The White House has selected Ethan Klein as its nominee for the next U.S. Chief Technology Officer (CTO), a critical position responsible for guiding the nation’s technology policy, promoting innovation, and ensuring that America remains a leader in emerging technologies.
Klein, a distinguished scientist and expert in technology policy, brings a wealth of experience in emerging technology, nuclear science, and defense innovation. From 2017 to 2021, he served as a policy advisor for emerging technologies at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, where he played a key role in shaping policies on artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and other vital technologies.
At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Klein spent five years working with Prof. Areg Danagoulian’s team, developing nuclear technologies for arms control and nonproliferation as part of a National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) fellowship through the Consortium for Monitoring, Technology, and Verification (MTV). His exceptional work earned him the Best Oral Presentation award at the 2023 University Program Review and the 2023 MTV Workshop.
Klein’s academic credentials are firmly rooted in science and engineering. He holds a Ph.D. in Nuclear Science and Engineering from MIT and a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and Physics from the same institution. Most recently, he has been pursuing an MBA at Stanford University while also working as a summer associate at Lazard, where he concentrated on the aerospace and defense sectors. Additionally, Klein has been a Defense Innovation Scholar at Stanford’s Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation, where he focused on fostering collaboration between Silicon Valley and government agencies.
Congratulations to Dr. Ethan Klein!