Derek Mitchell

President, National Democratic Institute

USA

In 2018, Derek Mitchell became the third president of the National Democratic Institute, a non-governmental organization dedicated to supporting democratic development worldwide. Ambassador Mitchell first joined NDI as a Senior Program Officer for Asia and the Former Soviet Union from 1993-97. From 2012-2016, Amb. Mitchell served as U.S Ambassador to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar (Burma). From 2011-12, he was the U.S. Department of State’s first Special Representative and Policy Coordinator for Burma, with the rank of an ambassador. From 2009-11, Amb. Mitchell served as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Asian and Pacific Security Affairs (APSA). From 2001 to 2009, Amb. Mitchell was a Senior Fellow and Director of the Asia Division of the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).