Research, ideas, and leadership for a more secure, peaceful world
President Biden announced Ashton Baldwin Carter as a Recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Nation's highest civilian honor.
Cambridge, MA – January 4, 2025 – Today, President Biden announced Ashton Baldwin Carter as a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The White House awards the Nation’s highest civilian honor to individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal endeavors.
Ash Carter devoted his life to making the nation safer, serving as the 25th United States Secretary of Defense and working under 11 Secretaries of Defense across both Democratic and Republican administrations. His career exemplified bipartisan commitment and a deep dedication to public service.
In 2017, following his tenure as Secretary of Defense, Carter returned to his academic and intellectual home at Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. There, as Belfer Professor of Technology and Global Affairs and Director of the Belfer Center, he continued to shape the future by addressing critical global challenges and mentoring the next generation of leaders.
“Secretary Carter was not only a former director of the Belfer Center but was also in many ways the embodiment of its mission. He dedicated his life to bridging science and international affairs, tackling global challenges, and supporting countless individuals,” said Meghan L. O’Sullivan, Director of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School. “His greatest legacy lies in the generations of leaders he taught, mentored, and inspired—they are today’s policymakers, academics, and others who credit ‘Professor Carter’ with shaping their paths. The Belfer Center honors this legacy by continuing to cultivate future leaders at the intersection of technology, innovation, and global policy.”
Carter’s enduring impact—both in government and academia—underscores his legacy as a transformative figure in the realms of research, defense and public policy.
Among the 19 medal recipients was also David M. Rubenstein. Rubenstein is a philanthropist and longtime supporter of the Kennedy School and is chair of the Dean's Executive Board.
The Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs is the hub of Harvard Kennedy School's research, teaching, and training in international security and diplomacy, environmental and resource issues, and science and technology policy. Its mission is to advance policy-relevant research and train the next generation of leaders and scholars, bridging the gap between scholarly rigor and real-world impact.