson
Joe Grogan
Brian Harvey
Tim Kane
Coleen Klasmeier
Hanns Kuttner
Dan Leonard
Lewis Libby
Jennifer Luray
Michael Mandel
Robert Popovian
David Tell
Marc Tessier-Lavigne
John P. Walters
Kenneth R. Weinstein
Margaret Whitehead
Benjamin Zycher
06
December 2012
Past Event
2012 Herman Kahn Award Dinner Honoring Vice President Dick Cheney
Featured Speakers:
Sarah May Stern
Kenneth R. Weinstein
Lewis Libby
Richard B. Cheney
Allan R. Tessler
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06
December 2012
Past Event
2012 Herman Kahn Award Dinner Honoring Vice President Dick Cheney

At a gala dinner in New York on December 6, 2012, Hudson Institute presented its annual Herman Kahn Award to former Vice President Dick Cheney in reco

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Featured Speakers:
Sarah May Stern
Kenneth R. Weinstein
Lewis Libby
Richard B. Cheney
Allan R. Tessler
20
June 2011
Past Event
2011 Doolittle Prize Dinner Honoring Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman
Featured Speakers:
Allan R. Tessler
Kenneth R. Weinstein
Joseph I. Lieberman
Lewis Libby
Herbert London
Hudson Institute
20
June 2011
Past Event
2011 Doolittle Prize Dinner Honoring Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman

Hudson Institute's James H. Doolittle Prize is named in honor of "Jimmy" Doolittle, the intrepid aviator who led the daring April 1942 raid on Tokyo i

Hudson Institute
Featured Speakers:
Allan R. Tessler
Kenneth R. Weinstein
Joseph I. Lieberman
Lewis Libby
Herbert London
29
March 2011
Past Event
The Rumsfeld Era at the Pentagon: Inside Perspectives
Featured Speakers:
Kenneth Weinstein,
Lewis Libby
General Peter Pace,
Donald Feith,
Jamie McIntyre
Donald Rumsfeld,
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29
March 2011
Past Event
The Rumsfeld Era at the Pentagon: Inside Perspectives

Few Americans have spent more time near the center of power than former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. His years at the helm of the Pentagon ha

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Featured Speakers:
Kenneth Weinstein,
Lewis Libby
General Peter Pace,
Donald Feith,
Jamie McIntyre
Donald Rumsfeld,