Admiral Christopher Grady Joins Notre Dame Security Center
The former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff will lead advisory efforts and teach at the O'Brien center.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in People
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Retired Admiral Christopher W. Grady has accepted a position as a distinguished fellow at the O'Brien Notre Dame International Security Center. Grady, a former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will chair an external advisory board to help revitalize the center.
Why it matters
Grady aims to leverage his 42 years of U.S. Navy experience to shape civilian and military minds on American grand strategy. His work intends to bridge academia, government, and the private sector to uphold constitutional balance.
Grady served 42 years in the U.S. Navy and acted as vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs from 2021 to 2025. The center itself was established in 2017.
The players
Christopher W. Grady
He is a retired U.S. Navy Admiral who served as the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
James Webb
He served as the first distinguished fellow at the O'Brien Notre Dame International Security Center.
O'Brien Notre Dame International Security Center
This academic institution focuses on international security research and is located in Notre Dame, Indiana.
Northrop Grumman
This is a global aerospace and defense technology company where Grady serves on the Board of Directors.
Domino Data Lab
This enterprise AI platform company lists Admiral Grady as a member of its Board of Directors.
The details
In his new role, Grady will map the center's strategic position across multiple sectors and oversee experiential learning trips to sites including NASA's Cape Canaveral and Kings Bay. He is also a member of the University of Notre Dame Board of Trustees and serves on the boards of Northrop Grumman and Domino Data Lab.
Timeline
The O'Brien Center was formed in 2017.
Grady served as vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs from 2021 to 2025.
The appointment was announced on October 28, 2026.
Grady will begin teaching a three-credit course in the spring 2027 semester.
Market Landscape
The move to bring in a retired high-ranking military official positions the O'Brien Notre Dame International Security Center to compete more effectively with top-tier policy think tanks. This signals a broader trend of integrating career military leaders into academic institutions to influence grand strategy and private sector alignment.
Students at the University of Notre Dame will gain direct access to veteran military leadership through new course offerings and expanded experiential learning opportunities. These changes may broaden the academic exposure to defense-related strategy for the local student body.
The takeaway
Grady's appointment highlights the ongoing efforts to integrate practical military experience into academic policy training. Readers interested in national security may see more engagement between campus programs and major defense-related facilities in the coming years.
What happens next
Christopher W. Grady will begin teaching the Lessons in Leadership course during the spring 2027 semester.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest leadership developments in People.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Notre Dame News.
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