Gen. Pace at the Keeper of the Flame

The Center inaugurated the Keeper of the Flame Award in 1990 to recognize those individuals who have enhanced American security through their commitment to a strong military, the propagation of democracy and respect for individual rights throughout the world.

Each year the Center for Security Policy selects one individual who has done the most for our nation's security to join the distinguished ranks of past awardees who include: General Peter Pace, Ronald Reagan, Donald Rumsfeld, James Schlesinger, Caspar Weinberger, General Richard Myers, Sen. Jim Inholf, Sen. John Kyl and Paul Wolfowitz.

This event brings together an extraordinary array of senior Executive Branch officials (military and civilian), leading members of Congress, diplomats, captains of industry and top journalists for a relatively intimate and extremely memorable black-tie dinner and celebration. We encourage all members of the Intelligence, National Security, and Diplomatic communities to join us.

2009 Vice President Dick Cheney

2008 General Jack Keane and the Heroes of the Surge

2007 Senator Joe Lieberman and The Defenders of the Home Front

2006 HASC Chairman Duncan Hunter and All Those who Serve

2005 Senator Jim Inhofe and the Heroes of the Homefront

2004 General Peter Pace and the Defenders of Freedom

2003 Hon. Paul Wolfowitz and the Liberators of Iraq

2002 General Richard B. Myers and the Men and Women of the U.S. Armed Forces

2001 Hon. James R. Schlesinger

Waiting in tuxedos and military uniforms, like the uniform of the Marine Corps Commandant and the uniforms of three-star and four-star generals.  Senators and congressmen flit about, and former Secretary of Defense Jim Schlesinger looms tall above the crowd with his wild burst of white hair.  A group of Marines look like exotic birds, with their red-vested chests and gold stripes down their legs, and there’s a gaggle of men in tuxedos with medals hanging off their lapels, yards of medals, acres of medals, enough metal to stop a full burst of high-velocity machine-gun fire.  At the center of the room, Frank Gaffney, tonight’s host and the president of the Center for Security Policy… - Esquire Magazine

2000 HASC Chairman Floyd D. Spence

1999 General James L. Jones

1998 Hon. Donald H. Rumsfeld

1997 Representative Christopher Cox

1996 Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich

1995 Ronald Reagan

1994 Representative Jon Kyl

1993 Malcolm S. "Steve" Forbes, Jr.

1992 Senator Malcolm Wallop

1991 Garry Kasparov

1990 Hon. Caspar Weinberger