Chidi Blyden

Chidi Blyden
Deputy CEO of the Millennium Challenge Corporation
Incumbent
Assumed office
October 2023
PresidentJoe Biden
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs
In office
May 2021 – October 2023
PresidentJoe Biden
Succeeded byAlan Patterson
Personal details
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materTexas A&M University (BS)
George Mason University (MS)

Chidi Blyden is an American foreign policy advisor who serves as deputy chief executive officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation. Previously, Blyden was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs.[1]

Education

Blyden, whose family is originally from Sierra Leone, attended the Annie Walsh Memorial School.[2] Later, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in sociology from Texas A&M University and a Master of Science in conflict, analysis, and resolution from the Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University.[3] She speaks French and Krio.[4]

Career

Blyden began her national security career with the Africa Center for Strategic Studies. There, she managed academic programs and outreach. In 2013, Blyden joined the Obama administration as Special Assistant and peacekeeping advisor in the Office of Stability & Humanitarian Affairs at the United States Department of Defense. Later, she also served as the special assistant to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs.

After leaving government in 2017, Blyden led the African program at the Center for Civilians in Conflict, developing and delivering training to African defense forces on civilian harm mitigation. In 2019, she joined the United States House Committee on Armed Services as a professional staff member focusing on security issues in Africa and South and Central America.

In May 2021, Blyden was named as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs.[5] In October 2023, Blyden was appointed deputy chief executive officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation. [6]

References

  1. ^ "Chidi Blyden". www.defense.gov. Retrieved 2022-02-18.
  2. ^ "Chidi Blyden's Appointment to the Biden Administration". Memunatu Magazine. 2021-05-03. Retrieved 2022-02-18.
  3. ^ "U.S. President, Joe Biden Appoints Sierra Leonean Lady, Chidi Blyden-Rowe Into His Cabinet". Sierraloaded. 2021-05-05. Retrieved 2022-02-18.
  4. ^ "Georgetown University Faculty Directory". gufaculty360.georgetown.edu. Retrieved 2022-02-18.
  5. ^ "Chidi Blyden's Appointment to the Biden Administration". Memunatu Magazine. 2021-05-03. Retrieved 2022-02-18.
  6. ^ "Chidi Blyden Joins MCC as Deputy CEO". Millennium Challenge Corporation. 2023-10-16.