Dr. Christopher M. Lehman, Sr. is a national security scholar and practitioner, serving currently as Chairman of the Board of the Landing Craft Support Museum Foundation which seeks to honor Navy veterans who served in the Pacific during World War II and preserve the little-known history of America’s amphibious gunboats that played a crucial role at Iwo Jima, Okinawa and other Pacific battles.
In 2019, he retired after 32 years of serving as the Chairman of Commonwealth Consulting Corporation, a Washington-based government affairs and international consulting firm that he founded in 1987.
Dr. Lehman served concurrently as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Temeku Technologies, Inc. from April 2011 through December, 2014 leading a small business in the defense/aerospace sector specializing in the development and integration of advanced technologies including low observable (LO) technologies, lightweight and composit structures and electromagnetic systems for both U.S. government and commercial customers. He retired from his position at TTI on December 31, 2014. He retains an active Secret security clearance and consults on national security matters from time to time.
Prior to 1987, Dr. Lehman served for ten years at senior levels in both the Executive and Legislative branches of the U.S. Government in the national security field. Dr. Lehman served in the White House from 1983 through 1985 as Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs and as Senior Director for Legislative and Legal Affairs at the National Security Council.
Prior to his service at the White House, Dr. Lehman served as the Director of the Office of Strategic Nuclear Policy at the Department of State from 1981 to early 1983. From 1976 to 1981, Dr. Lehman served as an Associate staff member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, working directly for Committee members Senator Harry F. Byrd, Jr. (1976-1978) and Senator John W. Warner (1979-1981).
He served in the U.S. Navy Reserve from 1969-1971. Dr. Lehman was awarded the Superior Honor Award for his service at the Department of State and has been honored as a biographee in Who’s Who in America since 1984.
Dr. Lehman received his BA from Saint Joseph’s College and his MA, MALD and Ph.D. (with distinction) from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. He has lectured at various universities and published numerous articles, monographs and Opinion Editorials onforeign policy and national defense issues and has served as a defense policy advisor in several Presidential campaigns.
Dr. Lehman remains active in civic affairs, serving on a number of Non-Profit Boards and is alsoactive as a youth mentor. He is married and has three sons and nine grandchildren.
