Former US Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks Joins the Chicago Council on Global Affairs

The Chicago Council on Global Affairs is pleased to announce the appointment of The Honorable Kathleen Hicks as distinguished fellow in defense and security. Hicks, who served as the 35th US deputy secretary of defense, will join the Council’s roster of esteemed experts in contributing to the Council’s thought leadership, convening, and research efforts. 

“I am honored to join the superb community of leaders and scholars at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and I look forward to helping the Council advance it mission of engaging and empowering people—from across our country and beyond—on pressing global issues,” Hicks said. 

The highest-ranking woman ever to serve in the US Department of Defense, Hicks is an internationally recognized expert on national security policy and strategy. During the Biden administration, she helped lead efforts to leverage new technologies like advanced computing and artificial intelligence, ensure military readiness, prepare for the risks posed by climate change, and address sexual assault and harassment within the military. 

A board member and strategic advisor in the private sector, Hicks also holds appointments as a senior fellow at both the Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs and at Johns Hopkins University’s Kissinger Center for Global Affairs. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.   

“As the United States and the world grapple with critical questions about US strategy, technological change, and war and peace, leaders like Kath Hicks are vital to our success,” said Council President and CEO Dr. Leslie Vinjamuri. “We are thrilled to have such a trailblazing individual join in our mission to create a more promising, stable, and open world for all.” 

About the Council

A nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, the Council was founded in 1922 and is dedicated to increasing knowledge and engagement in global affairs. Our in-depth analysis and expert-led research influence policy conversations and inform the insights we share with our growing community. Through accessible content and open dialogue of diverse, fact-based perspectives, we empower more people to help shape our global future. 

Learn more at globalaffairs.org.