Juliette Kayyem

Juliette Kayyem is currently the faculty chair of the Homeland Security and Security and Global Health Projects at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. She also serves as CNN Senior National Security Analyst and is a contributing writer to The Atlantic. Kayyem previously served as President Obama’s Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security, where she was involved in operations such as the H1N1 pandemic and the BP Oil Spill response. She was also responsible for major policy efforts in immigration reform and community resiliency.

Prior to her role in the Obama administration, Kayyem was Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick’s homeland security advisor. She guided regional planning, the state's first interoperability plan, and oversaw the National Guard. Her extensive background in public service also includes positions as a member of the National Commission on Terrorism, a legal advisor to US Attorney General Janet Reno, and a trial attorney and counselor in the Civil Rights Division at the Justice Department. She has authored or edited six books, including "The Devil Never Sleeps: Learning to Live in an Age of Disasters" and "Security Mom." Her editorial work earned her a finalist position for the Pulitzer Prize in 2013.

Currently, Kayyem is a Senior Advisor to Teneo and provides security advice and consulting services to numerous Fortune 500 companies and startups. She remains engaged in academic and training initiatives, including recent work with Bloomberg Philanthropies and Harvard University to train city leaders in pandemic planning. In 2021, she won the Telly Award for her digital series on climate change, and in 2023, she received the Lifetime Achievement Pinnacle Award from the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.

Additionally, Kayyem is a board member of several organizations, including Mass Inc., the International Centre for Sport Security, The Alliance for Business Leadership, and the Red Cross of MA. She is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Trilateral Commission. A graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, she is married to First Circuit Court of Appeals Judge David Barron and is a mother of three children. She founded Kayyem Solutions, LLC, a company that offers strategic advice to various sectors including technology, risk management, and mega-event planning.