Kate Canavan is an Associate with the Defense and National Security Practice, where she advises defense and aerospace companies on navigating complex policy environments to advance commercial success in the Indo-Pacific region. She brings expertise in geopolitical trends, international trade, and regulatory issues affecting the defense industry—which she developed through her work supporting senior U.S. government officials in national security roles at the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Most recently, Kate served as Deputy Chief of Staff to the Under Secretary for International Trade at the Department of Commerce, where she managed high-level commercial diplomacy initiatives across the Indo-Pacific and global markets. Her work focused on building supply chain resilience, expanding market access, and enhancing U.S. economic competitiveness. She also coordinated policy development across the Department of Commerce, and with interagency partners and external stakeholders. Previously, Kate served as Special Advisor for International Affairs in the Secretary of Commerce’s policy office, supporting the Secretary’s principal foreign policy counselor on international trade, export controls, and global technology policy issues. In both roles, Kate focused on advancing commercial priorities in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world to strengthen sectors critical to national security. This included extensive global travel and coordination with Foreign Commercial Service Officers at U.S. embassies, with multiple trips to China for bilateral discussions on commercial issues.
Earlier in her career, Kate served at the White House as Special Assistant for Oval Office Operations—managing daily processes in the President’s front office. She also worked in the Office of the Director at the Peace Corps during the agency’s post-pandemic return to field operations. She began her career as a White House Advance Associate, traveling nationwide to produce official Presidential visits.
Kate holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science from Boston College. In her free time, she enjoys exercising, visiting museums, and volunteering on political campaigns.