Iris A. Ferguson

Iris A. Ferguson is a senior associate (non-resident) with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program and president and founder of IAF Strategies. She most recently served as the deputy assistant secretary of defense for Arctic and global resilience from 2022 to January 2025. In this role, she served as the principal advisor to the secretary of defense and senior leadership on protecting U.S. homeland and allied interests in the Arctic region; managed oceans policy and the Freedom of Navigation Program to uphold the maritime rules-based order; addressed strategic resilience risks, including critical minerals and energy security; and ensured the department maintained innovation advantages in strategic competition. Iris has also served as a senior advisor on Arctic and energy security issues for U.S. Air Force Futures and the Air Force deputy chief of staff for operations and as special assistant to the assistant secretary of the Air Force for installations, environment, and energy, focusing on energy security and resilience policies. Iris previously served on the Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration and as a national security and foreign policy legislative aide focused on Europe, Latin America, and East Asia on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. She holds a BA from the University of Arkansas and an MA in international economics and relations from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.