Iris A. Ferguson currently serves as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Arctic and Global Resilience.  In this role, she serves as the principal advisor to the Secretary of Defense and senior leadership for policy matters pertaining to Arctic Security and Global Resilience to include efforts on climate adaptation, mitigation, and energy resilience.

Prior to her current appointment, Ms. Ferguson was a Senior Advisor on Arctic and climate security issues for U.S. Air Force Futures and the Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations.  In those capacities, she authored and implemented the Department of the Air Force’s Arctic Strategy including advising on strategic initiatives, operations, and international partnerships related to the region.  She was also a Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment, and Energy, focusing on energy security, resilience, and sustainability policies.

Ms. Ferguson previously served on the Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration, structuring and implementing the first federal investment promotion program, SelectUSA, and as a national security and foreign policy legislative aide focused on Europe, Latin America, and East Asia on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

She is a former Council on Foreign Relations Fellow (Canada) and current Term Member.  She holds a B.A. from the University of Arkansas and a M.A. in International Economics and Relations from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.