Tomicah Tillemann
President at Project Liberty
Executive Director of New America’s Digital Impact and Governance Initiative (DIGI), most recently appointed as President of Project Liberty.
Tomicah joined us to explore how open-source technology, decentralized platforms, and digital governance can strengthen democratic institutions and reimagine the internet.
Tomicah is a distinguished diplomat, technologist, and policy architect who specializes in applying frontier technologies - such as blockchain and open-source systems to address global governance, social impact, and civil society challenges.
At New America, he led transformative programs like the Blockchain Trust Accelerator and the Responsible Asset Allocator Initiative, working alongside partners like the Rockefeller Foundation, MIT, and the World Bank to build next-generation public-sector platforms.
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In January 2025, he stepped into the role of President of Project Liberty, overseeing a $500 million initiative aimed at creating a more equitable and decentralized internet McCourt Global, Inc.
Biography
Tomicah earned his B.A. magna cum laude from Yale University and a Ph.D. with distinction from the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University.
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He began his career in government as Hillary Clinton’s speechwriter at the State Department in 2009, after serving on the staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, advising Senators including Biden, Kerry, and Obama
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His broader career spans work with the White House, U.S. congressional campaigns, Reuters, and the World Bank.
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Leadership in Digital Governance
At New America’s DIGI, Dr. Tillemann led efforts to design and deploy decentralized solutions for improving asset allocation, transparency, and governance—including the Blockchain Trust Accelerator and RAAI, which evaluates $20 trillion in sovereign and pension fund investments for ESG and governance risks.
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His leadership at Project Liberty is focused on empowering individuals with control over their data and reimagining how digital platforms serve society, in collaboration with institutions like Georgetown, Stanford, and MIT.
Thought Leadership
Tomicah sits on influential policy bodies, including the World Economic Forum’s Council for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the UN World Food Programme’s Innovation Advisory Council, and the Lantos Foundation Board of Trustees Meridian International Center+3New America+3The Conference Board+3.
He holds four technology patents and brings a nuanced understanding of how innovation, governance, and social impact intersect. His work has been featured in forums ranging from congressional testimony to keynote speeches, influencing how people navigate policy and technology’s evolving role in democracy and civic life New America.
Dr. Tomicah Tillemann exemplifies the blend of diplomatic insight, technological innovation, and visionary policymaking essential for shaping a more inclusive, resilient digital future.