Laurel Rapp

Laurel Rapp is Director of the US and North America Programme at Chatham House. She brings to this role nearly two decades of experience at the US Department of State, White House National Security Council, US Senate, and in nonprofit organizations.

Until 2025, she served as deputy director of the Secretary of State’s Policy Planning Staff responsible for US grand strategy. Previously, Laurel covered US policy towards the United Nations, Europe, and the Middle East in a range of assignments across the US government. Earlier, she was a researcher in Morocco focused on political participation. Laurel is currently a senior fellow in international and public affairs at Brown University’s Watson School in Providence, Rhode Island. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Brown University and a master’s in public policy from Harvard University.