Washington, D.C., April 12, 2025 – Michael Kratsios, the newly appointed Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), is at the forefront of shaping America’s technological future as tensions with China over AI innovation intensify. At 38, Kratsios, a Greek-American with roots in Volissos, Chios, and Kastoria, Greece, is the youngest person to lead OSTP, bringing his heritage and extensive experience to a role critical for U.S. global tech leadership.
Kratsios was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on March 25, 2025, with a bipartisan vote of 74-25, and sworn in by Vice President JD Vance on March 27 in a ceremony attended by his wife Alissa and mother Maria. His appointment, which also makes him Science Advisor to President Donald Trump, comes at a pivotal moment. Just days ago, on April 8, Kratsios told Fox News Digital that China’s AI innovation is “accelerating,” but emphasized that the U.S. remains the “dominant power” in AI, thanks to a “promote and protect” strategy aimed at maintaining leadership in emerging technologies like AI, quantum computing, and 5G. He highlighted the Trump administration’s focus on accelerating tech development while encouraging global adoption of American innovations.
A South Carolina native, Kratsios has a robust background in tech and policy. He served as the U.S. Chief Technology Officer from 2019 to 2021 during Trump’s first term, where he architected the American AI Initiative, doubled federal AI and quantum research spending, and developed the first global intergovernmental AI policy guidelines. He also briefly acted as Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering from July 2020 to January 2021, managing a $106 billion R&D budget. Before his government roles, Kratsios worked at Thiel Capital as a principal and chief of staff to Peter Thiel, and later as Managing Director at Scale AI from 2021 to 2024, focusing on AI applications.
President Trump has set high expectations for Kratsios, urging him in a March 26 letter to “blaze a trail to the next frontiers of science” and cement America’s technological supremacy. Trump described this as the “Golden Age of American Innovation,” a vision Kratsios echoed in a March 27 post on X, stating his goal to advance U.S. tech leadership and restore the nation’s scientific enterprise.
Kratsios’s Greek heritage adds a personal dimension to his public role. A Princeton graduate with a B.A. in politics and a certificate in Hellenic studies, he wrote a thesis on Greek electoral behavior and has been celebrated by Greek-American communities for his achievements. His swearing-in, coinciding with Greek Independence Day on March 25, was noted as a point of pride.
However, his appointment hasn’t been without scrutiny. Some Democrats, like Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), expressed doubts during his confirmation, questioning whether Kratsios could counter the Trump administration’s controversial science policies, including recent layoffs at science agencies like the National Science Foundation. Kratsios defended these cuts as the administration’s prerogative to align staff with its priorities, while affirming his commitment to federal R&D funding.
As Kratsios settles into his role, his focus on AI and emerging tech will be critical. Posts on X reflect intrigue about his past studies at Tsinghua University in Beijing, which some see as giving him a unique perspective on China—a key factor in the ongoing U.S.-China tech rivalry. With his experience, heritage, and a clear mandate from the White House, Kratsios is poised to navigate these challenges while honoring his Greek roots and advancing America’s innovation agenda.
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