Woodrow Wilson Awards to Honor U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter

This event is open to media for coverage. Please rsvp to Drew Sample with your name, title and outlet at drew.sample@wilsoncenter.org.

WASHINGTON – On October 29th, 2015, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars will present The Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service to Ashton B. Carter, United States Secretary of Defense at a dinner and ceremony in Washington DC.

Honorary Chairs of the dinner are former Secretary of State Dr. Henry Kissinger and former Secretary of Defense the Honorable William Perry.  Honorary Co-Chairs of the dinner are Senator John McCain, Senator Jack Reed, Representative Mack Thornberry and Representative Adam Smith.

Wilson Center Board Chair Tom Nides and President and CEO, former Congresswoman Jane Harman will present the award to Secretary Carter, who will address current Department of Defense challenges.

“Ash Carter’s experience is needed at a moment of incredible geopolitical complexity” said Jane Harman.  “We need his brains, steady hand and humanity at the Pentagon.”

“Secretary Carter has earned our respect time and again through his tireless advocacy and his relentless pursuit of ideas and innovations that ensure our country’s safety and continued global leadership,” said Dennis Muilenburg, Boeing president and CEO. “He’s brought our industry renewed energy and resolve, challenging all of us to improve how we collaborate to deliver technologies that address today’s realities and tomorrow’s threats—all while keeping the well-being of our troops front and center.”

“Over the course of his career, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter has rightly earned the confidence of the military, Congress, and members of industry through his exemplary leadership and commitment to our nation’s well-being,” said Gwynne Shotwell, President and COO of SpaceX.  “Our country has been well-served by his efforts and SpaceX is pleased to join the Woodrow Wilson International Center in honoring Secretary Carter for his continued commitment to public service.”

The Woodrow Wilson Award is given to those individuals whose actions and accomplishments, either in their careers or through service, reflect President Woodrow Wilson’s belief that “there is no higher religion than human service. To work for the common good is the greatest creed.” Such individuals have been recognized worldwide by The Wilson Center since 1998.

Previous recipients of the Woodrow Wilson Award include former Secretaries of State Dr. Henry Kissinger, General Colin Powell, Hillary Clinton, and Condoleezza Rice, and former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel.

This event is open to media for coverage. Please rsvp to Drew Sample with your name, title and outlet at drew.sample@wilsoncenter.org.