Ms. Michelle Lenihan is currently an executive with Hakluyt & Company, where she advises decision-makers on opportunities and risks facing their businesses.

Prior to joining Hakluyt, Ms. Lenihan was a civil servant in the U.S. government for over 15 years. She primarily served in Office of the Secretary of Defense (Policy) in a variety of roles, to include Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense and Principal Director for African Affairs, Chief of Staff for Homeland Defense and Global Security, Special Assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, and Country Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs.  Additionally, she focused on national security issues at the White House as a Director for Africa n Affairs on the National Security Council staff; in the Senate as a Legislative Fellow; and as a Presidential Management Fellow in Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, in the Office of the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and at Naval Forces Europe/Africa in Naples, Italy.

In 2017, Ms. Lenihan commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve. Outside of government service, Ms. Lenihan associate produced for ABC News, led the creation of the first dialysis center in Guyana, South America and taught in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Also, since June 2022, she has been a Board Member of the Reserve Forces Policy Board, which serves as an independent advisor to Secretary of Defense on Reserve and National Guard matters.

Ms. Lenihan earned a Master in Public Policy degree from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania.

Ms. Lenihan’s list of honors for journalism include a George F. Peabody Award, an Emmy Award, an Alfred I. DuPont Silver Baton Award, a Silver Cindy Award, a Communicator Award for Video, and two Angel Awards. She received the Dean’s Excellence Award for Innovation while at Harvard. At the Pentagon, she has earned the Defense Medal for Meritorious Civilian Service, the Defense Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service, and the Joint Civilian Service Achievement Award. Ms. Lenihan was a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

(As of June 2022)