Karim Farishta

Karim Farishta is a Part-time Lecturer at the The Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University. He holds a Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard University and a B.A. in International Affairs from GWU, complemented by fellowships including the Fulbright Program (Research Scholar, Sri Lanka), Truman National Security Project, and Schmidt Futures. His expertise spans subnational diplomacy, civilian-military affairs, civil rights, and technology policy.

Previously, he served as Director of Intergovernmental Affairs at the U.S. Department of Defense (Biden Administration), leading initiatives on cybersecurity, AI, and critical infrastructure. He also spearheaded a $1.1B anti-hate initiative as Chief of Staff at The Asian American Foundation. His career includes roles in the Obama White House, Texas state politics (AAPI Director for Biden-Harris 2020), and crisis management.

Teaching focuses on 'Cities and States in National Security,' addressing subnational diplomacy’s role in global leadership. Awards include recognition from Out in National Security and Diversity in National Security’s 50 Under 50.

Key contributions include leveraging technology to combat misinformation and strengthening community safety through cross-sector partnerships.