The Truman Center for National Policy (CNP) is an American non-profit, public policy think-tank headquartered in Washington, D.C.
According to its mission statement, the Center for National Policy is “dedicated to advancing the economic and national security of the United States.” CNP's stated goal is to “connect senior policy makers with the most innovative research and thought leadership on issues that impact America’s security.” CNP currently has projects focused on the American workforce, democracy and development, innovation, resilience, and defense. CNP frequently holds events, roundtables, and policy meetings that feature experts in national and economic security issues.
History
The Center for National Policy was founded in 1981. Peter Kovler, director of the Marjorie Kovler Fund, serves as chairman of the center, succeeding Leon Panetta, CNP's national advisory board chair and former White House Chief of Staff.
Previous presidents and chairmen of CNP include the U.S. ambassador to India and former six-term member of Congress, Tim Roemer, three former U.S. Secretaries of State: Madeleine Albright, Edmund Muskie, and Cyrus Vance. Other CNP Board members have included former U.S. Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin, former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Thomas Foley, former Republican members of Congress Jack Buechner and Rod Chandler, and former Democratic members of Congress John Brademas and Michael Barnes.
Edmund S. Muskie Distinguished Public Service Award
The Edmund S. Muskie Distinguished Public Service Award honors the late Edmund Muskie (1914–1996) who served our nation in the Navy, as governor of Maine, as U.S. senator and as U.S. Secretary of State. Following his retirement from government service, Ed Muskie chaired the CNP board. Since 1996, the Muskie Award has been presented at an annual event honoring the recipients’ demonstrated commitment to public service and significant contributions to the country.
Past Muskie recipients
1996
Secretary Madeleine Albright, U.S. State Department
1997
Hon. Lee Hamilton, U.S. House of Representatives
1998
Hon. Hillary Clinton, U.S. Senate
1999
Hon. Christopher Dodd, U.S. Senate
Hon. John Warner, U.S. Senate
2000
Hon. William Cohen, Secretary of Defense
2002
Hon. Charles Rangel, U.S. House of Representatives
Hon. Amory Houghton, Jr., U.S. House of Representatives
2003
Hon. Robert Byrd, U.S. Senate
Hon. Richard Lugar, U.S. Senate
2004
Hon. Charles Hagel, U.S. Senate
Hon. Edward Kennedy, U.S. Senate
2005
Hon. John McCain, U.S. Senate
Hon. Mark Warner, Governor of Virginia
2006
Hon. John Murtha, U.S. House of Representatives
2007
Hon. Nancy Pelosi, U.S. House of Representatives
Hon. Susan Collins, U.S. Senate
2008
Hon. Joe Biden, U.S. Senate
General Brent Scowcroft, former National Security Advisor
2009
Hon. Dianne Feinstein, U.S. Senate
General James Mattis, commander, U.S. Joint Forces Command
2010
Governor Edward G. Rendell, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly, City of New York
2012
Secretary Leon Panetta, U.S. Department of Defense
2014
Hon. Dick Durbin, U.S. Senate
President
In January 2012, Scott Bates became the seventh president of the Center for National Policy. Bates has extensive experience on Capitol Hill, including serving as chief of staff for Congressman Nick Lampson, counsel to Congressman Jim Turner, and senior advisor to Congressman Maurice Hinchey. As secretary of state and legislative director for Governor Douglas Wilder of Virginia, Scott focused on ethics reforms in state government and development and passage of the governor's legislative agenda. Bates led an unprecedented expansion in appointments of women and minorities to state boards and commissions.
After September 11, Scott became the first senior policy advisor to the U.S. House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee and was the principal author of Winning the War on Terror, which helped inform the 9/11 Commission in its deliberations and development of its report. He helped lead the team that produced a dozen reports on homeland security issues ranging from border security to bioterrorism.