Alumnus
Michael Swaine is a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and one of the most prominent American analysts in Chinese security studies. Formerly a senior policy analyst at the RAND Corporation, he is a specialist in Chinese defense and foreign policy, U.S.-China relations, and East Asian international relations.
Michael was the recipient of the Bob Christian Alumnus of the Year Award in 2016. In nominating him, alumnus Jackson Tay Bosley ’69 wrote: “Michael Swaine’s entire persona embodies the highest notions of service as exemplified in the HKIS Mission Statement of dedicating minds to inquiry, hearts to compassion and lives to service and global understanding. He has devoted his life’s work to critical thinking and the unbiased exploration of the complex world of international politics, as illustrated by his unflinching analysis of world events and his steadfastly ‘speaking truth to power’ to officials in the U.S. and Asia. His current work involves acting as an intermediary between the military forces of the U.S. and China, and attempting to de-escalate potential trouble spots and resolving conflicts. This makes him a significant contributor to better global understanding and enhancing world peace.”
At HKIS, Michael was President of his junior class, and President of the Student Council during his senior year. He excelled in individual and team sports, was a member of the debate team and the drama club, and was chosen to be the U.S. representative in the HKIS Mock UN General Assembly. “No doubt, a sign of future diplomatic roles,” commented Tay.