John Tien

Senior Director for Afghanistan and Pakistan, National Security Council (since July 2008)

Why He Matters

Following his successful effort leading U.S. Army troops in support of the emerging "Sunni Awakening" in Iraq in 2006,an action that had a direct effect on the outcome of the Iraq war, Tien joined George W. Bush's National Security Council, initially as director for Iraq.

After President Obama's election, Tien was appointed senior NSC director for Afghanistan and Pakistan. He played a pivotal rolein advising Obama during the administration's late 2009 policy review regar that ongoing conflict and continues to oversee implementation of the president's policy on Afghanistan and Pakistan.

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Background

At a Glance

Career History: Colonel, U.S. Army (since 2008); Director in Iraq/Afghanistan Office, National Security Council (2007 to 2008); Battalion Commander, 2-37 Armor Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division (June 2004 to June 2007)
Hometown: New Haven, Conn.
Alma Mater: Oxford University, M.A. (political science), 1989; United States Military Academy at West Point, B.S., 1987

Spouse: Tracy
DC Office: White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington
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Path to Power

After becoming the first Asian-American first captain at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Tien was named a Rhodes Scholar and attended Oxford University, where he received a master's in political science in 1989.

Tien later joined the faculty of the social science department at West Point. He was a national security fellow at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government from 2007 to 2008. Tien is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

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