The Kennedy Center is led by Chairman David Rubenstein, CEO of notorious private equity firm Carlyle Group. While his role at the Kennedy Center is intact, he resigned from the board of Harvard University amidst student criticism over Carlyle’s $24 billion in investments in fossil fuels.
The Kennedy Center has significant ties to the war industry: namely, General Dynamics CEO Phebe Novakovic is on the board of the Kennedy Center’s Corporate Fund. Catherine B. Reynolds, General Dynamics board member, is a trustee of the Kennedy Center.