Douglas Lute

Now currently serving as a member of Blackbird AI's Advisory Board, Ambassador Lute is an esteemed leader in U.S. defense policy, international security, and government affairs. He is the former United States Ambassador to NATO and an influential player in the design and implementation of the Alliance’s responses to the most severe security challenges in Europe since the end of the Cold War. In addition, Ambassador Lute served under Presidents Bush and Obama for six years on the U.S. National Security Council as Deputy National Security Advisor focused on Iraq and Afghanistan.

Prior to his time at the White House, Lute served for 35 years on active duty in the U.S. Army, where he held a variety of command positions at European Command and Central Command and on the Joint Staff. He retired as a Lieutenant General and is currently the Chairman of the International and Defense Practices at BGR Group. Ambassador Lute holds degrees from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and the United States Military Academy at West Point. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a charter member of the Senior Military Advisory Group of the United States Institute of Peace; a member of the American Academy of Diplomacy; and a member of the board of the Atlantic Council of the United States.