LTC Chris Kremidas-Courtney, USA (Ret)

Senior Fellow, Peace, Security and Defense for Friends of Europe in Brussels, lecturer for Institute for Security Governance in Monterey, California, and Democracy and Governance advisor for the Extended Reality Safety Initiative (XRSI) in San Francisco.

Chris is a globally recognized thought leader, futurist, and policy influencer on addressing malign influence campaigns, defending democracy, and societal resilience. He leads efforts to develop policy approaches to protect and support democracy, equality, and the rule of law in a fast-changing world.

As a seasoned international community builder, Chris originated and leads the EU-NATO public-private-civil society exercises to bring together a broad spectrum of leaders to produce workable solutions to address emerging challenges to democracy and security. He also builds regional communities of interest to address Russian aggression in the Black Sea region, organized crime in the Mediterranean, counter disinformation in Europe, address natural disasters in Central Africa, and to reduce cartel violence in Juarez, Mexico.

Chris served for 32 years in various roles for the US and NATO including Multilateral Engagement Coordinator for U.S. European Command, Director of Training and Exercises for the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats (Hybrid COE), Political Advisor for NATO Training Mission – Iraq, and Policy Advisor at the US Missions to NATO and the EU.

Chris also serves as a frequent lecturer for the Geneva Center for Security Policy, Harvard University, New York University, Naval Postgraduate School, and Universidad Rey Juan Carlos in Madrid.