News Release
CNA Welcomes Christopher J. Wiernicki to Board of Trustees
CNA recently announced that Christopher J. Wiernicki was elected to the CNA Board of Trustees for a four-year term that began in March. Wiernicki is an internationally recognized leader in the maritime industry. Since 2011, he has served as chairman and chief executive officer of the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), a global maritime safety standards, certification, and risk management company.
Wiernicki helped build ABS into an organization with more than 5,000 employees and increased its support to US government agencies, including the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security. He also pivoted the business at a major ABS subsidiary to emphasize risk management consulting, leading to the company being listed by Forbes as one of America’s best management consulting firms.
“Chris has a proven track-record of success in the maritime industry, and we welcome him to the CNA Board of Trustees," said CNA President and CEO Katherine McGrady. "His background as a trusted advisor and partner to marine businesses is a great fit with CNA’s expertise in the maritime component of national security.”
“Objective, cutting-edge, and innovative research is the hallmark of both ABS and CNA, so there is a real cultural synergy between our two organizations,” said Wiernicki. “Both are also mission-driven and share a focus on service excellence. I am proud to be able to use the insight I have developed leading ABS through years of profound, disruptive change at sea to help CNA better serve our nation in all domains,” he added.
In addition to his work for ABS, Wiernicki has served on the White House National Infrastructure Advisory Council. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and a committee member on the Marine Board of the National Academies. The many recognitions he has received include the International Maritime Hall of Fame, International Personality of the Year in Greek Shipping, United Seamen’s Service Admiral of the Ocean Seas Award, GREEN4SEA Leadership Award, and Lloyd’s List Top 100 People in Shipping.
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."