Former Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo Joins CFR as Distinguished Fellow 

Today, the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) announced that Gina Raimondo—the former U.S. secretary of commerce and governor of Rhode Island—will join CFR, based in its Washington, DC, office, as a distinguished fellow. In addition to conducting work on economic policy, U.S. competitiveness, and artificial intelligence, she will lend her leadership and experience as co-chair of a new CFR Task Force on economic security. 

Raimondo recently served as the fortieth U.S. secretary of commerce. As secretary, she implemented landmark economic policies and united the dynamic tools at the U.S. Department of Commerce to enhance American innovation and national security so the United States is positioned to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century economy. Some of those actions included robust and targeted investments to reshore U.S. semiconductor manufacturing, secure global supply chains, connect everyone in the United States to reliable internet, safeguard the U.S. tech ecosystem, bolster regional economic competitiveness, and much more.  

“I am delighted to welcome Gina to the Council,” said CFR President Michael Froman.  “Having such an accomplished public servant helping drive our work on a wide range of economic security issues will significantly bolster CFR’s mission of informing U.S. engagement with the world and help drive key initiatives in this pivotal moment.” 

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to join Michael and this remarkable group of experts at CFR to help lead conversations around U.S. economic and national security challenges as our nation turns the page to a new chapter,” said Raimondo. “I look forward to getting to work and engaging Council members and members of the public across a broad spectrum to foster discussion and collaboration on many pressing issues, especially those most personal to me under the purview of economic security and American competitiveness.” 

Prior to joining President Joe Biden’s cabinet, Raimondo served as the seventy-fifth governor of Rhode Island—its first female governor. As governor, she made record investments in infrastructure, education, and job training. Previously, she served as Rhode Island’s treasurer and in venture capital.   

Raimondo earned her BA in economics from Harvard University and a PhD from Oxford University through a Rhodes Scholarship. She is also a graduate of Yale Law School and clerked for U.S. District Judge Kimba Wood.