Kristina Kempkey

Co-Director

Kristina Kempkey is a senior leader with over two decades of experience working at the intersection of national security and foreign policy in high-risk environments. She has led and advised major efforts with USAID, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the United Nations, working alongside military, diplomatic, and civilian partners across Africa, Eastern Europe, and South Asia. Her work centers on applying emerging technologies to real-world security, stabilization, and institutional challenges. She brings a practitioner’s understanding of interagency operations, coalition building, and decision-making under uncertainty. She has contributed to research with the Council on Foreign Relations and West Point on national security and military strategy. As a Fellow at the ML Alignment and Theory Scholars (MATS), Future Impact Group (FIG), 21st Century India Center at UC San Diego, and the Center for AI and Digital Policy (CAIDP), Kristina informs practical policy recommendations and operational insights for governments and security institutions navigating the risks and opportunities of advanced AI.