Former US Permanent Representative to NATO Julianne Smith Joins the Council
October 14, 2025 - The Chicago Council on Global Affairs is pleased to announce the appointment of Ambassador Julianne Smith as Distinguished Nonresident Fellow in Defense and Security. Smith, who served as the U.S. permanent representative to NATO during the Biden administration, will join the Council’s roster of esteemed experts in contributing to the Council’s thought leadership, convening and research efforts.
“I am delighted to join the Chicago Council on Global Affairs’ distinguished community and contribute to its vital mission. As we navigate new challenges to international security and the transatlantic alliance, I look forward to contributing to the Council’s thoughtful, nonpartisan conversations on the way forward,” Smith said.
Ambassador Julianne Smith is a distinguished national security expert with over two decades of experience in U.S. and European defense policy, transatlantic relations, and geostrategic risk. She has held senior leadership positions at the White House, the Department of Defense, and the Department of State where she has shaped NATO’s response to the Ukraine war, advanced U.S.-European economic and military partnerships and addressed global security challenges stemming from China, Iran and Russia
Most recently, Smith served as the U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO (2021–2024), where she played a pivotal role in securing Allied support for Ukraine, coordinating intelligence sharing with Allies, and finalizing Finland and Sweden’s accession to the Alliance. She also led efforts to integrate China into NATO’s Strategic Concept and orchestrated NATO’s 75th Anniversary Summit.
Prior to her NATO ambassadorship, Smith served as Senior Advisor to the Secretary of State and was a key figure in the Biden-Harris transition team, overseeing foreign policy planning with a team of over 100 national security professionals. Her career spans influential roles at think tanks such as the German Marshall Fund, the Center for a New American Security, and the Center for Strategic and International Studies, where she published extensively on grand strategy, Russia, counter-terrorism and China’s deepening relationships in Europe. Through war gaming and high-level strategic dialogues, she has helped policymakers in the United States, Europe and Asia develop coordinated strategies for addressing emerging security challenges.
“As the global security landscape evolves and alliances are tested, Ambassador Julianne Smith’s deep experience in defense and security will enrich our work immensely,” said Council President and CEO Dr. Leslie Vinjamuri. “We are thrilled to have her join us in our efforts to shape and influence policy at this critical period, and to engage our networks across the Midwest and beyond.”
About the Council
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