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John Kirby, a former White House spokesperson and CNN analyst, has been named the the next director of the University of Chicago's Institute of Politics. (Photo by Joshua Roberts/Getty Images) Getty Images John F. Kirby will become the new director of the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics. According to the university’s announcement, Kirby will take over on November 15. A retired United States Navy rear admiral, Kirby has held a number of high profile positions in the federal government. From 2022 to 2025, he served as White House National Security Communications Advisor. Prior to that he was Pentagon Press Secretary and Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs in the Biden administration. Kirby also worked in the Obama administration as Pentagon Press Secretary from 2013 to 2015 and as the spokesperson for the United States Department of State. A 1985 graduate of the University of South Florida, with a BA in history, Kirby also earned a Master of Science in international relations from Troy University and a Master of Arts in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College. Kirby has also become a familiar media figure in recent years, primarily as a military and foreign policy analyst for CNN from 2017 to 2021. He has also lectured at Georgetown University. He will succeed former Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), who stepped down as IOP director last month, after serving in that role from 2023 to 2025. “Heidi Heitkamp is a tough act to follow,” Kirby said in the university’s news release. “She took the IOP to a whole new level, and I will work hard to live up to her standards." The Institute of Politics was founded in 2013 by David Axelrod as a nonpartisan center for civic engagement, civil discourse and free expression at the University of Chicago. Its aim is to foster students’ “passion for public service and active engagement in our democracy.” It does so through four main programs: MORE FOR YOU The Career Development Program offers students hands-on service opportunities through nearly 300 paid internships across the country and around the globe annually. The Civic Engagement Program promotes student engagement through leadership development groups, allowing students different ways to participate in civic life. The Pritzker Fellows Program connects students with leading practitioners from politics, public service, government, journalism, and advocacy organizations. The Speaker Series hosts hundreds of prominent figures from across the ideological spectrum, modeling civil discourse about the most important issues of our day. In a message to the campus, University of Chicago President Paul Alivisatos and Provost Katherine Baicker wrote that Kirby brings deep experience to the role as well as a “distinctive understanding of the importance of informed, active engagement in public life.” “John’s leadership across multiple parts of government, his expertise in policy, diplomacy, and civic engagement, and his longtime commitment to public service make him exceptionally qualified to carry forward the Institute of Politics’ mission to provide students with the opportunities, mentorship, and perspectives necessary to engage thoughtfully and constructively in civic and political life,” they added. “I am thrilled to be joining the incredible team at the University of Chicago and the Institute of Politics,” Kirby said. “As a military officer and government official, I saw firsthand the outsized impact the IOP’s programs can have in supporting young people who want to pursue careers in public service or simply be engaged citizens. There’s no more critical time for that work than right now, and I can’t wait to get to Chicago and roll up my sleeves.” David Axelrod, IOP’s founding director and chair of its board of advisors, described Kirby as "a thoughtful, proven leader, whose lifelong devotion to service, extraordinary experience, and demonstrated commitment to constructive dialogue completely align with our values and mission. We are very lucky to have him.” Editorial StandardsReprints & Permissions
