Christopher C. Pratt
aunica.brockel
Mon, 03/03/2025 – 16:04
Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans
Christopher Pratt Official Portrait at DHS Headquarters (Photo by Mikaela McGee) | View Original
Christopher C. Pratt currently serves as the Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (Senior Official Performing the Duties thereof).
Drawing on extensive experience in national security and international engagement, he is responsible for driving policy and implementation plans across all of DHS’s missions, including counterterrorism; cybersecurity, infrastructure security and resilience; border security and immigration; international affairs; and trade and economic security. He previously served as DHS’s Assistant Secretary for International Affairs, advancing U.S. national security interests and DHS priorities through collaboration with global partners.
Mr. Pratt previously served as the Principal Deputy Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs at the Department of State, where he led sensitive negotiations and engaged in high-stakes diplomacy to secure the release of American hostages and improve the government’s response to hostage-taking incidents. Prior to this role, he facilitated cross-agency collaboration to support complex recovery operations as Chief of Hostage Recovery/Personnel Recovery/NAR in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy at the Department of Defense.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Pratt spent a decade in the private sector, where he designed and managed programs for U.S. Government entities, including establishing interagency initiatives in Afghanistan to advance mission-critical goals. He served as an advisor to the Commander of all forces in Afghanistan, as well as the Commanding General of all special operations forces.
A former practitioner of intellectual property law, he holds a Juris Doctor from The George Washington University Law School and a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Virginia Tech. Proficient in Pashto and Swedish, Mr. Pratt’s diverse background and expertise in diplomacy, negotiations, and cross-cultural engagement have equipped him to navigate complex international landscapes and deliver results that advance national and global security.
