Emma Borden

Emma Borden is the Associate Director of the RAND Center for the Geopolitics of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), where her work focuses on the national security and geopolitical implications of AGI. From 2021 to 2025, Emma served in numerous roles in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy at the U.S. Department of Defense, including as Principal Director for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia; in the Under Secretary’s front office advising on Europe, Middle East, Africa, Western Hemisphere, and homeland defense issues; and as a Country Director in the Middle East office. Previously, Emma worked on foreign policy, defense, and veterans issues for Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) and in the Brookings Institution's Center for Middle East Policy. She is a recipient of the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service. Emma received her BA, summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, from Cornell University and her MS in Foreign Service, with distinction, from Georgetown University.