Emily Harding is deputy director and senior fellow with the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). She joined CSIS from the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI), where she was deputy staff director. In her nearly 20 years of government service, she has served in a series of high-profile national security positions at critical moments. While working for SSCI, she led the Committee’s multiyear investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 elections. The five-volume, 1,300-page report reshaped the way the United States defends itself against foreign adversaries seeking to manipulate elections, and it was lauded for its rigor, its thoroughness, and as the only bipartisan effort on election interference. During her tenure on the Committee, she also served as the subject matter expert on election security, counterintelligence and associated cybersecurity issues, and the Middle East. She oversaw the activities of 18 intelligence agencies and led SSCI staff in drafting legislation, conducting oversight of the intelligence community, and developing their expertise in intelligence community matters.
She began her career as a leadership analyst at CIA, and then became a manager of analysts and analytic programs. She led the Iraq Group during the attempted Islamic State takeover of Iraq and Syria and led a multidisciplinary group of analysts working crises worldwide, drawing from many perspectives to provide rich analysis to policymakers. During a tour at the National Security Council, she served as executive assistant to the deputy national security adviser for global democracy strategy and then as director for Iran, where she led interagency efforts to create innovative policies drawing on all elements of national power. After leaving the White House, she served on a team running the first Office of the Director of National Intelligence-led presidential transition, where she was responsible for liaising with both campaigns and briefing the incoming administration on a wide range of intelligence topics. Harding holds a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and a bachelor’s degree in foreign affairs from the University of Virginia.
Media Queries
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In the News
Experts Debate Need for Cyber Force Service Branch
Emily Harding in MeriTalk — April 24, 2023
US Embarrassed After 21-Year-Old Arrested in Classified Documents Leak
Emily Harding in Bloomberg — April 13, 2023
Russia's Invasion of Ukraine Heralds New Era of Warfare
Emily Harding in Voice of America — April 3, 2023
Russia's yearlong cyber focus on Ukraine
Emily Harding in Axios — February 24, 2023
4 unanswered questions about the future of the Ukraine war
Emily Harding in Vox — February 24, 2023
No aliens, but no answers
Emily Harding in POLITICO Nightly — February 13, 2023
As new air defences appear in Moscow, Russians see more signs of war at home
Emily Harding in CBC — January 28, 2023
How Russia is trying to sell its war with Ukraine through RT
Emily Harding in The Hill — October 4, 2022
All Emily Harding Content
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Decoding D.C.: Policy, Power, and People
Threats Happen; Consequences Don’t Have to
Commentary by Emily Harding and Suzanne Spaulding — July 11, 2023
Lessons in U.S. Intelligence and Special Operations
Event by Seth G. Jones , Eliot A. Cohen , Emily Harding , and Michael G. Vickers — June 16, 2023
Strategic Trends 2023: Key Developments in Global Affairs
Event by Emily Harding , Brian Carlson , Névine Schepers , and Boas Lieberherr — May 16, 2023
Does the U.S. Need a Cyber Force?
Event by Mark Montgomery , John Davis , Emily Harding , and James Andrew Lewis — April 20, 2023
Report Launch: Seven Critical Technologies for Winning the Next War
Event by Emily Harding , Geof Kahn , Schuyler Moore , Colleen Laughlin , and Chris Brose — April 18, 2023
Seven Critical Technologies for Winning the Next War
Report by Emily Harding and Harshana Ghoorhoo — April 18, 2023
Using Big Data to Reduce Leaks
Commentary by Emily Harding and Benjamin Jensen — April 17, 2023
Global Security Forum 2023: Transatlantic Defense
Event by John J. Hamre , Seth G. Jones , Emily Harding , Cynthia Cook , and Max Bergmann — April 5, 2023
Book Event: White Sun War: The Campaign for Taiwan
Event by Charles Edel , Eliot A. Cohen , Emily Harding , and Mick Ryan — March 30, 2023