Puneet Talwar, a former National Security Council staffer, has been appointed the State Department‘s political-military affairs bureau assistant secretary by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in December, Defense News reported Thursday.Zachary Fryer-Biggs writes Talwar will take over from Tom Kelly, the acting PM bureau assistant secretary, and oversee U.S. defense exports, international defense relationships and the State Department’s involvement with the Defense Department.
Fryer-Biggs reports Talwar spoke about his focus on defense export control reform and improved relations between the bureau and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during his confirmation hearing.
“The goal of [the reform] is to prevent sensitive technology from winding up in the wrong hands while streamlining and clarifying the licensing process for defense sales,” Talwar said.
He added, “One lesson I took away from my years of service on this committee is that the finest hours for American foreign policy invariably occur [when] the State Department and the committee are working together for the same end.”
