William Van Cleave
Encyclopedia
William R. Van Cleave is a former advisor to President Ronald Reagan
, the United States Department of Defense
, and Department of State as well as Emeritus Professor, former head, and the founder of Missouri State University
's Department of Defense and Strategic Studies (DSS). The DSS program is now located in Fairfax, VA, 10 miles from Washington D.C. He is also advisory council member of the Center for Security Policy
, board advisor of the American Center for Democracy and National Institute for Public Policy. As a strategic thinker, he is considered a leading Cold Warrior
and long-standing hawkish policy advocate.
from the California State University
as well as his M.A. and Ph.D. (1967) from the Claremont Graduate School (now Claremont Graduate University
). His dissertation was titled “Nuclear Proliferation: The Interaction of Politics and Technology.” He was Senior Research Fellow in National Security Affairs at the Hoover Institution
on War, Revolution and Peace at Stanford University
.
Dr. Van Cleave was Professor and Director of the Defense and Strategic Studies Program at the University of Southern California
from 1967-87. Under his leadership, the DSS program started in 1971 in the School of International Relations at USC. The primary objective of the program was to provide graduate level education and training for students planning careers in national and international security affairs, policy-making, and teaching at the university-level. The program moved to Southwest Missouri State University (now MSU) in 1987 where DSS became a Department offering specialized Master of Science degree. In 2005, the University moved the Department physically to Fairfax, VA to take advantage of the many opportunities that are unique to the D.C. metropolitan area.
with the USSR, Chairman-Designate of General Advisory Committee on Arms Control and Disarmament Agency
, Special Assistant for Strategic Policy and Planning in the Office of the Secretary of Defense
, member of the Team B
effort to review national intelligence on the USSR and to produce a competitive National Intelligence Estimate
. From 1979 to 1981 he was Senior Advisor and Defense Policy Coordinator to Ronald Reagan
and Director of the Department of Defense
Transition Team between the administrations of President Carter and President Reagan. He was also a former officer at the U.S. Marine Corps.
He was the Director of the Division for Research in Strategy at the Institute for Advanced Strategic and Political Studies
(IASPS) Trustee member of the International Institute of Strategic Studies, and Board Member of the Committee on the Present Danger
that reversed the Cold War decline of U.S. military power.
Professor Van Cleave has approximately 200 professional publications, and has received numerous awards for his outstanding work as a teacher and faculty member. He was the 1979 Claremont Graduate University
Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient.
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
, the United States Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
, and Department of State as well as Emeritus Professor, former head, and the founder of Missouri State University
Missouri State University
Missouri State University is a public university located in Springfield, Missouri, United States and founded in 1905. It is the state's second largest university, with an official enrollment of 20,802 in fall 2011...
's Department of Defense and Strategic Studies (DSS). The DSS program is now located in Fairfax, VA, 10 miles from Washington D.C. He is also advisory council member of the Center for Security Policy
Center for Security Policy
The Center for Security Policy is a Washington, D.C. think tank that focuses on national security issues. The Center was founded in 1988 by Frank Gaffney, Jr....
, board advisor of the American Center for Democracy and National Institute for Public Policy. As a strategic thinker, he is considered a leading Cold Warrior
Cold warrior
Cold warrior is a phrase used to describe the men and women involved in the shaping and executing of American and Soviet policy during the Cold War....
and long-standing hawkish policy advocate.
Academic Background
Van Cleave received a B.A. in political sciencePolitical science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
from the California State University
California State University
The California State University is a public university system in the state of California. It is one of three public higher education systems in the state, the other two being the University of California system and the California Community College system. It is incorporated as The Trustees of the...
as well as his M.A. and Ph.D. (1967) from the Claremont Graduate School (now Claremont Graduate University
Claremont Graduate University
Claremont Graduate University is a private, all-graduate research university located in Claremont, California, a city east of downtown Los Angeles...
). His dissertation was titled “Nuclear Proliferation: The Interaction of Politics and Technology.” He was Senior Research Fellow in National Security Affairs at the Hoover Institution
Hoover Institution
The Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace is a public policy think tank and library founded in 1919 by then future U.S. president, Herbert Hoover, an early alumnus of Stanford....
on War, Revolution and Peace at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
.
Dr. Van Cleave was Professor and Director of the Defense and Strategic Studies Program at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
from 1967-87. Under his leadership, the DSS program started in 1971 in the School of International Relations at USC. The primary objective of the program was to provide graduate level education and training for students planning careers in national and international security affairs, policy-making, and teaching at the university-level. The program moved to Southwest Missouri State University (now MSU) in 1987 where DSS became a Department offering specialized Master of Science degree. In 2005, the University moved the Department physically to Fairfax, VA to take advantage of the many opportunities that are unique to the D.C. metropolitan area.
Governmental and Professional Services
Van Cleave's past professional experience includes being a member of the U.S. Delegation to the Strategic Arms Limitation TalksStrategic Arms Limitation Talks
The Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty refers to two rounds of bilateral talks and corresponding international treaties involving the United States and the Soviet Union—the Cold War superpowers—on the issue of armament control. There were two rounds of talks and agreements: SALT I and SALT...
with the USSR, Chairman-Designate of General Advisory Committee on Arms Control and Disarmament Agency
Arms Control and Disarmament Agency
The U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency was established as an independent agency of the United States government by the Arms Control and Disarmament Act , September 26, 1961, a bill drafted by presidential adviser John J. McCloy. Its predecessor was the U.S. Disarmament Administration, part...
, Special Assistant for Strategic Policy and Planning in the Office of the Secretary of Defense
Office of the Secretary of Defense
The Office of the Secretary of Defense is a headquarters-level staff of the Department of Defense of the United States of America. It is the principal civilian staff element of the Secretary of Defense, and it assists the Secretary in carrying out authority, direction and control of the Department...
, member of the Team B
Team B
Team B was a competitive analysis exercise commissioned by the Central Intelligence Agency in the 1970s to analyze threats the Soviet Union posed to the security of the United States. Team B, approved by then Director of Central Intelligence George H. W. Bush, was composed of "outside experts" who...
effort to review national intelligence on the USSR and to produce a competitive National Intelligence Estimate
National Intelligence Estimate
National Intelligence Estimates are United States federal government documents that are the authoritative assessment of the Director of National Intelligence on intelligence related to a particular national security issue...
. From 1979 to 1981 he was Senior Advisor and Defense Policy Coordinator to Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
and Director of the Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
Transition Team between the administrations of President Carter and President Reagan. He was also a former officer at the U.S. Marine Corps.
He was the Director of the Division for Research in Strategy at the Institute for Advanced Strategic and Political Studies
Institute for Advanced Strategic and Political Studies
The Institute for Advanced Strategic and Political Studies is an Israel-based think tank with an affiliated office in Washington, D.C. It was founded in 1984 by its president, Professor Robert Loewenberg...
(IASPS) Trustee member of the International Institute of Strategic Studies, and Board Member of the Committee on the Present Danger
Committee on the Present Danger
The Committee on the Present Danger is an American foreign policy interest group. Its current stated single goal is "to stiffen American resolve to confront the challenge presented by terrorism and the ideologies that drive it" through "education and advocacy"...
that reversed the Cold War decline of U.S. military power.
Professor Van Cleave has approximately 200 professional publications, and has received numerous awards for his outstanding work as a teacher and faculty member. He was the 1979 Claremont Graduate University
Claremont Graduate University
Claremont Graduate University is a private, all-graduate research university located in Claremont, California, a city east of downtown Los Angeles...
Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient.
See also
- Center for Security PolicyCenter for Security PolicyThe Center for Security Policy is a Washington, D.C. think tank that focuses on national security issues. The Center was founded in 1988 by Frank Gaffney, Jr....
- Committee on the Present DangerCommittee on the Present DangerThe Committee on the Present Danger is an American foreign policy interest group. Its current stated single goal is "to stiffen American resolve to confront the challenge presented by terrorism and the ideologies that drive it" through "education and advocacy"...
- Institute for Advanced Strategic and Political StudiesInstitute for Advanced Strategic and Political StudiesThe Institute for Advanced Strategic and Political Studies is an Israel-based think tank with an affiliated office in Washington, D.C. It was founded in 1984 by its president, Professor Robert Loewenberg...
- Arms Control and Disarmament AgencyArms Control and Disarmament AgencyThe U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency was established as an independent agency of the United States government by the Arms Control and Disarmament Act , September 26, 1961, a bill drafted by presidential adviser John J. McCloy. Its predecessor was the U.S. Disarmament Administration, part...
- Strategic Arms Limitation TalksStrategic Arms Limitation TalksThe Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty refers to two rounds of bilateral talks and corresponding international treaties involving the United States and the Soviet Union—the Cold War superpowers—on the issue of armament control. There were two rounds of talks and agreements: SALT I and SALT...
- Claremont Graduate UniversityClaremont Graduate UniversityClaremont Graduate University is a private, all-graduate research university located in Claremont, California, a city east of downtown Los Angeles...
- Hoover InstitutionHoover InstitutionThe Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace is a public policy think tank and library founded in 1919 by then future U.S. president, Herbert Hoover, an early alumnus of Stanford....
External links
- The Department of Defense and Strategic Studies in Washington D.C., Missouri State University
- School of Politics and Economics, Claremont Graduate University
- Institute for Advanced Strategic and Political Studies
- Committee on the Present Danger
- American National Security Policy: Essays in Honor of William R. Van Cleave