King School is pleased to announce Julie Sheetz ’03 as this year’s Commencement keynote speaker. 

Julie Sheetz currently serves as the Chief of Staff for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. In this role, Sheetz oversees an organization of nearly 100 people that provides the Secretary of Defense with policy recommendations and advice spanning the management of the United States’ treaty alliances and partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region. 

Sheetz previously served in a number of other assignments in the Department of Defense, including as the Lead Global Force Planner for the Indo-Pacific region and at the International Security Assistance Force Headquarters in Afghanistan, as well as a rotational detail to the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. 

Prior to joining the Department of Defense, Sheetz was an Associate Director at BrooksBowerAsia, a boutique consulting and advisory services firm facilitating U.S. investment in Southeast Asia. 

Sheetz holds a Bachelor's degree in international relations and French studies from the University of Pennsylvania and a master's degree in Asian Regional Studies from Harvard University.

Sheetz started at one of our founding schools, King Low-Heywood Thomas, in fifth grade and graduated in 2003 as the school’s valedictorian.