About

About Frank Rose

One of the most accomplished and globally recognized U.S. experts and dealmakers in space policy, arms control, and missile defense, Frank Rose forged deep, lasting partnerships and connections with defense and foreign ministries worldwide during his 30-year career. These relationships were key to Mr. Rose’s success as the U.S. chief negotiator for placing U.S. missile defense assets in numerous foreign countries, where his collaborative approach earned the trust and respect of international leaders. His diplomatic efforts have been widely celebrated, with foreign governments bestowing several prestigious accolades for his contributions to global security. 

Mr. Rose’s career is a testament to his close relations with the military, foreign policy, and political leaders in countries throughout the world, which, along with his strategic acumen and deep expertise, have enabled him to navigate some of the most complex and consequential security challenges of our time. He is now putting these assets to work for his business clients with Alexandria, Virginia-based Chevalier Strategic Advisors, the firm he founded in July 2024.

President of Chevalier Strategic Advisors

Chevalier Strategic Advisors is a premier consultancy firm specializing in defense and national security industry transactions, political risk management, and high-stakes geopolitical, national security, and defense policy strategy. Under Mr. Rose’s leadership, his firm is pivotal in facilitating business interactions, negotiations, and strategic alliances between his private clients and U.S. and foreign governments. He provides tailored, forward-looking, political, risk-conscious guidance in navigating the complexities of global security and defense landscapes. 

A Bespoke Career

Principal Deputy Administrator, National Nuclear Security Administration, U.S. Department of Energy

Before founding Chevalier Strategic Advisors, Frank Rose held the critical position of Principal Deputy Administrator at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) from 2021 to 2024. In this capacity, he co-led an agency of 60,000 personnel, overseeing a $24 billion budget, with responsibilities that included building and maintaining the U.S. nuclear arsenal, supporting global nuclear threat reduction, outer space security, and cyber security, and advancing the nuclear propulsion capabilities of the U.S. Navy. He coordinated closely with the senior leadership of the three NNSA national laboratories (Lawrence Livermore, Los Alamos, and Sandia) on various technical, policy, and administrative issues.

His tenure was marked by strategic leadership in ensuring the nation’s nuclear security and stability in the face of evolving global challenges. 

Senior Fellow and Co-Director, Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology, Foreign Policy Program, The Brookings Institution

Mr. Rose served as a Senior Fellow and Co-Director of the Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology for three years at the Brookings Institution, based in Washington, D.C. He focused on pivotal areas such as nuclear strategy and deterrence, arms control, missile defense, and emerging security threats. His strategic stability and outer space security expertise positioned him as a thought leader in shaping U.S. defense policy. 

While at the Brookings Institution, Mr. Rose was also an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Security Studies Program at Georgetown University, where he taught a graduate-level course in the Security Studies Programs titled “Outer Space, Strategic Technologies, and the Future of International Security.” The course focused on the impact of outer space and other strategic technologies (e.g., cyber, nuclear, missile defense, and undersea communications cables) on the evolving international security environment. 

Principal Director and Chief of Government Relations at The Aerospace Corporation

From 2017 to 2018, Mr. Rose was the Principal Director and Chief of Government Relations at Aerospace, a top-tier research and development organization supporting national security space initiatives. In this capacity, Mr. Rose navigated the complexities of national security space policy during a transformative period in defense technology. 

Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau for Arms Control, Verification, and Compliance, U.S. Department of State

As Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control, Verification, and Compliance from 2014 to 2017, Frank Rose was at the forefront of advising the U.S. Secretary of State on arms control and strategic policy issues, playing a pivotal role in shaping U.S. arms control strategy during a critical juncture in international security. Mr. Rose’s work involved constant visits to foreign countries in every region, where he met with their senior most political, military, and foreign ministry leadership. 

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Space and Defense Policy, Bureau for Arms Control, Verification, and Compliance, U.S. Department of State

From 2009 to 2014, Mr. Rose was Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Space and Defense Policy, where he steered U.S. policy on missile defense, space security, and conventional arms control, contributing to key international negotiations and defense agreements. In this capacity, Mr. Rose served as the principal U.S. negotiator with foreign governments for agreements to place U.S. missile defense assets on their soil.

Mr. Rose’s national security career also spans significant roles in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served on the Armed Services Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. He held several influential positions within the Office of the Secretary of Defense, providing strategic counsel on arms control and international security policy. He negotiated the missile defense basing agreements with Poland, Romania, and Turkey and established and implemented outer space security dialogues with various countries, including Japan, Australia, India, Russia, China, France, and the United Kingdom. He was also the lead working-level official responsible for advancing missile defense cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

His prolific career in national security began with roles at Science Applications International Corporation and on the staff of U.S. Senator John F. Kerry. 

Distinguished Service

Mr. Rose’s exemplary service has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Department of Defense Exceptional Public Service Award and the State Department Superior. 

Honor Award, and most recently, the Department of Energy/NNSA Distinguished Career Award in 2024. He was also honored with the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service. In 2014, Mr. Rose was awarded Romania’s Ordinul National Serviciul Credincios (Knight) for his pivotal role in negotiating the 2011 missile defense basing agreement. 

Education

Mr. Rose holds a bachelor’s degree in history from American University in 1994 and a master’s degree in war studies from King’s College, University of London, in 1999.