Dr. R. David Edelman

IPRI Distinguished Fellow, MIT

Dr. R. David Edelman is the IPRI Distinguished Fellow at MIT and a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at The Brookings Institution.  His research focuses on the governance of AI, the geopolitics of technology, and the national security dimensions of computing.

In government, Edelman started served for six years in the White House, including as Special Assistant to the President for Economic & Technology Policy on the National Economic Council, Director for Cybersecurity on the National Security Council, and Senior Advisor in the Office of Science & Technology Policy.  He began his career at the State Department, helping found the Office of Cyber Affairs and ultimately serving as lead U.S. digital negotiator at the UN and G-20.

In the private sector, he has built strategy teams at leading firms in the AI and clean energy sectors; founded a consultancy helping emerging technology companies navigate global affairs; and been a venture investor in deep-tech startups.  He serves on several private and non-profit boards.

Dr. Edelman holds a B.A. from Yale and a Master’s and Doctorate from Oxford University, where he was a Clarendon Scholar.  His new book Rethinking Cyber Warfare was released in May by Oxford University Press.