News Release
CNA’s David Finkelstein Receives Navy Distinguished Public Service Award
CNA Vice President David Finkelstein has received the Distinguished Public Service Award from Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro. Finkelstein leads CNA’s China and Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Division. The chief of staff to the secretary, Chris Diaz, presented the award and medal in a ceremony earlier this week at CNA headquarters.
“Dr. Finkelstein’s work brought new understanding to an underexamined aspect of the Department of the Navy’s role in peacetime strategic competition,” Diaz read from the award’s citation. The language of the award refers particularly to the CNA report The Department of the Navy and Strategic Competition with the People’s Republic of China. Finkelstein was the lead author of the report, working with dozens of CNA analysts across several divisions who contributed to the effort.
Diaz said that the citation only captures a small part of what Finkelstein and his team have contributed to the Department of the Navy’s understanding of issues related to the People’s Republic of China. “I know, when I have a question, who I can call to get an answer,” he added.
In accepting the award, Finkelstein said, “This really is for all of CNA, not just for me. One of the highlights of this project for me was working with parts of CNA that I had never worked with before.”
“We are extremely proud of Dave and his entire team,” said CNA’s President and CEO Katherine McGrady. “He has played a critical role in building up one of Washington’s largest, most respected non-governmental Asian security analysis programs.”
The Distinguished Public Service Award is the highest civilian award granted by the Department of the Navy. Eight other CNA analysts and leaders have received the award in the past 60 years.
CNA is a nonprofit research and analysis organization dedicated to the safety and security of the nation. It operates the Center for Naval Analyses—the federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) of the Department of the Navy—as well as the Institute for Public Research. CNA develops actionable solutions to complex problems of national importance. With nearly 700 scientists, analysts, and professional staff, CNA takes a real-world approach to gathering data. Its unique Field Program places analysts on aircraft carriers and military bases, in squad rooms and crisis centers, working side by side with operators and decision-makers around the world. CNA supports naval operations, fleet readiness, and strategic competition. Its non-defense research portfolio includes criminal justice, homeland security, and data management.
Note to writers and editors: CNA is not an acronym and is correctly referenced as "CNA, a research organization in Arlington, VA."