Kaitlyn Johnson

Deputy Director and Fellow, Aerospace Security Project
Kaitlyn Johnson

Kaitlyn Johnson is deputy director and fellow of the Aerospace Security Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Ms. Johnson supports the team’s strategic planning and research agenda. Her research specializes in topics such as space security, military space systems, and commercial and civil space policy. Ms. Johnson has written on national security space reorganization, threats against space assets, the commercialization of space, escalation and deterrence dynamics, and defense acquisition trends. She is also a cohost of the CSIS podcast Tech Unmanned, which features guests with both policy expertise and technical expertise in order to break through the national security jargon and technology hand-waving to get to the core of the technical realities of these emerging capabilities, benefits to development, and the barriers to success. Ms. Johnson holds an MA from American University in U.S. foreign policy and national security studies, with a concentration in defense and space security, and a BS from the Georgia Institute of Technology in international affairs.

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A Contested Domain: From Space Theory to Practice

The Aerospace Security Project hosts a two part virtual event, first featuring STARCOM Commander Major General Shawn N. Bratton to discuss the command's mission, followed by a panel of CSIS and Secure World Foundation experts to discuss counterpsace developments from the past year. 

 

Event by Kari A. Bingen , Major General Shawn N. Bratton , Kaitlyn Johnson , Dr. Brian Weeden , Victoria Samson , and Makena Young — May 10, 2023

Space Threat Assessment 2023

The 2023 Space Threat Assessment covers the growing counterspace capabilities of China, Russia, India, Iran, North Korea, and others. It also features an in-depth analysis of Russia's battlefield employment of counterspace weapons in Ukraine.

Report by Kari A. Bingen , Kaitlyn Johnson , Makena Young , and John Raymond — April 14, 2023

U.S. Space Force Primer

The U.S. Space Force, the newest branch of the U.S. military, is growing in complexity and mission. This primer presents a short history of the U.S. Space Force, as well as key details and internal organization.

Report by Kari A. Bingen , Kaitlyn Johnson , John Dylan Bustillo , and Marie Villerreal Dean — January 3, 2023

Russia Threatens to Target Commercial Satellites

In October, Russian leadership warned that U.S. commercial satellites, such as SpaceX’s Starlink constellation, may be future targets for retaliation.

Critical Questions by Kari A. Bingen , Kaitlyn Johnson , and Zhanna Malekos Smith — November 10, 2022

Tracking Developments in Counterspace Weapons

Please join CSIS's Aerospace Security Project and the Secure World Foundation as they discuss tracking developments in counterspace weapons.

Event by Todd Harrison , Kaitlyn Johnson , Makena Young , Dr. Brian Weeden , Victoria Samson , Michael Mineiro , Eric Desautels , and John Hill — April 20, 2022

Space Threat Assessment 2022

The 2022 Space Threat Assessment covers the growing counterspace capabilities of China, Russia, India, Iran, North Korea, and others. It also analyzes several key events, including the 2021 Russian ASAT test, the supposed Chinese FOBS test, and Russian jamming in Ukraine.

Report by Todd Harrison , Kaitlyn Johnson , Makena Young , Nicholas Wood , and Alyssa Goessler — April 4, 2022

Dancing Lights in Space: How to Manage The Risks of Satellite Close Approaches in Geostationary Orbit

The Aerospace Security Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the Secure World Foundation (SWF) are holding this online event to discuss The importance of public space situational awareness

Event by and Todd Harrison , Makena Young , Kaitlyn Johnson , Audrey Schaffer , Brien Flewelling , Dan Oltrogge , Marc Becker , Doug Loverro , Brian Weeden , Alessandro Cacioni , Almudena Azcárate Ortega — January 26, 2022

Tech Unmanned

The One with the Navy

Join Kaitlyn and guest co-host Rose Butchart for the final episode of Season 1! This engaging conversation focused on the Navy’s approach to developing and acquiring emerging technologies. 

Podcast Episode by Kaitlyn Johnson and Rose Butchart — January 25, 2022

CSIS Tech Unmanned
Tech Unmanned

The One with the Army

Join Kaitlyn and guest co-host Army Colonel Danielle Ngo for this critical conversation of how the U.S. Army is approaching emerging technologies.

Podcast Episode by Kaitlyn Johnson and Danielle Ngo — January 11, 2022

CSIS Tech Unmanned