Outgoing National Security Advisor Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster served for more than a decade as a consultant to the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, a foreign-based think-tank that has received funding from hostile foreign governments to include Russia and China, according to a Daily Caller News Foundation investigation.
The career soldier ended his employment at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in February 2017 after President Donald Trump tapped him to serve as his national security adviser following the resignation of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.
Yes, it does give that impression. So are you sure he was just a "fellow on the list", or guessing?
Because Army regulations forbid him being employed by the IISS and receiving pay from it, while being an actively serving officer, I’m making what one might call ‘an educated guess’. If he had been paid, then there would have been a scandal about that blatant violation of regulations long before now.
Many years ago, while an active duty officer, I went back to the university I received my MA in History from to participate in a week long program to discuss the uses of a history degree and history in general and the military. Although I had received an invitation, I had to go to the JAG officer for its review and they said that I could attend it provided I used my annual leave and did NOT ACCEPT ANY REMUNERATION in cash or kind (i.e. meals) from the university. Fortunately the university was near my home town, thus I took my family back and stayed with my parents.