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Robert Story Karem is an American policy advisor and President Donald Trump's nominee for Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs in the Department of Defense.

Career
Karem was a foreign policy Legislative Assistant for Senator Mitch McConnell. He was also and advisor to former Vice President Dick Cheney, specifically with respect to Middle East affairs. Karem was a member of Cheney's national security staff from February 2005 to January 2009 and was a researcher for Cheney's memoir.

Karem thereafter worked as an advisor to then House Majority Leader Eric Cantor. In August 2014, Karem left Cantor's office to serve as policy advisor for Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy.

Beginning in April 2015, Karem was a foreign policy advisor to Jeb Bush during his presidential campaign.

Karem has also spent time at the American Enterprise Institute, a policy think tank.

Transition team and nomination
Trump’s transition team included Karem as an adviser to CIA Director Mike Pompeo during Pompeo's confirmation process.

On April 25, 2017, President Trump nominated Karem for Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs in the Deparment of Defense. He would replace Derek H. Chollet in that position, an Obama appointee who previously resigned in 2015. Chollet has praised Trump's decision in choosing Karem, stating that “[n]ot often [do] I say this, but terrific news from Trump Admin: Robert Karem nomn’d for Asst SecDef ISA. . . He’s smart, savvy, & skilled. Great pick!"

On May 18, 2017, Karem's confirmation hearing took place with the Committee on Armed Services.