Chris Colbow has served as Deputy Executive Secretary in USAID's Office of the Executive Secretariat (ES) since August 2016. Under the direction of the Executive Secretary, he manages the day-to-day activities and staff of the Office of the Executive Secretariat, including executive correspondence, policy communications, and interagency engagement in support of the Office of the Administrator. Chris is also a reservist in the United States Air Force.

Previously, Chris served as a Special Assistant in ES where he lead a team of analysts managing a portfolio of executive correspondence, policy communications, and interagency engagement in support of the Office of the Administrator. Chris also provided real-time, dynamic support, advice and assistance to the Administrator and Deputy Administrator during meetings and events. During that time, Chris served in the Acting Deputy Executive Secretary role multiple times and completed a 4-month detail on the Department of State's CVE Coordination Cell where he supported a multi-pronged effort to spearhead the President’s global strategy to counter violent extremism with a specific focus on youth engagement. Prior to ES, Chris worked as a Program Analyst in the USAID Office of Women in Development (today E3/GenDev), where he managed the office’s portfolio for Countering-Trafficking in Persons from 2008 to 2012, and served a 6-month tour-of-duty for USAID in Kandahar, Afghanistan as a member of the Provincial Reconstruction Team in 2010. Prior to USAID, Chris worked at the Department of Homeland Security as a Supervisor on Secretary Chertoff's Briefing Staff (2005 - 2008), and in the United States Air Force as an Intelligence Officer (1999 - 2005). Chris holds a B.A. in International Studies from the Virginia Military Institute and a Master’s in Public Policy from George Mason University. He is a proud husband and parent to Claudia and two girls, Cathryn and Kaylee.