Sharon Hudson-Dean is a Senior Fellow with the Transatlantic Defense and Security program at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA).

Sharon is a senior executive and advisor who helps leaders navigate complex global, defense, political, and strategic challenges.  She brings decades of experience leading large operations, managing significant budgets, and delivering results in high-stakes environments across Europe, the Arctic, Africa, and the Indo-Pacific.  A former senior US government leader with CEO-level experience both overseas and in Washington, she has worked at the center of NATO relations, Arctic security, energy supplies, defense industrial base growth, and strategic communications.  

Ms. Hudson-Dean served as Security Policy Director and Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau for European and Eurasian Affairs at the US Department of State from 2024-25, covering relations with NATO, the OSCE, the Nordic and Baltic countries, and the United Kingdom and Ireland. Before that position, she served as Acting Ambassador and Deputy Chief of Mission in Oslo, Norway, focused on regional energy, military and Arctic policy cooperation, as well as defense industry and Russia/Ukraine policy coordination. Before Norway, she was the US Consul General in Sydney, Australia, leading a large team of US interagency representatives focused on trade, China, and security cooperation.  A retired career member of the US Senior Foreign Service with the rank of Minister Counselor, Ms. Hudson-Dean has also represented the United States in Latvia, Russia, Georgia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Nepal, as well as in the US Senate as an American Political Science Association Congressional Fellow.  Ms. Hudson-Dean holds degrees from Johns Hopkins and Georgetown University, where she was awarded the Joseph S. Sebes, S.J. Medal in Asian Studies.  A lifelong skier and cycling enthusiast, she and her Norwegian husband enjoy travel, literature, and the performing arts.