Bruce McConnell is the President and CEO of the EastWest Institute. He leads and manages all the institute’s work to reduce and mitigate security conflict among nations, engaging with government and corporate policymakers in China, Europe, the Middle East, Russia, South Asia and the United States.
In addition to his President and CEO duties, McConnell continues to lead EWI’s Global Cooperation in Cyberspace program, working with governments and companies to increase the safety, security and stability of life in cyberspace. In January 2016, he opened EWI’s San Francisco center, reflecting the institute’s increasing emphasis on addressing security risks from emerging technology and on the Asia-Pacific region.
McConnell joined EWI in 2013, having served for four years at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, where he was Deputy Under Secretary for Cybersecurity. Previously, he served on the Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Team. From 2000-08, he created, built and sold two consultancies that provided strategic advice to clients in technology, business and government markets. In 1999-2000, McConnell led the International Y2K Cooperation Center for the United Nations and the World Bank.
McConnell holds a Master of Public Administration from the Evans School for Public Policy at the University of Washington and a Bachelor of Sciences from Stanford University. He resides in Oakland, California.
