WASHINGTON—The Heritage Foundation today announced the promotion of combat veteran and intelligence expert Robert Greenway to director of the Center for National Defense.  

A career public servant and principal architect of the historic Abraham Accords, Greenway joined Heritage in August as senior advisor to Victoria Coates, vice president of the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy. In his elevated role, Greenway will be responsible for supervising all Heritage research and policy recommendations related to the U.S. military and national defense. 

“Rob’s leadership of the Center for National Defense will bring immense value to Heritage and the country as a whole,” Coates said. “As a decorated veteran, intelligence expert, and dedicated patriot, Rob will help Heritage promote American strength on the world stage and security here at home.” 

Greenway brings decades of experience in combat, military intelligence, national security, and diplomacy to his new role. Greenway previously served as deputy assistant to the president and senior director on the National Security Council under President Donald Trump. Greenway joined Heritage immediately after working as an adjunct fellow at Hudson Institute and president and executive director of the Abraham Accords Peace Institute. 

“It’s a privilege to assume the role of director of the Center for National Defense at Heritage,” Greenway said. “Organizations like Heritage have a responsibility to research, develop, and foster conservative defense policies that keep Americans safe. I take that responsibility very seriously. I look forward to working with Victoria, Dr. Kevin Roberts, and Heritage’s world-class team to do our part to secure America’s future.” 

Before his time on the National Security Council (NSC), Greenway worked as a senior intelligence officer at the Defense Intelligence Agency’s U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM). A U.S. Special Forces combat veteran with multiple tours in both Afghanistan and Iraq, Greenway left active duty in the U.S. Army before being deployed by USCENTCOM, where he served in Afghanistan as a senior intelligence analyst.   

In his roles in the U.S. Army, Defense Intelligence Agency, and the NSC, Greenway was instrumental in eliminating infamous terrorist leaders as a member of an Army Special Mission Unit, dismantling global illicit trade networks, countering insurgency and developing partner capacity in Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom, and expanding some of the military’s elite assessment, selection, and training programs. 

Greenway holds a bachelor's degree from the Virginia Military Institute and a master’s degree with honors from Webster University.