Kathleen McInnis

Senior Fellow, International Security Program and Director, Smart Women, Smart Power Initiative
Kathleen McInnis

Kathleen J. McInnis is a senior fellow and director of the Smart Women, Smart Power Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Her research areas include the intersection of gender and national security; global security strategy; defense policy; and transatlantic security. Before rejoining the Center, she served as a specialist in international security at the Congressional Research Service (CRS), where she served as a senior expert to Congress on strategic issues including defense policy, military operations, civilian-military relations, irregular warfare, and global strategy. Prior to CRS, she worked as a research consultant at Chatham House in London, writing on NATO and transatlantic security matters. From 2006 to 2009, Dr. McInnis served in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (Policy), working on NATO operations in Afghanistan. During her last time working at CSIS from 2004 to 2006, Dr. McInnis analyzed U.S. nuclear weapons strategy, European security, and transatlantic relations. She also worked as a researcher in the UK House of Commons, focusing on NATO, the European Union, and U.S.-UK political-military relations, from 2001 to 2003. Dr. McInnis is widely published; her articles have featured in major domestic and international outlets. She is the author of two books: How and Why States Defect from Contemporary Military Coalition (Palgrave Macmillan, 2019) and the novel The Heart of War: Misadventures in the Pentagon (Post Hill Press, 2018). Dr. McInnis was awarded her MSc in international relations from the London School of Economics and completed her PhD in war studies at King’s College London.

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Smart Women, Smart Power Podcast

Uncovering the Uyghur Genocide

On this episode, host Kathleen McInnis sat down with Ambassador Kelley Currie, former Deputy U.S. Representative to the United Nations and Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues, at the 2022 Halifax International Security Forum. Ambassador Currie discussed her role in discovering the horrific genocide taking place in China against the Uyghur community. #HFX2022

 

Please note this episode contains subject matter relating to human atrocities, including but not limited to comments on genocide, torture, and forced sterilization. Listener discretion is advised.

Podcast Episode by Kathleen McInnis — February 1, 2023

CSIS Smart Women, Smart Power

A Hometown Team: A Conversation with President of the Las Vegas Raiders Sandra Douglass Morgan

The CSIS Smart Women, Smart Power Initiative hosted a conversation with Sandra Douglass Morgan, president of the Las Vegas Raiders for a discussion on the importance of sports teams engaging in local politics and community building to strengthen the foundation of their respective cities, and ultimately the country.

Event by Emily Harding , Kathleen McInnis , and Sandra Douglass Morgan — January 27, 2023

Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Smart Women, Smart Power Podcast

Crisis Coordination on Christmas

On this episode, host Kathleen McInnis spoke with Captain Erin Williams, Commanding Officer, USCG Activities Far East, United States Coast Guard, at the 2022 Halifax International Security Forum. Captain Williams described the aftermath of a tug hitting Bligh Reef two days before Christmas during an ice scouting mission for tank vessels transiting Prince William Sound. #HFX2022

Podcast Episode by Kathleen McInnis — January 25, 2023

CSIS Smart Women, Smart Power
Smart Women, Smart Power Podcast

Afghan Women and the Fall of Kabul

On this episode, host Kathleen McInnis sat down at the 2022 Halifax International Security Forum with Kamila Sidiqi, an Afghan entrepreneur and former government official. The pair highlighted Kamila’s innovative work and discussed the resilience of Afghan women in the country today.

Podcast Episode by Kathleen McInnis — January 19, 2023

CSIS Smart Women, Smart Power
Smart Women, Smart Power Podcast

The Special Forces of Trade and Development

Director of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) Enoh T. Ebong joins us to discuss her role and priorities at USTDA and more.

Podcast Episode by Kathleen McInnis — January 11, 2023

CSIS Smart Women, Smart Power
Smart Women, Smart Power Podcast

How Service Can Save Us

European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson joins us to discuss the global fight against organized crimes and drug trafficking, including the trafficking of women.

Podcast Episode by Kathleen McInnis — January 4, 2023

CSIS Smart Women, Smart Power
Smart Women, Smart Power Podcast

Looking Ahead: The NATO Alliance

Dr. Kathleen McInnis sat down with Ambassador Julianne Smith, U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO.

Podcast Episode by Kathleen McInnis — December 14, 2022

CSIS Smart Women, Smart Power
Smart Women, Smart Power Podcast

Ukraine Is Fighting for All of Us

Maryna Baydyuk, Assistant Research Professor at Georgetown University, and co-founder of United Help Ukraine, joins us to discuss non-lethal resources for Ukrainian defense and more. 

Podcast Episode by Kathleen McInnis — December 7, 2022

CSIS Smart Women, Smart Power
Smart Women, Smart Power Podcast

The Information Space is On Fire

Lisa Kaplan, the founder of Alethea, a company designed to help organizations navigate the new digital reality and protect themselves against disinformation, joins us to discuss the current landscape of the information space. 

Podcast Episode by Kathleen McInnis — November 30, 2022

CSIS Smart Women, Smart Power