CEO & Founder

Dawn Lewis Peterson

Dawn Lewis Peterson is a retired U.S. Career Foreign Service Officer, Air Force Veteran, and the Founder and CEO of Girls with Passports Incorporated. Over a distinguished 35-year career in global diplomacy and national security, she served at American Embassies in Iraq, Afghanistan, China, Bangladesh, Tunisia, Singapore, and Eswatini. As a senior executive leader at the U.S. Department of State, she directed large-scale human capital operations for diplomatic missions with workforces exceeding 5,000 personnel and advised ambassadors and senior officials on workforce strategy, governance, and crisis response. She was awarded the Department of State’s Director General’s Award for Excellence in Human Resources—its highest distinction in her field.

Today, as CEO of Girls with Passports Incorporated, Dawn leverages her global leadership experience to prepare and empower the next generation of women for international careers. Through cultural immersion, mentorship, and leadership development, she equips young women with the skills, confidence, and global perspective needed to thrive on the world stage. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Organizational Leadership and Change Management at Antioch University, further advancing her commitment to ethical leadership and institutional transformation.