Stephen D. Bryen

Biographical Information

"Dr. Stephen D. Bryen pioneered the field of technology security as Deputy Under Secretary of Defense from 1981-1988. Responsible for technology security policy and high-tech trade matters affecting national defense, he worked to formulate national policies to protect U.S. military and commercial products, know-how, intellectual property, goods and services. Dr. Bryen founded the Defense Technology Security Administration (DTSA) and served as its first Director.

"Dr. Bryen is the President of Finmeccanica, Inc., the U.S. offices of Finmeccanica, S.p.A. Finmeccanica is a global aerospace and defense and high technology company, based in Rome, Italy. Finmeccanica companies include AgustaWestland, Alenia Aeronautica, Aermacchi, Elsag-Datamat, Thales Alenia Space, Telespazio, Galileo, Selex Communications, Selex Sensors and Airborne Systems, Ansaldo Energia, Ansaldo Breda, WASS and Oto Melara. Dr. Bryen also serves on a number of Finmeccanica company Boards.

"Dr. Bryen served as a Commissioner on the U.S.-China Security Review Commission. He was appointed to the position by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Dr. Bryen is also a Fellow at the Taiwan Institute for Political, Economic and Strategic Studies. In addition, he serves on the Advisory Board of the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs.

"Prior to serving in the Defense Department, Dr. Bryen was the Staff Director of the Near East Subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a professional staff member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

"Dr. Bryen was the founder and President of Delta Tech Inc. and Secure Communications Inc.

"Dr. Bryen received his A.B. degree from Rutgers University and his M.A. and PhD from Tulane University in the field of international politics. He did postdoctoral work at Virginia Technology University and was a National Defense (NDEA) fellow.

"Dr. Bryen was twice awarded the Defense Department’s highest civilian medal, the Distinguish Public Service award."

According to a Dec. 24, 1985, Associated Press report, Richard Perle, still a Reagan Defense Department official, was challenged by Jeremiah Denton, then a Republican senator from Alabama, on Perle's choice of Stephen D. Bryen as a Pentagon aide. In the email copy of Lee Byrd's report provided by John Sugg (JohnSugg@aol.com), Denton charged that Bryen, moving from a job with the powerful American Israel Public Affairs Committee, had been forced to resign his Senate Foreign Relations Committee staff job after being investigated for trying to gain information for the Israeli government. Federal prosecutors dropped the case, with Perle defending Bryen's integrity, the AP report says.