University of Chicago Institute of PoliticsPritzker Fellow
2026 — Present
Fall 2026 fellow teaching seminars on AI and national security.
Sasha Baker leads national security policy at OpenAI, focusing on how advanced AI can support security while remaining governed by democratic institutions. She previously served as acting under secretary of defense for policy after roles at the National Security Council and across federal government.
Sasha Baker leads national security policy at OpenAI, focusing on how advanced AI can support security while remaining governed by democratic institutions. She previously served as acting under secretary of defense for policy after roles at the National Security Council and across federal government.
Career
OpenAIHead of National Security Policy
2024 — Present
Leads national security policy and work connecting frontier AI with democratic governance and public institutions.
U.S. Department of DefenseActing Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
Until Apr 2024
Previously Deputy Under Secretary from February 2022 and Deputy Chief of Staff to Secretary Ash Carter from 2015 to 2017.
National Security CouncilSpecial Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Strategic Planning
Jan 2021 — 2022
Harvard Kennedy School, Belfer CenterNon-Resident Fellow
2020 — 2021
Office of Senator Elizabeth WarrenSenior Advisor
Apr 2020 — Nov 2020
Previously National Security Advisor from February 2017 to February 2019.
Warren for PresidentDeputy National Policy Director
Feb 2019 — Mar 2020
Office of Management and BudgetSpecial Assistant to the OMB Director
Sep 2014 — Jul 2015
Previously a program examiner in homeland security and defense operations.
U.S. House Armed Services CommitteeResearch Assistant
Feb 2007 — Jun 2009
Axia LimitedAssociate Consultant
Jul 2005 — Dec 2006