James Andrew Lewis

Senior Vice President; Pritzker Chair; and Director, Strategic Technologies Program
James Andrew Lewis

James Lewis writes on technology and strategy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Before joining CSIS, he was a diplomat and a member of the Senior Executive Service. Lewis has a track record of being among the first to identify new tech and security issues and devise polices to address them. He developed groundbreaking policies on cybersecurity, remote sensing, encryption, spectrum management, and high-tech exports to China, including 5G, software, and semiconductors. He also helped create the Wassenaar Arrangement. Lewis was a senior adviser for four UN Groups of Governmental Experts on Information Security, and his work on norms to build stability in cyberspace is foundational. He leads a long-running track 2 dialogue with the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations. His current work looks at how countries innovate and at digitalization and its political, economic, and security effects. Early in his career, Lewis was a political adviser to two combatant commanders. 

Lewis has authored numerous publications since coming to CSIS (see the full list here). He is frequently quoted in the media, has served on several federal advisory committees, and has testified numerous times before Congress. He received his PhD from the University of Chicago.

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Executive Education

Global Foresight: Preparing for Future Trends

Global Foresight: Preparing for Future Trends is Washington’s premier executive course for mid-to senior-level professionals responsible for helping their organizations predict and prepare for the global macrotrends that will drive change for the next 30 years.

Course Date: October 23, 2023
Registration Closes: October 13, 2023
This Does Not Compute

Inside the Department of Treasury’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis

In this episode, Jim Lewis talks to Shannon Corless, the Assistant Secretary for the Office of Intelligence and Analysis (OIA) at the Department of Treasury. They discuss the role of OIA in the broader federal government, economic and financial security, financial intelligence, and more.

Podcast Episode by James Andrew Lewis — August 21, 2023

CSIS This Does Not Compute
This Does Not Compute

The Current State of the CLOUD Act

In this episode, host Jim Lewis speaks with Richard Downing, Deputy Assistant Attorney General at the U.S. Department of Justice. Richard and Jim discuss the current state of the CLOUD Act, the e-Evidence Act, access to digital evidence, and the future of data transfers between the U.S. and EU, among other topics. 

Podcast Episode by James Andrew Lewis — August 15, 2023

CSIS This Does Not Compute

Cloud Computing in Southeast Asia and Digital Competition with China

Cloud computing and services are the latest arena for tech competition between the United States and China. This report analyzes how the United States can make the case that trustworthy cloud services improve economic growth and national sovereignty in Southeast Asia.

Report by James Andrew Lewis — August 7, 2023

Inside Cyber Diplomacy

The Proposed United Nations Cybercrime Convention

In this episode, Jim Lewis and Chris Painter speak with Ambassador (ret.) Deborah McCarthy, the lead negotiator for the United States on the proposed United Nations cybercrime convention, which seems to be going so well the Russians probably regret proposing it. The discussion covers the state of negotiations, the effect of the e-Evidence and CLOUD Act, multi-stakeholder participation, and more.  

Podcast Episode by James Andrew Lewis and Christopher Painter — August 7, 2023

CSIS Inside Cyber Diplomacy

AI and Rumors of Impending Doom

AI is the latest moral panic gripping society, but what are the policy consequences of non-stop talk about impending doom? CSIS’s James Lewis addresses how little of the present discussion of AI is informed by careful analysis. 

Commentary by James Andrew Lewis — July 5, 2023