Cristina Killingsworth served as Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development under the Biden-Harris Administration. She led the U.S. Economic Development Administration, investing in communities to promote economic competitiveness and prepare the nation’s regions for growth and success in the global economy. Previously, Cristina served as EDA’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and External Affairs, responsible for launching and implementing EDA’s national programs, including Tech Hubs, Recompete, the Build Back Better Regional Challenge, and the Good Jobs Challenge. Earlier in the Biden-Harris administration, Cristina served as Chief of Staff for the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration.

Previously, Cristina helped launch and was Vice President at WestExec Advisors. In her prior government service, she was Senior Advisor to the CEO of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, Director for Strategic Planning and Director for African Affairs at the White House National Security Council, and an Examiner in the International Affairs Division of the White House Office of Management and Budget. She started her career as a staffer in the Massachusetts State Senate. Cristina holds a Master of Arts in international affairs from Yale University and a Bachelor of Arts in humanities and Middle Eastern studies from the University of Texas at Austin. She is the proud mom of Simon and June.