Advisory Council

Russia and China continue to seek means to exploit free-market economies to advance their geopolitical ambitions. These aggressor states utilize economic statecraft to close the technology gap that exists between them and democratic nations. To counter this aggression, the United States must harmonize its Diplomacy, Information, Military, and Economic strategies to protect the technological advantages that have for over a century enabled American prosperity and security. The Krach Institute for Technology Diplomacy serves as a critical conduit in this endeavor for policy makers, industry leaders, and academics to craft and promote solutions to advance America’s foreign policy and national security interests.

With authoritarian regimes gaining a lead in emerging technologies, it is not only urgent but imperative for like-minded democracies to unite and protect democratic values. The tech-based partnership carved out by these democratic powers will expand their advantage and decisively tilt the balance in their favour. The Global Tech Security Commission (GTSC) can significantly contribute to advancing this effort. India, with its unique civilisational ethos, experience in tackling the China challenge in its closest proximity, and tech power in its own right, will be a significant stakeholder in this engagement. I am, therefore, extremely privileged to be part of the GTSC.

I am excited to participate and contribute to this noble cause! My career has blessed me with opportunities to be the part of many technology revolutions, and several needed to be carefully navigated to ensure that the technology was used solely for the benefit of industry, society, and individuals. Most recently, with digital process transformation, digital identity, and cyber-security, I have seen how bad actors can use technology for fraud and to harm individuals (theft, trafficking, smuggling, money laundering, etc.). Through the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue, I will endeavor to use this experience and professional network to help stake holders foster, proliferate, and protect innovation for the good of all.

Technology can accelerate freedom, develop trust and enable tomorrow’s entrepreneur. It represents an ever-evolving toolbox of applications, techniques, and platforms that require education, perspective and vision, so that technology’s promise drives our future.

It's a pleasure to be able to join such a distinguished group at the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue. New technologies like 5G networks increasingly enable and control every aspect of our lives, and it's critical that we include them in our considerations of how we can secure our freedom and maintain peaceful relationships with countries around the world. Recent events in China, Ukraine and elsewhere demonstrate the importance of reliable, trustworthy networks, and the power of providing or restricting access to technology in the prevention of state aggression in the world. The Institute can play a role in our understanding and successful management of such national security imperatives. 

Bringing the skill of US diplomacy together with the power of the tech industry to create a new category of 'tech statecraft' is a pairing of art and science like never before, and one that -- thanks to the leadership of the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue -- will serve to advance democracy, trust and freedom around the world.

I am excited to join the Advisory Council at the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy. Leveraging my expertise in technology standards development, it is my desire to make meaningful contributions to the Institute's mission of fostering a comprehensive understanding of crucial emerging technologies and empowering policy makers with informed insights to shape effective policies.

Integrity, accountability, and transparency are essential to governing new technologies in a way that cultivates human flourishing. The Chinese Communist Party relentlessly pursues an ulterior proposition: the global extension of ubiquitous surveillance and arbitrary manipulation to serve its own corrosive ideological purposes. Safeguarding the future of the international digital world is a multigenerational endeavor demanding farsighted leadership, operational savvy, and stronger bonds between technologists and diplomats in likeminded nations. It is a privilege to support Under Secretary Krach in pioneering the emergent terrain of trusted technology policy.

J. Peter Pham served as the first-ever U.S. Special Envoy for the Sahel Region of Africa with the personal rank of Ambassador from 2020-2021.

The Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy (KITD) at Purdue offers a unique and timely melding of Silicon Valley strategies, foreign policy tools and technology into tech statecraft which not only is forward thinking but forward leading. History shows Purdue University as a 20th century leader in many fields and dimensions of engineering and science; similarly KITD at Purdue will be acknowledged for its world-renowned leadership and strength that leverages Purdues STEM expertise with policy while demonstrating impact to our country and the world.

Trusted technology holistically brings together integrity, security, and societal well-being. As we strive to infuse trust into every facet of technology, let us pave the way for a world where innovation seamlessly aligns with ethics, sustainability, and global progress. Together, we embark on a journey to foster widespread awareness and understanding of trusted technology's transformative potential.

Trusted technology is the foundation of innovation; without trust, progress falters.

A mentor told me once: 'Pavel, all abdicated responsibility will be taken by tyrants and used against you'. In a brand new world, where cyber, AI, quantum computing, 5G and disinformation are new battlegrounds where totalitarian regimes are fighting against freedom and democratic values, we, the people of the free world, are obliged to never abdicate from the responsibility to expose and fight against these regimes and the tyrants behind them. Never stop fighting! Never stop protecting our core democratic values! The Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue is an authentic powerhouse to fight for the freedom of our people, among the best tech and diplomacy experts across our like-minded nations. It honors me to be part of the KITDP family.

The United States stands firm as the global model for the greatness that can be achieved when the people of a nation are free to express their beliefs, advance their talents, and to pursue their passions. Our technological achievements exemplify this, and effective diplomatic outreach is critical to shine a spotlight on this model for the world to see. The incredible technological advancements of our time must be leveraged to further freedom and democratic values, rather than to suppress them as we are seeing in some parts of the world. This is why the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue is so vital. Together, we can and must leverage technology to build and maintain peaceful relationships that embrace freedom globally.

At the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue, we are united by a vision to bridge technology and policy. Our bipartisan efforts are a proactive step towards a globally integrated and responsible future where technology advances freedom.