A university professor has been named president of the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), a conservative think tank in Washington that focuses on defense and other issues.

Arthur C. Brooks, the Louis A. Bantle professor of business and government policy at Syracuse University and a visiting scholar at AEI, will lead the institute.

Brooks will succeed Christopher DeMuth on Jan. 1.

DeMuth, AEI president since 1986, announced last October his decision to step down from the position. He will remain at AEI as a senior fellow.

AEI has held many forums with leading experts illuminating key defense issues, such as the fast-rising threat of the Chinese military, the North Korean missile danger, defense issues in the Middle East, and more.