Dayton, OH- Today, Congressman Mike Turner (OH-10) announced his appointment of former Governor of Ohio, Robert Taft, to the Afghanistan War Commission. Taft will serve alongside 15 other commissioners appointed by fellow senior members of Congress.
"Appointing Governor Taft to the Afghanistan War Commission is a distinct honor as Lead Republican of the House Intelligence Committee," said Rep Turner. "Following the Biden Administration's withdrawal of the U.S. military from Afghanistan in August 2021, it is critical that we learn from our mistakes and improve our actions in the future. I cannot imagine a better man than Governor Taft for the job and am proud to see Ohio's role in our national defense continue to grow."
"I commend Congressman Turner in his leadership in creating the commission and am honored to accept his appointment," said Governor Taft. "Our purpose is to produce a serious, independent study of what happened during the Afghanistan War in order to benefit and protect the country and our national security interests moving forward and pay tribute to those who served our country in Afghanistan during the war."
Background:
The commission was established under the FY22 National Defense Authorization Act for the purpose of examining key decisions pertaining to the war in Afghanistan both during and prior, as well as develop recommendations for Congress and policymakers moving forward. View the full legislation here.
Turner was authorized to appoint a commissioner due to his role as Lead Republican on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
Fellow Afghanistan War Commissioners:
- Shamila Chaudhary- American foreign policy expert, Senior Advisor at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies
- Luke Hartig- President of National Journal Research, former Senior Director for Counterterrorism at the National Security Council under Obama Administration
- Michael Lumpkin- Former Naval officer and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict from 2013-2016
- Robert Ashley- Retired Army Lieutenant General and the 21st Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)
- Laurel Miller- Former acting Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan at the U.S. Department of State from 2013-2017
- Jeremy Bash- Former Chief of Staff at the CIA and U.S. Department of Defense under President Obama
- Andrew Wilder- Vice President of Asia Programs at United States Institute for Peace, previously served as director of Afghanistan and Pakistan Programs
- Anand Gopal- Author of “No Good Men Among the Living: America, the Taliban and the War Through Afghan Eyes”
- Colin Jackson- Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Central Asia from 2017-2019 and Senior Department of Defense Representative to the U.S.-Taliban peace talks
- Seth Jones- Previously served as a plans officer and advisor to the Commanding General, U.S. Special Operations Forces, in Afghanistan (Combined Forces Special Operations Component Command–Afghanistan)
- Christopher Molino- Army Captain who served during Operation Iraqi freedom, received Silver Star
- Ryan Crocker- Former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan (2011-2012)
- Jeffrey Dressler- Served as Professional Staff Member for the House Foreign Affairs Committee (Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade Subcommittee) from 2013-2015, was National Security to both Rand Paul (2017-2019) and Kevin McCarthy (2015-2017)
- Michael Allen- Former Staff Director of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (2011-2013) and previously served as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director at National Security Council (2007-2009). Author of "Blinking Red: Crisis and Compromise in American Intelligence After 9/11"
- Daniel P. Fata: 25 years of experience working in Congress (as a leadership staffer in both the House and Senate), and at the Department of Defense (as deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO)
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