James Dempsey

Jim Dempsey has been with CDT since 1997. He served as Executive Director from 2003 to 2005; in 2005, he launched CDT West. He coordinates the Digital Privacy and Security Working Group, a forum of over 50 computer and communications companies, trade associations and public interest organizations.

Prior to joining CDT, Dempsey was Deputy Director of the non-profit Center for National Security Studies and special counsel to the National Security Archive, a non-governmental organization that uses the Freedom of Information Act to gain the declassification of documents on the US foreign policy. From 1985 to 1995, Dempsey was assistant counsel to the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Civil and Constitutional Rights. Internationally, Dempsey has consulted with government officials and human rights organizations on Internet policy and civil liberties issues. He previously headed CDT’s international project, the Global Internet Policy Initiative (GIPI).

From 1980 to 1984, Dempsey was an associate with the Washington, DC, law firm of Arnold & Porter. He clerked for the Hon. Robert Braucher of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (1979 - 1980). He is a graduate of Yale College (BA 1975) and Harvard Law School (JD 1979). He is a member of the bar of the District of Columbia.

Dempsey has been a member of the Markle Foundation Task Force on National Security in the Information Age (2004 - present); the Industry Advisory Board for the National Counter-Terrorism Center (2005 - 2006); and the Transportation Security Administration’s Secure Flight Working Group (2005).

Dempsey contributed to the Markle Common Framework for Networked Personal Health Information.