Bruce Lemkin is an internationally respected expert and transformational leader in the fields of aerospace, defense, government relations, and energy.
After serving seven years as the Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force (International Affairs), he retired from government service in June 2010 to found the international consulting firm, LEMKIN International, LLC.
As Deputy Under Secretary, he was a member of the Senior Executive Service at the three-star Lieutenant General equivalent level. He provided oversight and guidance for international policy and programs supporting national security objectives through politico-military affairs, security assistance programs, technology and information disclosure, education and training, cooperative research and development, and attache affairs.
Under his leadership, Air Force International Affairs was thoroughly transformed to optimize mission effectiveness. Successes include numerous acquisitions, agreements, and collaborative arrangements, unprecedented in scope and impact, around the world. These include agreements to acquire F-15 fighters (Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and South Korea), F-16 fighters (Chile, Greece Egypt, Iraq, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Turkey), F-35 fighters (Italy, Israel, Norway, UK), C-17 strategic lift (Australia, Canada, India, NATO, Qatar, UAE, UK), C-130 transport (Australia, Canada, India, Iraq, Israel, Norway, Oman, Qatar, UAE, UK), T-6 trainers (Iraq, Israel, Morocco), and many others. He oversaw the building of the new air forces of Afghanistan and Iraq. He led the development of the NATO C-17 Strategic Airlift Capability, the establishment of the Wideband Global Satellite cooperative agreement with Australia, as well as arrangements for several nations to acquire Remotely Piloted Aircraft, Airborne Early Warning systems and aircraft, and space-based capabilities. He established the Air Force's International Affairs Specialist program and a comparable civilian career path.
Mr. Lemkin graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1971 with a Bachelor of Science degree in aerospace engineering. He completed Navy Nuclear Power Training in 1972 and entered the Navy's Nuclear Submarine Program. He served in six nuclear submarines, including command of the attack submarine, USS HYMAN G. RICKOVER, and the Trident ballistic missile submarine, USS MICHIGAN. He served in numerous Pentagon assignments, including those on the Navy Staff as Nuclear Officer Program Manager, Deputy Director of Investment and Development, Head of Nuclear Affairs and International Negotiations, and Director and Deputy Director of the Strategy and Policy Division. As Chief of the Asia-Pacific Division with the Joint Staff, he negotiated landmark agreements with China, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Vietnam and the Philippines. Mr. Lemkin also served as a Senior Fellow at The Atlantic Council of the United States.
In 1999, he retired from active duty and became the Chief Negotiator and Special Assistant and Senior Policy Advisor to the Executive Director of The Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization, the international consortium carrying out the terms of the nuclear non-proliferation regime, the 1994 Agreed Framework with North Korea. Subsequently, Mr. Lemkin worked for an investment management firm as the Chief Operating Officer and Business Unit Manager, and later, was an international consultant.
In 2002, he returned to the federal government as a political appointee and served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management, until his assignment as Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force (International Affairs).
He is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the U.S. Naval Institute, and the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association, as well as a member of the Air Force Association.
Since June 2010, Lemkin International has provided invaluable consulting and advisory services to numerous client companies. Bruce Lemkin's vast experience, recognized expertise, and international credibility have facilitated exceptional results for companies seeking business opportunities in the U.S. and around the world.
