In Memoriam: H. Andrew Schwartz

In Memoriam: H. Andrew Schwartz

Photo: iLab/CSIS

Commentary - July 17, 2025

WASHINGTON, July 17, 2025: CSIS President and CEO John Hamre has issued the following statement on the passing of CSIS Chief Communications Officer H. Andrew Schwartz:

With great sadness, CSIS mourns the tragic loss of Chief Communications Officer Andrew Schwartz. For 20 years, Andrew directed the public presence of CSIS in a rapidly changing media environment. He saw the power of social media well before others and positioned CSIS to take advantage of these new powerful tools. He championed CSIS's unique Dracopoulos iDeas Lab, which created a "digital first" operating system for CSIS professional work. But beyond his astounding professional skills, Andrew was a mentor, a coach, a brother to everyone in the CSIS family. He brought a lively and incisive perspective to all our planning. He mentored young professionals and skillfully lifted up the work of senior scholars. And he kept CSIS staff apprised of breaking communication technologies and changing journalism dynamics. His network in Washington was far and wide. Andrew shaped the CSIS that the larger world saw. We will forever be grateful for his unique contributions and will cherish our memories of him. The CSIS community offers its deepest condolences to Andrew's wife, Amy, his three sons, his extended family, and his many friends.