KITAMURA Shigeru served as the Secretary General of the National Security Secretariat (NSS) and National Security Advisor to the Cabinet from September 2019, following his appointment as part of the reshuffle of the Fourth Abe Cabinet. In this role, he established the NSS’s economic section and promoted economic security policy. Since retiring from the position in July 2021, he has served as a member of an expert panel on economic security legislation.
Earlier in his career, he also served as Director of Cabinet Intelligence, Executive Secretary to the Prime Minister, and Chief of the Foreign Affairs Division of the Foreign Affairs and Intelligence Department of the Security Bureau.
In December 2020, he was awarded the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service by the U.S. Government. In January 2022, he was awarded the Australian Intelligence Medal by the Australian Government. In June 2022, he was awarded the Officier de l’Ordre de la Légion d’Honneur by the French Government. In December 2023, he was awarded the Order of Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon by the Taiwanese Government. He joined the National Police Agency in 1980 after graduating from the University of Tokyo, Faculty of Law.