The University of Chicago UChicago CPOST

The Hagel Advisory Council is an advisory group of top business leaders and entrepreneurs in the Midwest and the nation united by a deep commitment to making a difference in the key national security challenges facing the United States and the world today. The Hagel Advisory Council is named in honor of former U.S. Senator and Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, who has decades of experience in foreign affairs and national security policymaking and shares the Council's commitment to national security.

Chuck Hagel served as U.S. Senator (R-NE) from 1997 to 2009 and as Secretary of Defense in the Obama Administration from 2013-2015. As a Republican who worked for a Democratic President in the service of our Country, Chuck Hagel strongly signals bipartisanship. Hagel, hailing from Nebraska, represents the heartland of America and seeks with CPOST to give greater voice in American Security Policy to the Midwest. The Midwest is where work is accomplished across the political aisle, bringing Democrats Independents and Republicans together. We know of no better positioned senior government leader nor better region within the United States to bring people together over what brings our Country together as a whole: the Security of our Country.

The Hagel Advisory Council is the cornerstone of CPOST’s efforts to highlight and promote dialogue on security topics vital to our Nation’s prosperity. Members meet regularly with CPOST research staff and current and past government officials to discuss national security challenges facing our country and to share best practices.

The Hagel Advisory Council also helps underwrite the Hagel Lecture Series, an integral part of CPOST’s mission to engage the public on national security issues that impact the country and the world. The Hagel Lecture Series was established in 2019 in collaboration with Secretary Hagel, CPOST, and the University of Chicago. The Lecture Series aims to promote open and informed debate on current foreign policy and national security challenges facing the United States. Former Secretary of State Madeline Albright was the inaugural lecturer; the most recent Hagel lecture featured former Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul in 2023.

Chris Hasbrook

Chris Hasbrook is Chair of the Hagel Advisory Council of the Chicago Project on Security and Threats (CPOST), a Research Center at UChicago. He is the CEO of Rusoh, Inc., the world's most innovative fully UL Certified Fire Extinguisher company. Click here for his full bio.

John DeBlasio

John P. DeBlasio is an American businessman who has served in various corporate, philanthropic, public service, and appointed leadership roles since 1992. Today, Mr. DeBlasio serves as the Chairman DT Global, DT Institute and ContinuityGS where he continues to innovate and expand the thinking of global security and international development industries. Click here for his full bio.

Michael Kennedy

Michael Kennedy is a venture capitalist with a focus on developing and growing early-stage companies. His work involves a wide range of national and international companies in an array of different fields, including nano-technology, digital music, and fashion design. He is also a Lecturer at the University of Chicago Law School. Click here for his full bio.

Goerge Little

Dr. George Little is a Partner at Brunswick specializing in crisis communications, cybersecurity, reputational and public affairs matters. Prior to joining Brunswick, Dr. Little was head of Marketing and Communications at Booz Allen Hamilton. Click here for his full bio.

Carol Montag

Carol is a progressive educator and Certified Professional Coach with over forty years of independent school experience as a teacher, administrator and mentor. For more than two decades as a Lower School teacher at the University of Chicago Laboratory School, she served on the first grade writing team for Everyday Mathematics. Click here for her full bio.

Bill Obenshain

Bill Obenshain is co-chairman of the Advisory Board for the Chicago Project on Security and Threats (CPOST) at the University of Chicago. He is immediate past chairman of the Advisory Board of the John L. Keeley Center for Financial Services at DePaul University. Click here for his full bio.

Anne Wedner

Anne Terman Wedner currently serves as a Commissioner on the US Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy. She has been a leader in grassroots political development. Previous to her political involvement, Anne developed strategic marketing and communications programs in the advertising and the financial services industries. Click here for her full bio.

Barry Sabloff

Barry M. Sabloff is a retired financial services executive and a board member of corporate and non-profit entities. Currently, Mr. Sabloff is a member of the board of directors and past Vice Chairman of Marquette National Corporation and its subsidiary, Marquette Bank, in Chicago. He is currently also a trustee of Columbia College Chicago, and a director and past President of the American School in London Foundation. Click here for his full bio.

Rick Salomon

Richard A. Salomon is the founder and CEO of Vantage Point Consultants, a legal advisory firm. He is a member of the Advisory Board of the Renew Democracy Initiative, a Senior Fellow and member of the Advisory Board of the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights; and a co-founder of the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center and a member of the Center's Executive Committee and the Board of Directors.  Click here for his full bio.

Russ Zajtchuk, MD, BG (ret.), US Army

Russ Zajtchuk is retired Commanding General of the US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command and Professor Emeritus of Cardiovascular Surgery, Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. After retiring from the Army, he served as VP for Advanced Technologies and International Health at RUMC and worked with federal agencies and the National Academy of Sciences on WMD and cyber terrorism. He is Life Member of the Division of the Biological Sciences and the Pritzker School of Medicine Council. Click here for his full bio.

Joan Zajtchuck, MD, COL (ret.), US Army

Joan Zajtchuk is Retired Colonel in the US Army Medical Corps and Professor Emeritus, Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. After retiring from the Army, she was Associate Dean of Medical Student Programs and Faculty Development at RUMC. She is a Life Member of the UChicago Medicine and Biological Sciences Council and Board Member of the Ryan Opera Center, Lyric Opera of Chicago.  Click here for her full bio.