Julia Nesheiwat

Julia Nesheiwat
Occupation(s)	Scholar, corporate leader, former government official
Years active	1997–present
Known for	10th Homeland Security Advisor (2020–2021)
Notable work	Vice president for policy and insights at TC Energy

Julia Nesheiwat is an American scholar, corporate leader, and former government official who served as the 10th Homeland Security Advisor during the Trump administration from 2020 until 2021. She has also held various positions within the Bush and Obama administrations.

Since 2022, Nesheiwat has occupied the role of vice president for policy and insights at TC Energy, a prominent organization in the energy industry.

Early life and education

Raised in Umatilla, Florida as the daughter of Jordanian Christian immigrants, Nesheiwat earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stetson University, followed by a Master of Arts from Georgetown University, and completed her PhD at the Tokyo Institute of Technology. She is related to Jaclyn Stapp and Janette Nesheiwat as their sister.

Military service

Nesheiwat was commissioned in 1997 and served as an officer in U.S. Army military intelligence, ultimately achieving the rank of captain. She was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, receiving the Bronze Star Medal for her service. Subsequently, she held senior posts on a White House commission, within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and occupied economic and national security roles at the State Department across the Bush, Obama, and Trump administrations.

Academic roles

Following completion of her doctorate in science and engineering, Nesheiwat taught courses on energy geopolitics, climate issues, and technology at institutions including the Naval Postgraduate School, Stanford University, and University of California, San Diego.

Government roles

Nesheiwat was an international affairs fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and contributed to the World Economic Forum’s Governing Advisory Councils focused on energy and clean energy initiatives. She served as deputy assistant secretary of state in the Bureau of Energy Resources and acted as an energy policy advisor within the State Department’s economic bureau. In addition, she represented as a Global Ambassador for the World Green Building Council.

From 2015 to 2019, she played a pivotal role in hostage negotiations as U.S. Deputy Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, coordinating with various agencies to assist families and facilitate the release of American citizens detained abroad.

In August 2019, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis appointed Nesheiwat as the state’s inaugural chief resilience officer—making Florida only the third state to establish such a position reporting directly to its governor. Her responsibilities centered on preparing Florida for environmental, physical, and economic challenges posed by rising sea levels, consistent with scientific findings on climate change. Additionally, she holds a distinguished fellowship at the Atlantic Council with a focus on energy policy, climate change, Arctic affairs, and national security. She was also designated as a U.S. Commissioner on the US Arctic Research Commission.

Homeland Security Advisor

On February 20, 2020, Politico announced that President Donald Trump intended to appoint Nesheiwat as his new homeland security advisor. Her appointment was later confirmed by Robert C. O'Brien, who emphasized her "extensive national security experience" as critical for the position.

Personal life

Nesheiwat is married to Mike Waltz, who has held the position of U.S. national security advisor during President Trump's administration since 2025. The couple has one son and lives in St. Johns County, Florida.