Red Cross Welcomes Juliette Kayyem to Regional Board of Directors

CAMBRIDGE — The American Red Cross of Massachusetts announced Juliette Kayyem’s election to its Regional board of directors.

“We could not be happier to welcome Juliette to our board of directors,” said Ralph Boyd, CEO of the Massachusetts Chapter. “Her government and business experience on security issues and her commitment to our mission make her a valuable asset to our team as we prepare communities in Massachusetts to respond to disasters big and small.”

Kayyem has spent more than 15 years managing complex policy initiatives and organizing government responses to major crises in both state and federal government. Kayyem served as President Obama’s assistant secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security. Prior to that, she served as Homeland Security advisor to former Gov. Deval Patrick, where she guided regional planning and the state’s first interoperability plan, and oversaw the Massachusetts National Guard.

“We are always looking to add sharp and insightful members to ensure we guide the Red Cross in Massachusetts in a way that maximizes its success, and Juliette is the perfect addition to the team,” said John Stadler, board chair.

The regional board of directors is the governing body for the Red Cross of Massachusetts, and is composed of representatives from many different community sectors. This group develops the vision for the chapter and determines the policies that guide its decisions. The board also ensures that the chapter is an effective steward of donors’ contributions.

“Juliette’s wide-ranging background complements the existing board members’ experience, which will help us continue to provide big-picture thinking, new ideas, and innovative approaches to the Red Cross mission,” said Geri Denterlein, board governance and nominating committee chair.

Kayyem founded one of the nation’s only female-owned security business, Kayyem Solutions, LLC, which provides strategic advice to a range of companies in technology, risk management, mega-event planning, and venture capital. As a faculty member at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, she teaches new leaders in emergency management and national security and has authored several books on homeland security.

Kayyem is also a well-known journalist and commentator on CNN and WGBH Radio. She was named a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2013 for her editorial columns in the Boston Globe focused on ending the Pentagon’s combat-exclusion rule against women, a policy that was changed that year. She also serves a board member of Mass Inc., the Boston 2024 Olympic Committee, the Trilateral Commission, and the Council on Foreign Relations.