The Council on Foreign Relations, an independent, nonpartisan membership organization, influential think tank and publisher of Foreign Affairs named 76 new life members drawn from government, military, academia, business, journalism, law and other professions.

Included on the list was Col. Gray Heppner, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research deputy commander.

Heppner, an expert in global health, was nominated by four CFR members; retired Lockheed Martin CEO Norm Augustine, Senator Mark Warner, Bill & Melinda Gate Foundation's Global Health Forum President Tachi Yamada and Columbia University's Steven Morse.

CFR members enjoy unique opportunities for scholarship and are able to debate the impact of their specific areas of expertise on foreign policy in off the record meetings with senior leaders.