13 Facts About Colin Kahl

Colin Hackett Kahl is an American political scientist who served as under secretary of defense for policy in the Biden administration from April 28,2021, to July 17,2023.

Colin Kahl was born in Michigan and raised in Richmond, California.

Colin Kahl graduated from John F Kennedy High School in 1989.

Colin Kahl earned a BA in political science from the University of Michigan in 1993 and a PhD in political science from Columbia University in 2000.

Colin Kahl has been a professor at the University of Minnesota.

Colin Kahl has published in leading security studies journals, such as International Security and Security Studies, as well as Foreign Affairs.

In May 2018, it was revealed that aides to US President Donald Trump had contracted with the Israeli private intelligence firm Black Cube to find evidence to support unsubstantiated and false claims that Colin Kahl was being enriched by Iran lobbyists and that either he or deputy national security advisor Ben Rhodes were cheating on their wives.

In November 2020, Colin Kahl was named a member of the Joe Biden presidential transition Agency Review Team to support transition efforts related to the National Security Council.

Colin Kahl was nominated by Biden to serve as the under secretary of defense for policy.

Colin Kahl's nomination was subject to controversy in the Senate, with the Republican caucus unanimously opposing his confirmation due to his support for the Iran nuclear deal, as well as for his criticisms of Trump administration policies.

Republicans argued that Colin Kahl had tweeted out classified information, demanding an FBI investigation into it; experts on classification told Politico the Republican accusations against Colin Kahl appeared to be politically motivated, asserting that the tweets did not appear to constitute a violation.

Colin Kahl was sworn in the following day by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.

Colin Kahl is a member of the Defense Policy Board Advisory Committee.