May 23, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LCWINS Announces New Leadership Additions

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The Leadership Council for Women in National Security (LCWINS) today announced new additions to its volunteer leadership.   

The LCWINS Honorary Advisory Committee is pleased to welcome former Secretary of the Air Force, Deborah Lee James. With 35 years of experience serving on Capitol Hill, multiple rounds as an appointee in the Pentagon, and as a leader in the defense, aerospace, and technology industries, James’ career exemplifies the impact of women’s senior leadership on U.S. national security and foreign policy.  

“Secretary James has been a true champion of diverse leadership throughout her career,” said Shelly O’Neill Stoneman, Chair of the LCWINS Board of Directors.  Vice Chair Jamie Jones Miller added, “We’re honored to welcome her to LCWINS and learn from the breadth and depth of her experience.”

Additionally, the LCWINS Board of Directors welcomes three newly elected members who begin their terms on July 1, 2023:

• Veronica Daigle is a former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Readiness in the Department of Defense (DoD).  In her dozen years of public service, Daigle was a Presidential Management Fellow at the White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB), DoD operations research analyst, and member of the Senior Executive Service in the Office of the Secretary of Defense.  Daigle is a recipient of the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service and the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service.  She is now an Executive Director, Legislative Affairs, Government Operations at The Boeing Company.
• Mary DeRosa previously served as Deputy Assistant and Deputy Counsel to the President and as National Security Council Legal Advisor in the Obama Administration.  She has also served as Alternate Representative of the United States to the 66^th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, an ambassador-level position.  Her decades of public service also include roles such as Chief Counsel for National Security for the Senate Judiciary Committee after serving in the Clinton Administration as Special Assistant to the President, National Security Council Legal Advisor, and Deputy Legal Advisor.  DeRosa is now a Professor from Practice at Georgetown University Law Center, where she focuses on national security law.
• Deirdre Walsh is a career civilian who served in the Intelligence Community (IC) and later joined the aerospace and defense industry.  Her government career includes service as the first Chief Operating Officer for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence where she led ODNI’s transformation to integrate and unify the nation’s intelligence priorities and strategies.  She had previously directed ODNI’s legislative affairs and served as deputy director of Congressional and Public Affairs at the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).  Walsh now works as the Executive Vice President for Strategy and Government Affairs for ARKA Group.

The newly elected directors replace three women whose terms end June 30, 2023.  Wendy Anderson, Nora Bensahel, and Evelyn Farkas served as three of LCWINS’ first Board members, shaping the organization’s earliest vision and strategy.

Executive Director Emily Perkins said, “Through their extraordinary careers, these women represent the value and impact of our LCWINS mission.  We are grateful to Wendy, Nora, and Evelyn for their years of dedication, wisdom, and guidance and we’re eager to incorporate Debbie, Veronica, Mary, and Deirdre’s expertise into the LCWINS community.”  

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The Leadership Council for Women in National Security improves national security by ensuring that women, in all their diversity, have equal space at the policy-making table. LCWINS is an organization of women and allies from across the political spectrum working to advance gender inclusion at the highest levels of the U.S. national security and foreign policy workforce.  

For more information, contact press@lcwins.org.   

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