CSIS Names Navin Girishankar Head Of Economic Security

India-West Staff Reporter

WASHINGTON, DC – The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a bipartisan, nonprofit policy research organization dedicated to advancing practical ideas to address the world’s greatest challenges, has announced the appointment of Navin Girishankar as president of its Economic Security and Technology Department.

This newly established department will unify nearly a dozen CSIS programs to provide government and business leaders with cross-cutting research on economic and technology policies and their critical role in national security. It will focus on areas shaping US industrial strategy and competitiveness in a rapidly evolving geopolitical context—such as AI and semiconductors, energy security and climate transition, critical minerals, and economic relations with China and global partners.

“Navin Girishankar is among Washington’s most trusted economic strategists on domestic and international issues, with a unique track record over three decades across government, business, and international finance institutions. He is the perfect choice to lead this initiative,” said John Hamre, CSIS president and CEO.

Girishankar joins CSIS after serving as the senior counselor to the US Deputy Secretary of Commerce since January 2022, advising on a wide range of domestic and international issues. Before his government service, Girishankar held senior commercial roles at Bridgewater Associates and the World Bank.

He holds a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard Kennedy School and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Williams College.