Thane Clare is a Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments. His work focuses on naval, air, and space power, strategic war planning, defense planning in an era of great-power competition, and the nexus between operational planning and defense acquisition. His recent projects have focused on U.S. Navy strategic concepts, rapid innovation in military technology, and homeland air defense.
Dr. Clare joined CSBA in 2023 following a 25-year career in the United States Navy, retiring at the rank of Captain. His final posting was as Branch Head, Navy Analytics, in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. Immediately prior to his final tour, Dr. Clare served as a Strategic Plans Advisor in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, where he authored Defense-wide operational planning guidance for presidential signature. Dr. Clare also published “The Office of the Secretary of Defense,” a chapter in the Naval Institute Press volume, The Naval Officer’s Guide to the Pentagon.
During his Navy career, Dr. Clare deployed to waters around the globe, from the Baltic, Mediterranean, and Arabian seas to the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. He served twice in command at sea, as Commanding Officer (CO) of the coastal patrol ship USS Whirlwind (PC 7), deployed to the Persian Gulf for the defense of critical Iraqi oil infrastructure, and most recently as CO of USS Mustin (DDG 89), forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan and operating in the East and South China Seas, Philippine Sea, Pacific Ocean, and adjacent waters.
Education
M.A and Ph.D. in Government, with Distinction (International Relations)
Georgetown University, Department of Government
M.A. in Security Studies, with Honors (U.S. National Security Policy)
Georgetown University, Walsh School of Foreign Service
B.S. in Psychology
The College of William & Mary