Rebecca Skoryanc, Author at WestExec Advisors

Liz Rosenberg quoted in Lawfare article, “What Britain’s New Sanctions Reveal About U.S.-U.K. Relations”

"There is a considerable amount of convergence between Britain’s 49 designations on July 6 and the U.S. sanctions list. Indeed, the vast majority of individuals that Britain sanctioned pursuant to its 2018 Magnitsky Act already appear on the U.S. 'specially-designated nationals' list—effectively a blacklist of persons and entities with whom any business is prohibited—and for the same reasons. For example, all 25 Russian individuals sanctioned by Britain for their involvement in the killing of Magnitsky, who died in police custody after [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-08-01T08:49:32-04:00July 17, 2020|Economy & Trade|

Michèle Flournoy quoted in POLITICO article, “Trump Skirting Congress to Install Loyalists in the Pentagon”

"A report issued this week by the Center for a New American Security, which was co-authored by Michèle Flournoy, the undersecretary of defense for policy in the Obama administration, said the Pentagon needs leaders with a record of 'deep expertise and competence in their areas of responsibility; proven leadership in empowering teams, listening to diverse views, making tough decisions, and delivering results.' And they must be 'able to work well in a team of strong peers.' "In an interview, Flournoy insisted [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-07-31T21:39:44-04:00July 17, 2020|Cybersecurity & Defense|

Lisa Monaco quoted in Vanity Fair article, “‘We Need Them to F–king Do Something’: Former Pandemic Officials Call Trump’s COVID-19 Response a National Disaster”

"'The CDC’s expertise and job is to provide that source of expert guidance and information and data to the states. And not in, often, a prescriptive way, but you can just go and see in past epidemics and past outbreaks—whether it’s Ebola or Zika—what we did is we relied on the public health and science and epidemiological professionals,' Lisa Monaco, who served as the homeland security adviser to President Barack Obama told me, name-checking Fauci and former CDC chief Thomas Frieden [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-08-01T12:48:15-04:00July 16, 2020|Cybersecurity & Defense|

Danny Russel quoted in the Wall Street Journal article, “Outrage Over China’s Treatment of Hong Kong Galvanizes the West”

"'Hong Kong for Westerners is not obscure and exotic like Xinjiang. It’s not an abstraction like the South China Sea,' said Daniel Russel, a former U.S. diplomat. 'It’s a very familiar place.' "He said the David and Goliath-like storyline of Hong Kong residents protesting publicly to defend democracy struck nerves everywhere..." Read the full article here: Full Article

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-07-21T20:44:32-04:00July 15, 2020|Geopolitical Perspectives|

Rachel Ellehuus testifies before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, Energy and the Environment

“The Importance of Transatlantic Cooperation During the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Full Written Testimony July 14, 2020 Chairman Keating, Ranking Member Kinzinger, and distinguished members of the Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today. These are difficult times for our country, but I have no doubt that we are stronger when we work together as a nation and with our Allies and partners. Our European Allies and partners are vital to the United States' economic welfare and national security. [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-07-17T17:00:16-04:00July 14, 2020|Geopolitical Perspectives|

Michèle Flournoy quoted in Voice of America article, “South China Sea Tensions Rise as Militaries Conduct Regional Drills”

"At a recent hearing at the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Committee, former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Michèle Flournoy told lawmakers she’s concerned that China would be more risk-prone as its Navy continues to grow. "'I think China views the United States in a period of inevitable decline and withdrawal from the world,” Flournoy said. 'I think they risk underestimating the resolve, which can be provoked by the crisis...'" Read the full article here: Full Article

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-07-21T20:48:34-04:00July 14, 2020|Cybersecurity & Defense|

Michèle Flournoy and Gabrielle Chefitz co-author CNAS report: “Sharpening the U.S. Military’s Edge: Critical Steps for the Next Administration”

"The U.S. military is at a high-stakes inflection point: it must take a series of much bigger and bolder steps to keep its military-technological edge over great power competitors such as China, or it could lose that edge within the decade. If the Pentagon’s own reported wargames and analysis are to be believed, the planned force that is enshrined in the current Department of Defense (DoD) program and budget may well be insufficient to deter or defeat Chinese aggression in the [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-07-21T20:42:45-04:00July 13, 2020|Cybersecurity & Defense|

Linc Bloomfield quoted in The New York Times article, “Inside the White House, a Gun Industry Lobbyist Delivers for His Former Patrons”

"Lincoln P. Bloomfield Jr., who was assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs when the ban was enacted in 2002, said the policy was intended to prevent American equipment from being used against American service members, especially during the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. "'Terrorist groups were using garage door openers to blow up U.S. troops; you kind of think twice about what you are exporting,' said Mr. Bloomfield, who added that such dangers still exist today. 'Who are you selling these [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-07-21T20:47:02-04:00July 13, 2020|Cybersecurity & Defense|

Danny Russel quoted in The New York Times article, “U.S. Says Most of China’s Claims in South China Sea Are Illegal”

"Daniel Russel, the assistant secretary of state for East Asia and the Pacific in the second Obama term, said that the Obama administration had accepted the tribunal’s 2016 ruling as 'final and binding,' and that Mr. Pompeo’s statement was more 'chest-pounding and angry invective about China' than a change in policy..." Read the full article here: Full Article

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-07-21T20:50:25-04:00July 13, 2020|Geopolitical Perspectives|

WestExec Spotlight: Meghan O’Sullivan

WestExec’s Spotlight Series highlights the issues on which some of our team members focus. This week’s Spotlight features Meghan O’Sullivan, former Special Assistant to President George W. Bush and Deputy National Security Advisor for Iraq and Afghanistan. Geopolitics of Energy: Meghan has spent her career exploring the close relationship between global energy markets and geopolitics and says the COVID-19 pandemic could bring about a geopolitical reset. She helps WestExec clients navigate the complexities of global energy markets and has deep knowledge [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-08-07T08:41:08-04:00July 10, 2020|WestExec Spotlight|

About Rebecca Skoryanc