Emily Harding

Vice President, Defense and Security Department; Director, Intelligence, National Security, and Technology Program
Emily Harding

Emily Harding is director of the Intelligence, National Security, and Technology (INT) Program and vice president of the Defense and Security Department (DSD) at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. As the head of the INT Program, Harding provides thought leadership on the most critical issues facing intelligence professionals and on the future of intelligence work. In her capacity as vice president of DSD, she is responsible for leading a team of world-renowned scholars providing policy solutions that shape national security. Drawing on her decades of experience in national security, Harding has established herself as an expert on how technology is revolutionizing national security work. She has also served in a series of high-profile national security positions at critical moments. While serving as deputy staff director on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, she led the committee’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 elections, which was lauded for its bipartisanship. At the Central Intelligence Agency, she led analysts and analytic programs through moments of crisis, including shepherding the Iraq Group during the attempted Islamic State takeover. During a tour at the National Security Council, she served as director for Iran. After leaving the White House, her team ran the first Office of the Director of National Intelligence–led presidential transition, where she was responsible for briefing the incoming administration. Harding is an adjunct lecturer at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. Her analysis has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, BBC, NPR, Bloomberg, and other outlets. She holds a master’s degree from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia.

Programs & Projects

Areas of Expertise

Media Queries

In the News 8 of 122 results

Show More

All Emily Harding Content

Filter by

1 - 10 of 140 results
State of Play

What Are the Hidden Costs of the War with Iran?

Emily Harding, Caitlin Welsh, and Mona Yacoubian joined Will to discuss the short- and long-term implications of the war with Iran.

Podcast Episode by Will Todman, Emily Harding, Mona Yacoubian, and Caitlin Welsh — March 25, 2026

Photo: iLab/CSIS

Data Is Now the Front Line of Warfare

From Ukraine to the Gulf, private U.S. companies like Microsoft and AWS are now on the front lines of war. As Iran targets data centers, the Trump administration must decide how to protect them.

Commentary by Emily Harding — March 19, 2026

What Can the United States and Israel Accomplish in Iran?

Secretary Hegseth called Operation Epic Fury “straightforward.” But while the United States strikes the Iranian navy, nuclear program, and missiles, Israel and Trump eye regime change. This piece deconstructs that daylight and the true cost of each goal.

Commentary by Emily Harding — March 11, 2026

What Does the New Cyber Strategy Really Mean?

The new U.S. cyber strategy marks a shift to a more proactive cyber policy. It is a commendable declaration of goals but lacks a conversation about matching resources to these goals. This analysis explores the strategy’s strengths, gaps, and the path forward.

Critical Questions by Emily Harding — March 9, 2026

Securing Critical Mineral Supply: A Government–Industry Dialogue

Join the CSIS Critical Minerals Security Program virtually for public sessions on financing, investment conditions, supply-chain resilience, and public–private coordination, as part of "Securing Critical Mineral Supply: A Government–Industry Dialogue."

Event — February 3, 2026