Colin O’Brien is USIP’s chief security officer, having joined the Institute in 2023.

Prior to his tenure at USIP, O’Brien served in various leadership roles within the public and private sectors. Notably, he directed international security programs at the Millennium Challenge Corporation and served as one of the U.S. Peace Corps’ regional safety and security officers overseeing safety protocols and emergency preparedness across diverse geopolitical landscapes. His responsibilities encompassed the development of security initiatives with a focus on global safety and risk management, as well as coordination with law enforcement and intelligence agencies, to assess and mitigate operational risks effectively. O’Brien’s career has also included service as police officer in both the U.S. Army and in local law enforcement.

O’Brien holds a bachelor’s in criminal justice and criminology and a master’s in business administration from the University of Maryland at College Park.