Don Kilburg Author

Don Kilburg is a retired U.S. diplomat, experimental psychologist, and U.S. Army veteran with 28 years of public service. His Foreign Service career spanned five continents, four languages, and postings from Beijing to the former Soviet Union, including intelligence reporting for the President's Daily Brief and service as Spokesperson for the Bureau of Energy Resources and Press Attaché in Beijing. A pioneer of AI adoption at the State Department, his innovations earned him multiple Superior and Meritorious Honor Awards. He is the author of AI Use Cases for Diplomats (Chapman & Hall, 2025) and Founder & CEO of Mind Leap Institute.

Virginia Blaser is a senior executive and retired U.S. diplomat whose 34-year Foreign Service career included service as Acting Ambassador in five countries and the adjudication of tens of thousands of visas and passport determinations. A recipient of the Presidential Rank Award, she led complex consular operations abroad and oversaw the largest overseas U.S. passport unit. She now advises international organizations and private firms on governance, strategy, diplomacy, and the ethical use of emerging technologies.