V. Kate Somvongsiri is a senior executive in international development with 25 years of policy and field experience in Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe.  She was a career member of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) Senior Foreign Service serving as Mission Director in Pakistan and Tanzania.  As Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Bureau of Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance, she oversaw humanitarian assistance in Asia and Latin America.  Kate initially joined USAID as a democracy, human rights, and governance specialist and held postings inIndonesia, Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Washington.  In recognition of sustained impact over her career, she was awarded a Presidential Meritorious Rank Award by President Joseph Biden in 2024.

Kate began her international development career as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Nepal.  She holds a BA in Letters from the University of Oklahoma and an MA in International Affairs from Columbia University.  She is a 2017 Distinguished Graduate of the National War College with an MA in National Security Strategy.