
Emily Harding is deputy director and senior fellow with the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). She joined CSIS from the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI), where she was deputy staff director. In her nearly 20 years of government service, she has served in a series of high-profile national security positions at critical moments. While working for SSCI, she led the Committee’s multiyear investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 elections. The five-volume, 1,300-page report reshaped the way the United States defends itself against foreign adversaries seeking to manipulate elections, and it was lauded for its rigor, its thoroughness, and as the only bipartisan effort on election interference. During her tenure on the Committee, she also served as the subject matter expert on election security, counterintelligence and associated cybersecurity issues, and the Middle East. She oversaw the activities of 18 intelligence agencies and led SSCI staff in drafting legislation, conducting oversight of the intelligence community, and developing their expertise in intelligence community matters.
She began her career as a leadership analyst at CIA, and then became a manager of analysts and analytic programs. She led the Iraq Group during the attempted Islamic State takeover of Iraq and Syria and led a multidisciplinary group of analysts working crises worldwide, drawing from many perspectives to provide rich analysis to policymakers. During a tour at the National Security Council, she served as executive assistant to the deputy national security adviser for global democracy strategy and then as director for Iran, where she led interagency efforts to create innovative policies drawing on all elements of national power. After leaving the White House, she served on a team running the first Office of the Director of National Intelligence-led presidential transition, where she was responsible for liaising with both campaigns and briefing the incoming administration on a wide range of intelligence topics. Harding holds a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and a bachelor’s degree in foreign affairs from the University of Virginia.
In the News
As new air defences appear in Moscow, Russians see more signs of war at home
Emily Harding in CBC — January 28, 2023
How Russia is trying to sell its war with Ukraine through RT
Emily Harding in The Hill — October 4, 2022
CSIS report examines ‘hard choices’ faced by ransomware victims, policy options
Emily Harding in Inside Cybersecurity — September 30, 2022
Judging the success of ‘over the horizon’ counter terrorism
Emily Harding in The Hill — August 4, 2022
Zawahiri strike reignites Afghanistan withdrawal debate ahead of anniversary
Emily Harding in Washington Examiner — August 3, 2022
Russian ‘Hacktivists’ Are Causing Trouble Far Beyond Ukraine
Emily Harding in WIRED — July 11, 2022
Anticipated Roe Reversal Brings Wave Data Security Reforms
Emily Harding , James Andrew Lewis , and Suzanne Spaulding in The Washington Post — June 16, 2022
How US military aids Ukraine with information, not just weaponry
Emily Harding in The Christian Science Monitor — June 13, 2022
All content by Emily Harding
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Understanding Washington

A Hometown Team: A Conversation with President of the Las Vegas Raiders Sandra Douglass Morgan
Event by Emily Harding , Kathleen McInnis , and Sandra Douglass Morgan — January 27, 2023

Building Supply Chain Resilience
Commentary by Emily Harding and Harshana Ghoorhoo — December 15, 2022

Building Democratic Resilience
Event by James Andrew Lewis , Emily Harding , Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius , and Amos Guiora — November 30, 2022

Press Briefing: Analyzing the 2022 National Defense Strategy
Event by Seth G. Jones , Max Bergmann , Emily Harding , Tom Karako , Mark F. Cancian , and Kathleen McInnis — October 27, 2022

Press Briefing: Analyzing the 2022 National Defense Strategy
Transcript by Seth G. Jones , Max Bergmann , Emily Harding , Tom Karako , Mark F. Cancian , and Kathleen McInnis — October 27, 2022

Russia’s Operations in Ukraine
Podcast Episode by Emily Harding and Kathleen McInnis — October 12, 2022

#NAFO and Winning the Information War: Lessons Learned from Ukraine
Event by Kathleen McInnis , Seth G. Jones , Emily Harding , Matt Moores (USMC, Ret) , and Iuliia Mendel — October 5, 2022

NAFO and Winning the Information War: Lessons Learned from Ukraine
Transcript by Kathleen McInnis , Seth G. Jones , and Emily Harding — October 5, 2022

Hard Choices in a Ransomware Attack
Report by Emily Harding and Harshana Ghoorhoo — September 28, 2022
