CSIS recognizes the role of strategic partnerships as a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) thought leader within the national security and defense community. DLIA partners with academic institutions, other think tanks, and nongovernmental organizations to build strategic pipelines and elevate diverse perspectives. To further demonstrate our commitment to DEI, CSIS president and CEO John J. Hamre sits on the Think Tank Diversity Forum, and DLIA director Hadeil Ali chairs the Think Tank Diversity Consortium.

Building a Diverse Pipeline

In partnership with the Abshire-Inamori Leadership Academy (AILA), DLIA enriches the future of foreign policy through targeted programming designed to create a pipeline of diverse talent. The CSIS fellowship is dedicated to bringing new voices and diverse perspectives into the foreign policy community. Fellows learn from renowned foreign policy experts and practitioners and participate in a mutual exchange of ideas that fosters professional growth, builds connections, and accelerates success. To date, CSIS has partnered with Bowie State once and Trinity Washington University thrice.

Amplifying Diverse Voices

CSIS is committed to amplifying diverse voices and perspectives within the foreign policy community. To demonstrate this commitment, CSIS joined Gender Champions in Nuclear Policy and Organizations in Solidarity as signatories. DLIA has partnered with the Diversity in National Security Network to spotlight diverse national security and foreign policy leaders and practitioners. DLIA hosts external programming with diverse panelists and speakers on the intersections of DEI and foreign policy, defense, and national security.

Gender Champions in Nuclear Policy (GCNP) works to bring together heads of organizations in the nuclear policy community who are committed to making gender equity a priority. CSIS first pledged to the GCNP in 2020. Since then, CSIS has undertaken numerous “SMARTIE” commitments to advance gender equality through its processes, practices, and policies.

Women of Color Advancing Peace and Security (WCAPS) spearheads an initiative called Organizations in Solidarity with the core vision of creating a world where people are treated equally, fairly, and with respect. In 2021, CSIS joined OrgsinSolidarity as an organizational partner and is held accountable for fulfilling the 12 commitments. Learn more about these commitments here .

Recognizing the importance of representation in the policymaking community, CSIS partners with Diversity in National Security Network (DINSN)—a bipartisan coalition of national security and foreign policy practitioners committed to diversifying the national security private and public sector—to honor the contributions of diverse practitioners in U.S. national security and foreign policy. You can find press releases for the 2021 U.S. National Security & Foreign Affairs Leadership List and the 2022 U.S. National Security & Foreign Affairs Leadership List on our website.

Our Partners