Defense News has published a feature article titled "100 Most Influential People: U.S. Defense," that listed Association of the United States Army officials, AUSA members and former employees, along with current and former Army leaders as the most influential and knowledgeable Americans in the national defense arena.

Gen. Gordon R. Sullivan, USA, Ret., president of the Association of the United States Army and the 32nd Army chief of staff, was cited as the "chairman of the board of the United State Army," who for more than 17 years after retiring, uses "his position (for fourteen years) as chief of America’s professional" military association to fight for his "beloved service."

AUSA, under his leadership, is a "vibrant advocate for Army programs, soldiers and their families. When the Army wants to sell a program, Sullivan and AUSA are almost always part of the plan."

Other AUSA leaders

Rudy deLeon, senior vice president, national security and international policy, Center for American Progress, and a member of the AUSA Council of Trustees and the Defense Policy Board, who served as the deputy secretary of defense, the under secretary of the Air Force and staff director, House Armed Services Committee.

Marilyn Hewson, president and chief operating officer, Lockheed Martin, and a member of AUSA’s Council of Trustees

Linda Hudson, chief executive officer, BAE North America; AUSA sustaining member and a former member of the Association’s Council of Trustees

Mike Bayer, former chairman, Defense Industry board, and a former member of the AUSA Council of Trustees

Doug Bush, minority staff member, House Armed Services Committee; former Army officer and AUSA Institute of Land Warfare national security analyst

Mackenzie Eaglen, scholar, American Enterprise Institute, a former Heritage Foundation research fellow and AUSA Institute of Land Warfare national security analyst

Jim McNerney, chairman and chief executive officer, Boeing; AUSA sustaining member

Bill Swanson, chairman and chief executive officer, Ratheon; AUSA sustaining member

Sean O’ Keefe, chairman and chief executive officer, EADS of North America; AUSA sustaining member

Phebe Novakovic, president and chief operating officer, General Dynamics; AUSA sustaining member

Tom Captain, vice chairman, aerospace and defense leader, Deloitte; AUSA sustaining member

Wes Bush, chief executive officer, Northrop Grumman; AUSA sustaining member

Army leaders

Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Gen. Raymond Odierno, Army chief of staff

Gen. Lloyd Austin, Army vice chief of staff

Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond Chandler

Gen. Keith Alexander, director, National Security Agency; chief, Central Security Service; commander, U.S. Cyber Command

Gen. Charles Jacoby, commander, U.S. Northern Command

Gen. David Rodriguez, commander, U.S. Army Forces Command, nominated to command, U.S. Africa Command

Lt. Gen. Mike Flynn, director, Defense Intelligence Agency

Lt. Gen. Daniel Bolger, commander, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan and Combined Security Transition Command

Lt. Gen. Robert Lennox, principal deputy director, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation, Office of the Secretary of Defense

Maj. Gen. H.R. McMaster, commander, U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence and Fort Benning, Ga.

Col. Pete Newell, director, Rapid Equipping Force

Retired Army leaders

Gen. Peter Chiarelli, USA, Ret., former Army vice chief of staff

Gen. David Petraeus, USA, Ret., former CIA director