John P. Carlin chairs the Global Risk and Crisis Management practice at Morrison & Foerster LLP and the Aspen Institute's Cybersecurity and Technology program, and was until recently Assistant Attorney General for National Security, the Department of Justice’s top national security attorney. In this capacity, Carlin was responsible for nearly 400 employees charged with protecting the country against international and domestic terrorism, espionage, cyber, and other national security threats. Carlin currently chairs the Aspen Institute's cybersecurity and technology program.

Under Carlin’s leadership, the National Security Division (NSD) worked with U.S. Attorneys’ offices on a number of high-profile cases and issues including prosecution of the Boston Marathon bombing cases, disruption of multiple terrorist plots and national security threats, and oversight of the efforts of the National Security Cyber Specialist Network and the National Security/Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council program. Also during his tenure, the NSD secured the first federal jury conviction on charges brought under the Economic Espionage Act of 1996 and launched a nationwide outreach effort across industries to raise awareness of national security, cyber, and espionage threats against American companies.

Prior to joining NSD, Carlin served as Chief of Staff and Senior Counsel to Robert S. Mueller III, Director of the FBI. A career federal prosecutor, Carlin served earlier as National Coordinator of the Department of Justice’s Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property (CHIP) program. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree magna cum laude from Williams College and his JD from Harvard Law School.