We are thrilled to announce Mark Pascale, Director of the Intelligence Project at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, as a featured speaker for the 2027 Whitefish Security Summit.

Mark brings an unparalleled depth of real-world operational experience and academic leadership to our cohort. Before stepping into his role at Harvard, Mark completed a storied and highly decorated career with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). He holds the unique, historic distinction of being the only officer in the Agency’s history to serve as Chief of Station in three of the world’s most challenging and high-stakes operational environments.

Having spent 14 years living and operating in China, Russia, and Syria, Mark is fluent in Mandarin, Russian, and Arabic. His career has spanned crucial tours across East Asia, the former Soviet Union, and the Middle East, offering him a firsthand perspective on the geopolitical shifts defining our era.

Following his distinguished government service and prior to joining the Belfer Center in 2023, Mark bridged the gap between public service and private innovation as the Vice President of Intelligence for Strider Technologies, where he pioneered strategies to help organizations combat state-sponsored intellectual property theft and secure global supply chains.

At the Belfer Center, Mark now leads the next generation of global leaders and intelligence practitioners, serving as the senior mentor to the prestigious Recanati-Kaplan Fellows. He holds a BA in International Relations from Colgate University and an MA in Security Studies from Johns Hopkins SAIS, and was notably one of the few American students permitted to study at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) in the early 1990s.

At this year's summit, Mark will share his rare insights into the evolution of global intelligence, the complexities of modern great-power competition, and how today's private and public sectors must adapt to secure a volatile frontier.

Mark Pascale | At a Glance

• Current Role: Director of the Intelligence Project, Harvard Belfer Center

• Former Roles: Vice President of Intelligence, Strider Technologies; Senior CIA Operations Officer & Three-Time Chief of Station

• Areas of Expertise: Great power competition, intelligence policy, geopolitical risk, and supply chain security

• Education: Colgate University (BA), Johns Hopkins SAIS (MA), Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO)

Join Us in Whitefish: Don't miss the opportunity to hear directly from Mark Pascale and other world-class national security and intelligence leaders. A limited number of early bird seats are still available. Once they’re gone, standard pricing applies.

You can support the long-term mission of the Whitefish Security Summit by becoming a member. Contact me directly for information on membership options and benefits.