He will be sharing this honor with former Secretary of Defense James Mattis, a U.S. Marine Corps general who was the commander of the U.S. Central Command from 2010-2013 and served as the 26^th United States Secretary of Defense from January 2017 through December 2018.

Senator Nunn and Secretary Mattis will receive this recognition for their contributions to the nation’s defense.

“Their steadfast dedication to defending freedom has led to a lifetime of commitment to our nation’s security,” said the chairman of the board of trustees of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, Frederick J. Ryan Jr.  

The Nunn School takes special pride in this recognition of former Senator Nunn, given his steadfast national and global leadership on nuclear security and strategic stability, especially during this challenging period in international relations.   

The award has been presented annually since 2013 at the Reagan National Defense Forum to individuals who have created a strategy to strengthen our armed forces, support our military, protect the lives and interests of Americans, and fortify our defense systems. 

Senator Sam Nunn served as the U.S. Senator of Georgia from November 1972 to January 1997. During his tenure as senator, he was the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee from 1987 to 1995. He founded the Nuclear Threat Initiative and is currently its co-chairman. Senator Nunn has served as a distinguished professor in the School since December 11, 1996.