CAMBRIDGE, MA—April 5, 2017—The Center is pleased to announce that R. David Edelman, an expert on technology and its impact on national security and the global economy, has been appointed a research fellow.

Edelman served for six years in the White House, first as national security staff director for International Cyber Policy, and then at the National Economic Council as special assistant to the president for economic and technology policy. He has distinguished himself as one of the US government’s foremost voices on how technology is changing our economy, national security, and daily lives. His insights have helped shape national and international policy at the highest levels.

At MIT, Edelman will direct the Institute’s new Project on Technology, the Economy, and National Security (TENS). He holds a joint appointment with the Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence Lab (CSAIL) and the MIT Center for International Studies (CIS). TENS is housed within CSAIL’s Internet Policy Research Initiative. 

“We are pleased to welcome David to join our community of students and scholars. His experience with shaping policy on technology and national security issues is of particular interest to us, and we look forward to his helping us continue to build the critical bridge between CSAIL and CIS,” said Richard Samuels, Ford International Professor of Political Science and director of CIS.

Edelman holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Yale and master’s and doctoral degrees from Oxford in International Relations.