1. I had the fortune to work for Michele Flournoy at OSD/policy & CNAS & have been trying to figure out how explain why she is such an amazing leader and would be such an incredible SecDef without doing an 800 point thread. This is really hard because I have so much to say.

2. Every institution Michele has ever led has thrived. It’s become more effective, efficient, better run. It’s staff have been happier and the place has been better off when she has left than when she started. That’s what we need in one of the world’s largest bureaucracies.

3. At the same time the idea of a Blinken, Sullivan, Flournoy triumvirate supporting Biden could be one of the all time most effective and cohesive national security teams we’ve seen since World War II. It’s what we need in this challenging moment.

4. And on a personal level, She always listens but ultimately forms her own ideas. She is kind & supportive but holds you to the highest standards. Always a pleasant demeanor but tough as nails and ready to fight for what she believes in.

5. And yes as so many have said. NO ONE. ABSOLUTELY NO ONE In Washington has done more to develop talent in the national security space than Michele. I still get regular emails from her asking me to talk to young people who have come to her for help and advice.

6. Just a couple of other specific experiences I’ve had with Michele that are worth mentioning.

7. At OSD/Policy where I worked on Iran 2009-2012, fear of an Israeli strike that would trigger a conflict was real. Michele doggedly argued for policies that sometimes resulted in intense interagency debate but I believe played a critical role in avoiding a war.

8. At @cnasdc I had the fortune to go with her on two trips with our next gen program. The best of its kind in Washington because Michele takes a personal interest in designing it, picking out the class, mentoring , and using her influence & relationships to create opportunities.

9.  Just look at @cnasdc. Everyone who works there has only positive things to say. The amount of next gen talent that comes out of there is amazing.

10. the opportunities @CNASdc gives it’s younger staff have forced other think tanks to adapt away from a model where junior staff simply support senior staff but had no platform of their own. Many people have had a hand in making that happen, but Michele is at the center

11. Finally, something that happened to me a few days ago. I had a technical defense wonk question that popped up in my work. I had to figure out who to reach out to for expertise. I thought for a moment and came up with a list of names. every single one of them was a woman.

12. This is not a coincidence. It’s because most of the best experts on defense policy in The Democratic Party today are women. And who has more to do with that than anyone? Michele Flournoy who has mentored and supported pretty much all of them.

13. Michele would be a historic SecDef - not only because she would be the first woman to hold the position, but because she would be an INCREDIBLE SecDef period. A historic SecDef. One of the best. I’m 100% sure of this.