Michael Carpenter is Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense with responsibility for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia. He also has responsibility for the Western Balkans and Conventional Arms Control. Prior to joining the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Dr. Carpenter served in the White House as the Special Advisor to the Vice President for Europe and Eurasia. Previously, he served as Director for Russia at the White House National Security Council. 

During a 12-year career with the State Department, Dr. Carpenter served in various positions, including Deputy Director of the Office of Russian Affairs, Speechwriter for the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, NATO-Russia officer in the Office of Regional Political-Military Affairs, and Advisor on the South Caucasus. He has served overseas at the U.S. Embassies in Slovenia and Barbados. 

While at the State Department, Dr. Carpenter received four Superior Honor Awards and three Meritorious Honor Awards. 

He holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California at Berkeley and a B.A. in International Relations from Stanford University. Dr. Carpenter was a Fulbright Scholar at the Polish Academy of Sciences and has received fellowships from the American Council of Learned Societies, MacArthur Foundation, and IREX Foundation for his academic research.