The Honorable John Conger
The Honorable John Conger
Director | Center for Climate and Security
John Conger is Director of the Center for Climate and Security, where he oversees all of the Center’s programs, and Chair of the Climate and Security Advisory Group (CSAG). He is also a Senior US Advisor to the International Military Council on Climate and Security (IMCCS).
Conger previously served as Senior Policy Advisor with the Center and as the Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) at the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). As principal deputy comptroller, he assisted the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) in the performance of his or her duties, provided advice to the Secretary of Defense on all budgetary and financial matters, including the development and execution of the DoD’s annual budget of more than $500 billion and oversaw the DoD’s efforts to achieve audit readiness.
Prior to his service as Deputy Comptroller, Conger oversaw energy, installations and environmental policy throughout DoD in three different positions: as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations and Environment; as Acting Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Installations & Environment; as Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Installations & Environment from 2009 to 2015. In this role, Conger oversaw a vast portfolio that included base closure, energy security, climate change and management of $850 billion in real property.
Before his appointment at DoD, Conger served for 12 years on legislative staffs in the U.S. Congress, including as Professional Staff for the House International Relations Committee. Previously, Conger was employed in the private sector as an aerospace engineer and defense analyst supporting the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
Conger holds a B.S. and an M.S. in Aeronautics and Astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an M.A. in Science, Technology and Public Policy from the George Washington University. He is also President of Conger Strategies and Solutions, LLC, and a non-resident senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
