Robert O. Work served as the 32nd Deputy Secretary of Defense from 2014 to 2017. He is the Distinguished Senior Fellow for Defense and National Security at the Center for a New American Security, which he led as Chief Executive Officer from 2013 to 2014.From 2009 to 2013, Mr. Work served as the Undersecretary of the Navy. In this capacity, he was the Deputy and Principal Assistant to the Secretary of the Navy and acted with full authority of the Secretary in the day-to-day management of the Department of the Navy.In 2008, Mr. Work served on President-elect Barack Obama's Department of Defense Transition Team as leader of the Department of the Navy issues team.

He also worked on the defense policy, acquisition, and budget teams.In 2002, Mr. Work joined the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA), first as the Senior Fellow for Maritime Affairs, and later as the Vice President for Strategic Studies. In these positions, he focused on defense strategy and programs, revolutions in war, Department of Defense transformation, and maritime affairs. Mr. Work was also an adjunct professor at George Washington University, where he taught defense analysis and roles and missions of the armed forces. His military and civilian awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and the Navy Distinguished Civilian Service Award. He also serves on the Board of Directors at Raytheon and is the president and owner of TeamWork, LLC, which provides insight, counsel and advice on defense and national security issues.