The writer is a fellow in the National Security Program at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and serves in the government within the Intelligence Community. The views expressed in this article are his alone.

Pete Contostavlos served as the chief of the geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) community policy branch at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. In this capacity, he led a team responsible for the development of the agency position on defense and national intelligence policies and for developing new GEOINT-related policy for the intelligence community. Prior to joining NGA, he served as the Legislative Assistant for Foreign Policy and Strategic National Security Affairs for U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (FL). He was the Senator's key advisor on all foreign policy, national security and key intelligence matters including the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, was responsible for issues relating to the Senator’s assignments on the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, and represented the Senator in meetings with foreign governments, executive branch officials and constituents. Previously, Mr. Contostavlos was the Legislative Assistant to U.S. Rep. Owen B. Pickett (VA), serving as his advisor on national security-related legislative matters. Pete also served in the US Navy, assigned to the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations at the Pentagon, dealing with the Navy’s key programming and budget matters. Before his assignment in the Pentagon, he was stationed aboard the guided missile cruiser USS Cape St. George as the navigator, and gunnery officer prior to that. Pete holds a bachelor’s degree in history from the US Naval Academy and a master’s degree in history and public policy from The George Washington University. He is currently a fellow in the National Security Program at the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government.

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