ASP Remembers Vice Admiral Lee F. Gunn, USN (Ret)
The staff and board of the American Security Project are deeply saddened to share the news that a long-time member of the board of directors, Vice Admiral Lee Fredric Gunn, USN (Ret), passed away in December. Admiral Gunn was deeply engaged in ASP since its founding 20 years ago, and remained a steady, inspirational presence through the final weeks before his passing.
Admiral Gunn served for 35 years in the U.S. Navy before retiring in 2000, where his last active-duty assignment was as the Inspector General of the Department of the Navy. After retirement from the Navy, he led the Executive Review of Navy Training and later became the President of the Institute for Public Research at CNA. In addition to numerous other positions of note and responsibility at prominent organizations, Admiral Gunn could be seen frequently speaking on national security issues at ASP events, in the media, on Capitol Hill, and around the country.
Noting Admiral Gunn’s unwavering support and friendship, ASP President Lt Gen Norman R. Seip, USN (Ret.) said,
“In and out of uniform Lee was an inspiring leader, mentor and teammate whose wise and sage counsel was always on point.”
ASP CEO Matthew Wallin shared:
“Admiral Gunn was an absolute institution at this organization, having been involved from very beginning. I consider myself very fortunate to have known him and to have had many conversations with him during my time at ASP. His steady presence and wise counsel my entire career here has been incredibly valuable, and I will cherish the time I got to spend with such a dedicated servant to our country and to our organization.”
LTG Daniel Christman, USA (Ret.), remarked:
“The Admiral was a humble, deeply committed professional who had a passion to help forge a truly bipartisan national consensus on security strategy. We were introduced in 2004 and began to work together in the months before ASP was formally established; I respected him immediately. Lee approached every issue thoughtfully, but with a heart-felt intent to seek agreement from a broad constituency of interests in furtherance of his passion for bipartisanship. We will miss his leadership and stewardship greatly.”
Admiral William Fallon, USN (Ret.) added “Lee was a wonderful human being in addition to being a fine Naval Officer,” and BGen Stephen A. Cheney, USMC (Ret.) noted “Lee Gunn was a superb sailor and one of our strongest supporters at ASP. His loss will be felt immensely.” Secretary Chuck Hagel commented, “He was an exceptional Navy Admiral and human being. He made the world better and will be missed by many.”
Noting Admiral Gunn’s particular interest in climate security, board member David Wade reminisced:
“Admiral Gunn’s early and visionary passion elevating climate security made ASP a trailblazer long before the issue was broadly appreciated. He did not want to see young people inherit a world worse than the one that came before, so he lent his voice to help forge a nonpartisan consensus. Admiral Gunn modeled a humble, generous, and giving kind of citizenship that exemplifies the best of America.”
We at ASP are grateful for Vice Admiral Lee Fredric Gunn’s service to our country and to our organization. Our thoughts go out to his family, Lily, Eric, and Amber, and we thank them for sharing him with us these last twenty years.
