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The Russell Wald Conversation
Russell Wald is the Managing Director for Policy and Society for Stanford’s Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI). In this role he is responsible for leading the team that advances Stanford HAI’s engagement with governments and civil society organizations to see a world benefit from the human-centered uses of artificial intelligence.
From 2016 – 2020, Wald led government relations on behalf of Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, where his portfolio focused on national security, cyber, and technology policy. In addition to his work at Hoover, Wald was head of outreach for the Stanford Cyber Policy Program, which was later elevated to become the Stanford’s Cyber Policy Center.
Before joining the Hoover Institution’s Washington office, Wald was the Program Manager for National Security Affairs at the Hoover Institution’s Stanford headquarters, where he spearheaded numerous programs including the Stanford Congressional Cyber Boot Camp and the Project on the Strategic Dimensions of Offensive Cyber Operations. In 2015, he led the official program at Stanford University hosting then Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter titled, “Rewiring of the Pentagon: Charting a New Path on Innovation and Cybersecurity.” He also played a supporting role with the White House Summit on Cybersecurity and Consumer Protection at Stanford University where President Barack Obama signed the executive order on “Promoting Private Sector Cybersecurity Information Sharing.” Wald also served as special assistant to Hoover Fellows Amy Zegart and Ashton Carter at Stanford’s Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC).
Prior to his work at Stanford, he held numerous roles with the Los Angeles World Affairs Council. He is a Term Member with the Council on Foreign Relations, Visiting Fellow with the National Security Institute at George Mason University, and a Partner with the Truman National Security Project. Wald is a graduate of UCLA.
