From the Director - Ash Carter

Seeing a U.S. aircraft carrier up close is an unforgettable experience. Movies convey some sense of scale. But only aboard a nuclear-powered, Nimitz-class carrier do you understand that this craft—longer than three football fields—is essentially a 4.5-acre floating fortress home to 3,000 American men and women who do everything from counter-piracy operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. 

 Above deck, it’s common to greet and thank the pilots and officers. In conflict, they face the toughest choices and the highest stakes. In my tours of various vessels as Secretary of Defense, I made it a point also to engage servicemembers who worked below deck. The phrase “it takes a village” is literally true for operating at sea. Technicians, mechanics, engineers; cooks, bakers, dishwashers; weapons and navigational specialists; and myriad other roles—all vital to a carrier’s mission. 

As at sea, so on campus. Let’s be honest: Harvard isn’t known for its modesty. And it’s true: we are immensely proud of the world-class scholars who advance knowledge and training at the intersection of science, technology, and global affairs. They do critically important work. But they couldn’t do it without a great team working with them. 

Here at the Belfer Center, we produce dozens of research papers, publish hundreds of opinion pieces, and sponsor hundreds of seminars and other events. We host scores of fellows, conduct field work around the world, and teach thousands of students. That doesn’t just happen on its own. Finance specialists keep our budgets sharp. Program and operations staff organize stimulating events, sometimes more than five a day. Project coordinators and faculty assistants keep our research efforts humming. Our communications team publishes and disseminates a wide range of research and marketing materials, including this newsletter. And so on. 

It’s fitting to profile our scholars, and we will continue doing so. But beginning with this issue, we’d also like to call attention to the many staff who make the Center run. The adjacent article about Sharon Wilke is a great way to start. Among a thousand other things she does, Sharon edits the Center’s newsletter; in typical fashion, she resisted having the spotlight turned on her. 

On behalf of the Center’s leadership team, we thank Sharon and all members of our Center’s productive and valued team.