Tom Cotton

United States Senator, Arkansas

Cotton

At A Glance:

Tom Cotton is a United States senator from Arkansas.

Biography

Tom Cotton is a United States senator from Arkansas who currently sits on the Judiciary Committee, Intelligence Committee, and Armed Services Committee. 

Cotton graduated from Harvard and Harvard Law School, and subsequently clerked with the US Court of Appeals. He left the practice of law after the September 11th attacks to join the US Army. Cotton served two combat tours over five years: in Iraq with the 101st Airborne and in Afghanistan with a provincial reconstruction team. Between combat tours, Cotton served with the Old Guard at Arlington National Cemetery. Cotton’s military decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, and Ranger Tab. Cotton is the author of the New York Times best seller, Sacred Duty: A Soldier’s Tour at Arlington National Cemetery. Between the Army and the Senate, Cotton worked for McKinsey & Company and served one term in the US House of Representatives.

Events
Back to Tom Cotton
26
February 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
“Seven Things You Can’t Say about China” with Senator Tom Cotton
Featured Speakers:
Tom Cotton
John P. Walters
Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) in a hearing on Capitol Hill on January 14, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
26
February 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
“Seven Things You Can’t Say about China” with Senator Tom Cotton

Senator Cotton will join Hudson President and CEO John Walters to discuss the senator’s new book and why Communist China is America’s most dangerous enemy.

Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) in a hearing on Capitol Hill on January 14, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Featured Speakers:
Tom Cotton
John P. Walters
Learn More
26
September 2024
Past Event
Defense Innovation and the New Cold War
Featured Speakers:
Tom Cotton
Joe Lonsdale
Shyam Sankar
Nadia Schadlow
Mackenzie Eaglen
Richard Berger
Moderators:
Rebeccah L. Heinrichs
Morgan D. Ortagus
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Shawn Bailey, a Small Unmanned Aerial System master trainer with the 1st Battalion of the 4th Infantry Regiment, sets up a TS-M800 II drone during Saber Junction 23 at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center near Hohenfels, Germany, Sept. 11, 2023. (DVIDS)
26
September 2024
Past Event
Defense Innovation and the New Cold War

This threat environment is teaching American defense planners and policymakers hard lessons about the need to adapt and change the way the United States budgets, tests, acquires, and deploys new and existing weapon systems. Join Hudson for two panels that will discuss these lessons and why Washington urgently needs to apply them. 

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Shawn Bailey, a Small Unmanned Aerial System master trainer with the 1st Battalion of the 4th Infantry Regiment, sets up a TS-M800 II drone during Saber Junction 23 at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center near Hohenfels, Germany, Sept. 11, 2023. (DVIDS)
Featured Speakers:
Tom Cotton
Joe Lonsdale
Shyam Sankar
Nadia Schadlow
Mackenzie Eaglen
Richard Berger
Moderators:
Rebeccah L. Heinrichs
Morgan D. Ortagus
Learn More
15
May 2024
Past Event
The Pernicious Impact of China’s Anti-Secession Law
Featured Speakers:
Michael R. Pompeo
Tom Cotton
Robert Tsao
Senator Marsha Blackburn
Scott Morrison
Vincent Chao
Yu-Jie Chen
Margaret Lewis
Donald C. Clarke
Heino Klinck
Bonny Lin
Moderator:
Miles Yu
Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian participates in a rally to protest against the Anti-Secession Law on March 26, 2005, in Taipei, Taiwan. (Photo by Andrew Wong/Getty Images)
15
May 2024
Past Event
The Pernicious Impact of China’s Anti-Secession Law

Hudson Institute’s China Center and United Microelectronics Corporation founder Robert Tsao will host a conference with experts and policymakers to analyze China’s 2005 anti-secession law.

Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian participates in a rally to protest against the Anti-Secession Law on March 26, 2005, in Taipei, Taiwan. (Photo by Andrew Wong/Getty Images)
Featured Speakers:
Michael R. Pompeo
Tom Cotton
Robert Tsao
Senator Marsha Blackburn
Scott Morrison
Vincent Chao
Yu-Jie Chen
Margaret Lewis
Donald C. Clarke
Heino Klinck
Bonny Lin
Moderator:
Miles Yu
Learn More
07
October 2020
Past Event
Video Event | Dialogues on American Foreign Policy and World Affairs: A Conversation with Senator Tom Cotton
Featured Speakers:
Walter Russell Mead
Tom Cotton
07
October 2020
Past Event
Video Event | Dialogues on American Foreign Policy and World Affairs: A Conversation with Senator Tom Cotton

Join Hudson Institute for a discussion with Senator Tom Cotton on and what the foreign policy priorities of a second Trump administration may be

Featured Speakers:
Walter Russell Mead
Tom Cotton
Learn More
05
December 2019
Past Event
Americans Held Captive Abroad: A Conversation with Senator Tom Cotton on The Global Hostage Act
Featured Speakers:
Tom Cotton
Michael Doran
05
December 2019
Past Event
Americans Held Captive Abroad: A Conversation with Senator Tom Cotton on The Global Hostage Act

Hudson Institute will host Senator Tom Cotton for a discussion on The Global Hostage Act, which he recently introduced with Senator Ted Cruz. The bill

Featured Speakers:
Tom Cotton
Michael Doran
Learn More
20
May 2019
Past Event
Sacred Duty: A Book Discussion with U.S. Senator Tom Cotton
Featured Speakers:
Tom Cotton
Arthur Herman
Arlington Cemetery
20
May 2019
Past Event
Sacred Duty: A Book Discussion with U.S. Senator Tom Cotton

Sen. Tom Cotton discusses his new book

Arlington Cemetery
Featured Speakers:
Tom Cotton
Arthur Herman
Learn More
13
July 2016
Past Event
Space and the Right to Self Defense
Featured Speakers:
Rebeccah Heinrichs
Tom Cotton
Senator Jon Kyl
General Charles Jacoby Jr.
13
July 2016
Past Event
Space and the Right to Self Defense

Sen. Tom Cotton, Sen. Jon Kyl, Gen. Charles Jacoby and Rebeccah Heinrichs discuss missile defense strategy, Space and the Right to Self Defense report

Featured Speakers:
Rebeccah Heinrichs
Tom Cotton
Senator Jon Kyl
General Charles Jacoby Jr.
Learn More
19
May 2016
Past Event
Remarks by Senator Tom Cotton on Crime and Justice in America
Featured Speakers:
Tom Cotton
John P. Walters
19
May 2016
Past Event
Remarks by Senator Tom Cotton on Crime and Justice in America

Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) speaks on the current trends in criminal justice policy.

Featured Speakers:
Tom Cotton
John P. Walters
Learn More
28
July 2015
Past Event
Can the P5+1's Vienna Deal Prevent an Iranian Nuclear Breakout?
Featured Speakers:
Tom Cotton
Michael Doran
William Tobey
Hillel Fradkin
Lee Smith
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28
July 2015
Past Event
Can the P5+1's Vienna Deal Prevent an Iranian Nuclear Breakout?

Senator Tom Cotton, Michael Doran, Lee Smith, William Tobey, and Hillel Fradkin discuss the Iran nuclear deal.

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Featured Speakers:
Tom Cotton
Michael Doran
William Tobey
Hillel Fradkin
Lee Smith
Learn More
18
March 2015
Past Event
Dialogues on American Strategy and Statesmanship: Senator Tom Cotton and Walter Russell Mead
Featured Speakers:
Tom Cotton
Walter Russell Mead
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18
March 2015
Past Event
Dialogues on American Strategy and Statesmanship: Senator Tom Cotton and Walter Russell Mead

Walter Russell Mead hosted Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas for a one-on-one discussion of U.S. national security challenges at Hudson Institute.

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Featured Speakers:
Tom Cotton
Walter Russell Mead
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