Rheanne Wirkkala

Rheanne Wirkkala is an American defense policy advisor and former intelligence analyst who is the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs in the Biden administration.

Rheanne Wirkkala
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs
Incumbent
Assumed office December 2, 2022
President	Joe Biden
Preceded by	Robert R. Hood
Personal details
Spouse	Ian Duncan ​ (m. 2013)​
Children	2
Education	Boston University (BA) Yale University (MA)

Education

Wirkkala graduated from Henry M. Jackson High School in Mill Creek, Washington. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and philosophy from Boston University and a Master of Arts in international relations from Yale University.^[1][2]

Career

As a graduate student, was an intern for the Global Strategy Group and Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs. She later worked as a consultant for Burson Cohn & Wolfe. From 2012 to 2015, she was an intelligence analyst for the Defense Intelligence Agency, focused on political and military leadership in Pakistan and Afghanistan. From 2015 to 2020, she served as an advisor, deputy director, and director for the United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.^[3] In February 2021, she became a special assistant to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.^[4]

Biden administration

On March 11, 2022, President Joe Biden nominated Wirkkala to be an assistant secretary of defense for legislative affairs.^[5] The Senate confirmed her on November 17.^[6]

Personal life

Wirkkala is married to Ian Duncan, a transportation reporter for The Washington Post. They have two children and live in Maryland.^[7][8][9]

See also

• Department of Defense appointments by Joe Biden

References

1. staff, eCampus News; Reports, Wire (March 27, 2012). "Graduate school applicants use social media to bypass admissions offices". eCampus News. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
2. "School Briefs". HeraldNet.com. March 3, 2008. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
3. "Caffeine, Skittles, Cartwheels—How the Women Running the Impeachment Trial Make It Work". Glamour. January 28, 2020. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
4. "President Biden Announces Key Nominees". The White House. March 11, 2022. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
5. "President Biden Announces Key Nominees". The White House. March 11, 2022. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
6. "Rheanne Wirkkala — Department of Defense". Retrieved August 25, 2023.
7. "Rheanne Wirkkala - U.S. Department of Defense (Feb. 2021-), Special Assistant for Strategy to the Secretary of Defense - Biography | LegiStorm". www.legistorm.com. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
8. Allen, Mike (December 26, 2013). "OBAMA SEES POPE AS ALLY on economic justice -- SCOTT REED declares business-community mantra for GOP Senate candidates: 'No fools' -- DONNA BRAZILE on MRS. OBAMA, who is 50 on Jan. 17". POLITICO. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
9. "Washington Post hires national transportation reporter". Talking Biz News. September 19, 2019. Retrieved March 11, 2022.