Rheanne Wirkkala

Rheanne Wirkkala is an American defense policy advisor and former intelligence analyst who is the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs in the Biden administration.

Rheanne Wirkkala
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs
Incumbent
Assumed office
December 2, 2022
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byRobert R. Hood
Personal details
Spouse
Ian Duncan
​
(m. 2013)​
Children2
EducationBoston University (BA)
Yale University (MA)

Education

Wirkkala graduated from Henry M. Jackson High School in Mill Creek, Washington. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and philosophy from Boston University and a Master of Arts in international relations from Yale University.[1][2]

Career

As a graduate student, was an intern for the Global Strategy Group and Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs. She later worked as a consultant for Burson Cohn & Wolfe. From 2012 to 2015, she was an intelligence analyst for the Defense Intelligence Agency, focused on political and military leadership in Pakistan and Afghanistan. From 2015 to 2020, she served as an advisor, deputy director, and director for the United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.[3] In February 2021, she became a special assistant to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.[4]

Biden administration

On March 11, 2022, President Joe Biden nominated Wirkkala to be an assistant secretary of defense for legislative affairs.[5] The Senate confirmed her on Nov. 17.[6]

Personal life

Wirkkala is married to Ian Duncan, a transportation reporter for The Washington Post. They have two children and live in Maryland.[7][8][9]

See also

References
  1. staff, eCampus News; Reports, Wire (2012-03-27). "Graduate school applicants use social media to bypass admissions offices". eCampus News. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
  2. "School Briefs". HeraldNet.com. 2008-03-03. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
  3. "Caffeine, Skittles, Cartwheels—How the Women Running the Impeachment Trial Make It Work". Glamour. 2020-01-28. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
  4. "President Biden Announces Key Nominees". The White House. 2022-03-11. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
  5. "President Biden Announces Key Nominees". The White House. 11 March 2022. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  6. https://www.congress.gov/nomination/117th-congress/1860?s=1&r=20. Retrieved 18 November 2022. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. "Rheanne Wirkkala - U.S. Department of Defense (Feb. 2021-), Special Assistant for Strategy to the Secretary of Defense - Biography | LegiStorm". www.legistorm.com. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
  8. Allen, Mike. "OBAMA SEES POPE AS ALLY on economic justice -- SCOTT REED declares business-community mantra for GOP Senate candidates: 'No fools' -- DONNA BRAZILE on MRS. OBAMA, who is 50 on Jan. 17". POLITICO. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
  9. "Washington Post hires national transportation reporter". Talking Biz News. 2019-09-19. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
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