Jessica Kehl joined the Institute for Security Governance (ISG) as a Europe Regional Program lead in April 2022. She has served in the Executive Branch for over two decades with a focus on transatlantic relations, European security policy, and bilateral defense relations in Europe and Eurasia.
During her career in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Jessica served most recently as the Nordics Country Director, and previously as the Director for South and Central Europe, overseeing a staff responsible for policy and defense relations with Turkey, Greece, Italy, Cyprus, Malta, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Romania. Prior to this, she served as Director for Southeast Europe and Regional Affairs, overseeing a staff responsible for developing policies to extend stability and security in the Balkans. She also has served as Country Director for Ukraine, and in the NATO/ISAF Operations Cell, Office of Missile Defense Policy, and as Chief of Staff for Western Hemisphere Affairs.
Jessica’s external assignments included serving as an embedded policy exchange officer in the UK Ministry of Defense, and on the National Security Council Staff as the Director for the Balkans and Caucasus.
A Massachusetts native, Jessica entered government service as a Presidential Management Fellow, and she holds a Master of Science from Georgetown University’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service and a Bachelor of Arts in Government and International Relations from Smith College. She is deeply committed to developing the next generation of national security leaders.
- Democracy & Governance
- Security & Defense Policy & Strategy
- Civil-Military Relations
- Leadership & Organizational Development
- Europe-Eurasia
Jessica Kehl joined the Institute for Security Governance (ISG) as a Europe Regional Program lead in April 2022. She has served in the Executive Branch for over two decades with a focus on transatlantic relations, European security policy, and bilateral defense relations in Europe and Eurasia.
During her career in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Jessica served most recently as the Nordics Country Director, and previously as the Director for South and Central Europe, overseeing a staff responsible for policy and defense relations with Turkey, Greece, Italy, Cyprus, Malta, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Romania. Prior to this, she served as Director for Southeast Europe and Regional Affairs, overseeing a staff responsible for developing policies to extend stability and security in the Balkans. She also has served as Country Director for Ukraine, and in the NATO/ISAF Operations Cell, Office of Missile Defense Policy, and as Chief of Staff for Western Hemisphere Affairs.
Jessica’s external assignments included serving as an embedded policy exchange officer in the UK Ministry of Defense, and on the National Security Council Staff as the Director for the Balkans and Caucasus.
A Massachusetts native, Jessica entered government service as a Presidential Management Fellow, and she holds a Master of Science from Georgetown University’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service and a Bachelor of Arts in Government and International Relations from Smith College. She is deeply committed to developing the next generation of national security leaders.