Milancy D. Harris

Milancy D. Harris has over 20 years’ experience bridging government and industry to develop innovative solutions for complex policy and security challenges. Confirmed by the Senate as the deputy under secretary of defense for intelligence and security in December 2022, she served as the acting under secretary of defense for intelligence and security from March 2024 until January 2025. In that role, she functioned as the Department of Defense’s principal intelligence, counterintelligence, security, and law enforcement advisor. She oversaw the five defense agencies that comprise the Defense Intelligence and Security Enterprise and the Military Intelligence Program, which includes several critical national security investments. Additionally, Ms. Harris served as the deputy assistant secretary of defense for irregular warfare and counterterrorism from February 2021 to December 2022, leading the department’s policymaking related to irregular warfare, counterterrorism, and the use of special operations forces. Ms. Harris began her career as an all-source analyst at the Defense Intelligence Agency before serving in senior roles at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, National Security Council, and Department of Defense, focused on intelligence analysis, counterterrorism operations, and national security policy. Ms. Harris also played a pivotal role in technology governance, operationalizing Meta’s Oversight Board, serving as its first chief of staff, and shaping governance structures for complex global content moderation challenges. Ms. Harris is a recipient of the Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Medal and the National Intelligence Distinguished Public Service Medal.