Jared Ford

Guest Author

Jared Ford (@jdeepford) serves as Director for Technology and Democracy at the International Republican Institute (IRI). In this role, he provides leadership, management, and vision to ensure that IRI advances democracy globally by supporting digital democracy and countering digital authoritarianism. 

Before joining IRI, Jared served at USAID as the Senior Advisor for Digital Technology, Civic Activism, and Media in USAID’s Center for Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance (DRG). In that capacity, Jared advised USG leadership on deepening democratic values in the digital ecosystem, designed and implemented global awards on digital democracy, and was the Agency lead on internet freedom.

Prior to joining USAID, Jared spent more than a decade at NDI, where he worked in over 30 countries to ensure that digital technologies are developed, deployed, governed, and used to strengthen democratic institutions, processes, and values. 

Jared earned a B.A. in Psychology from Amherst College and an M.A. in International Peace and Conflict Resolution from American University. He is also on LinkedIn.