TL;DR
- Anthropic has appointed Richard Fontaine, a respected U.S. national security expert, to its Long-Term Benefit Trust.
- The move follows the company’s launch of new AI models for national security applications.
- Fontaine joins other governance leaders tasked with prioritizing AI safety over profits.
- He brings deep experience as former foreign policy adviser to Sen. John McCain and ex-president of the Center for a New American Security.
- Anthropic joins OpenAI, Meta, Google, and Cohere in targeting defense contracts for AI deployment.
Anthropic Deepens National Security Ties with New Trustee Appointment
A day after unveiling advanced AI models tailored for U.S. defense and intelligence sectors, Anthropic has named Richard Fontaine — a seasoned national security professional — to its Long-Term Benefit Trust. The move underscores Anthropic’s growing alignment with national defense priorities and its efforts to ensure that its AI development remains ethically and geopolitically grounded.
Anthropic’s Long-Term Benefit Trust is a key corporate governance mechanism designed to prioritize AI safety over financial returns. It holds the authority to elect a portion of the company’s board of directors and plays an advisory role in shaping Anthropic’s long-term direction.
Fontaine joins a panel that already includes Zachary Robinson (CEO, Centre for Effective Altruism), Neil Buddy Shah (CEO, Clinton Health Access Initiative), and Kanika Bahl (President, Evidence Action).
Fontaine’s Credentials: A Career Rooted in Defense Strategy
Fontaine brings decades of experience in foreign policy and national security. Notably:
- He served as a foreign policy adviser to the late Senator John McCain.
- Was an adjunct professor at Georgetown University, specializing in security studies.
- Spent over six years as President of the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), a Washington, D.C.-based think tank known for influencing U.S. defense policy.
According to Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, Fontaine’s background positions him to guide the trust through “complex decisions at the intersection of AI and security.”
“Richard’s expertise comes at a critical time,” said Amodei. “Ensuring democratic nations lead in responsible AI development is essential for global security and the common good.”
Unlike corporate board members, trustees of the Long-Term Benefit Trust do not hold equity or financial interests in Anthropic — reinforcing the trust’s role as a mission-aligned oversight body rather than a profit-seeking entity.
AI Labs Are Courting the Defense Sector
Anthropic’s move comes as top AI labs increasingly target the U.S. Department of Defense and intelligence community for revenue growth. In November 2024, the company joined forces with Palantir and Amazon Web Services (AWS) to sell AI services to government agencies.
Other major AI players are also intensifying their defense strategies:
AI and National Security Initiatives
| Company | Defense Involvement |
| OpenAI | Engaged in talks with the U.S. Department of Defense |
| Meta | Offers Llama models to military and defense partners |
| Developing Gemini models for classified environments | |
| Cohere | Collaborating with Palantir for government AI deployment |
| Anthropic | Partnered with AWS and Palantir; launched military-grade models |
With this latest appointment, Anthropic signals that its governance and technical roadmap are now closely aligned with national security objectives.
The Growing Importance of Trust-Based AI Governance
Anthropic’s Long-Term Benefit Trust is part of a larger movement within AI circles to ensure that non-commercial values like safety, ethics, and democratic accountability play a meaningful role in the industry’s trajectory.
The trust model was created as an answer to concerns about profit-driven AI development, which critics argue often leads to risky behavior, opaque models, and uncontrolled deployment.
Fontaine’s background adds gravitas to this mission. His expertise in geopolitical dynamics, national security threats, and the U.S. policy-making process will likely guide Anthropic’s responses to sensitive issues — including export controls, ethical deployment in war zones, and AI misuse in surveillance or autonomous weapons.
Building an Executive Roster Fit for Defense and Ethics
Fontaine is the latest in a series of high-profile appointments that suggest Anthropic is positioning itself not just as an AI lab, but as a trusted AI contractor and thought leader.
Just weeks earlier, the company announced that Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings had joined its board. Combined, these additions give Anthropic a blend of Silicon Valley acumen and Washington D.C. strategic insight.
“The governance model Anthropic is building is unique,” said one D.C.-based AI ethics advisor familiar with the matter. “It’s trying to be the bridge between national interests and ethical AI innovation.”
As U.S. lawmakers race to catch up with the rapid pace of AI development, companies like Anthropic are betting that building trust will become a competitive advantage — especially in regulated or security-sensitive markets.
Conclusion
By naming Richard Fontaine to its Long-Term Benefit Trust, Anthropic is doubling down on a vision of AI that is not only cutting-edge but also geopolitically responsible. Fontaine’s expertise in national defense, coupled with the company’s broader governance structure, signals a future in which AI innovation is inseparable from national security strategy and ethical stewardship.As the AI industry evolves, the companies that succeed may not be the fastest or biggest — but the ones that earn the trust of both governments and the public.
