Washington, DC – The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace announced today that Katherine Charlet will serve as the inaugural director of its Washington-based Technology and International Affairs Program. 

Charlet has spent the past decade at the U.S. Department of Defense and the White House. She most recently served as the principal director and acting deputy assistant secretary of defense for cyber policy. She has been on the frontlines developing policy, strategy, and international partnerships in cyberspace, including in senior advisory roles on the Defense Science Board Task Forces on Cyber Deterrence, on Cyber as a Strategic Capability, and on the Presidential Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity. She also served as director for strategic planning at the National Security Council. 

Charlet is the recipient of the Secretary of Defense Meritorious Civilian Service Award. She holds a bachelor’s degree in molecular biology from Princeton University and a master’s degree in strategic studies from the John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. 

“Carnegie is approaching key questions at the intersection of technology and international affairs from a strategic, creative, and global perspective,” said Charlet. “I am privileged to join my colleagues in Washington and across Carnegie’s global network to address these questions in a way that captures the promise of evolving technologies while mitigating their risks.” 

Under the leadership of Charlet and George Perkovich, vice president for studies and Ken Olivier and Angela Nomellini chair, the program will continue to develop the work of the Cyber Policy Initiative—which is co-directed by Ariel Levite and Tim Maurer—and launch initiatives on artificial intelligence and biotechnology. 

Carnegie President William J. Burns said, “Kate’s leadership, academic pedigree, expertise, and broad international experience will be a tremendous addition in one of our most important new initiatives. We feel very fortunate to welcome her to Carnegie and look forward to working together on some of the most consequential international challenges of our time.”

Press Contact: Meshal DeSantis | +1 202 939 2233 | mdesantis@ceip.org