Washington, DC – March 2, 2026 – The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) today announced that John M. Adams has been appointed as Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
Adams brings to CSIS more than 25 years of experience leading complex, mission-driven organizations through sustained financial growth and institutional modernization. He will oversee the Center’s financial strategy, operations, and long-term planning, including finance, accounting, audit, and risk management.
“John is an exceptional talent who brings deep financial expertise and strategic judgment to CSIS,” said CSIS President and CEO John Hamre. “With a record of innovative leadership and sound management, he is well positioned to help CSIS build on a period of strong growth and reinforce the foundation needed to scale our research and deepen our impact.”
Adams previously served as CFO of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory, where he led all aspects of financial strategy and provided fiscal stewardship for approximately $1.5 billion in annual revenue. During his tenure, he helped scale finance capabilities to support rapid organizational growth while strengthening internal controls, modernizing financial processes, and enhancing decision support for senior leadership.
Prior to joining Lincoln Laboratory, Adams served in several senior executive service roles within the U.S. Department of the Navy, where he helped oversee one of the federal government’s largest and most complex financial enterprises, supporting hundreds of billions of dollars in assets and operations worldwide. Adams also held senior leadership roles within the U.S. Marine Corps, including as director for financial policy and procedures, where he guided financial operations for globally deployed forces and helped implement policy frameworks supporting disciplined resource management.
“I am honored to join CSIS, a world-class institution whose work shapes policy and informs decisionmakers on the most critical challenges facing our world,” said Adams. “I look forward to bringing ‘finance at the speed of relevance’ to ensure financial strategy and stewardship that enable the mission with agility, insight, and discipline. I am proud to support CSIS’s vision and help strengthen the foundation that allows its scholars to deliver timely, independent analysis that advances global security and prosperity.”
Adams holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Maryland, College Park. He is a certified defense financial manager and holds professional certifications in project management and ITIL foundation.
CSIS partnered with executive search firm Lochlin Partners to lead the search for its CFO.
With an annual operating budget exceeding $65 million, CSIS stands at the forefront of shaping the future of national security through rigorous, nonpartisan scholarship on the issues that will define American prosperity and security for decades to come—including defense, economic security and technology, geopolitics, and global development. To learn more visit CSIS.org.
For media inquiries, please contact Sofia Chavez at SChavez@csis.org.