Austin Hardman

Research Assistant, Project on Prosperity and Development
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Austin Hardman

Austin Hardman is a research assistant for the Project on Prosperity and Development (PPD) at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). In this role, he supports the team’s research agenda, business development opportunities, and event coordination. Prior to CSIS, Austin worked as an intern collecting data for the Heritage Foundation’s annual “Index of Economic Freedom,” a background investigator retained by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, and an intern for Abba’s Pride, a faith-based non-profit located in Pretoria, South Africa. His research endeavors seek to optimize the implementation of development programs to complement U.S. diplomatic initiatives, harness the power of the private sector where advantageous, and do so while prioritizing human flourishment. With majors in religion and foreign affairs, Austin graduated cum laude from Hampden-Sydney College and holds a Master of Public Policy with specializations in applied economic policy, international relations, and national security from Pepperdine University’s School of Public Policy.