Meet our Distinguished MNSP Faculty
The RAND School draws from a deep bench of expert practitioners and RAND researchers to develop and teach our Master of National Security Policy courses.
Our faculty offer more than just academic insight—they bring to the classroom a wealth of real-world leadership and practical experience. They are not only accomplished researchers at RAND but also seasoned practitioners who have held pivotal roles in government, military, and international organizations. They ensure that our courses are grounded in both theory and practice, equipping students to tackle complex security challenges with informed and innovative approaches. Here, we proudly introduce some of the exceptional leaders who guide our students through the intricacies of national security policy.
Dr. Raphael S. Cohen
MNSP Program Director; Senior Political Scientist
- Colonel, U.S. Army Reserve; Director, Strategy and Doctrine Program, RAND Project AIR FORCE
- Course Taught:
- Introduction to National Security; National Security Capstone
Dr. Bhavya Lal
Professor of Policy Analysis
- Former Associate Administrator for Technology, Policy, and Strategy at NASA; Former Chief Technologist (Acting) at NASA; expert in space technology and policy analysis
- Course Taught:
- Space Economics; Space Policy
Lt. Gen. Clinton Hinote (Ret.)
Professor of Policy Analysis
- Former Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategy, Integration, and Requirements, U.S. Air Force
- Courses Taught:
- Implementing Good Ideas; Leadership in the Public Context
Amb. William Courtney
Adjunct Senior Fellow
- Former U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan and Georgia; specialist in international diplomacy
- Course Taught:
- Diplomacy and National Security
Dr. Alexis A. Blanc
Senior Political Scientist
- Former Senior Federal Program Manager, U.S. Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration; Former Special Assistant to the Principal Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Defense Programs
- Course Taught:
- Understanding the Strategic Environment
Dr. Michael J. Mazarr
Senior Political Scientist
- Former Associate Dean of Academics, U.S. National War College; former President, Henry L. Stimson Center; former Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
- Courses Taught:
- Understanding the Strategic Environment; Sources of Decision Failure
Rachel Lyngaas
Senior Policy Researcher
- Former Chief Sanctions Economist at the U.S. Treasury; expert in international economic strategy, sanctions policy, development finance, international capital flows, management and taxation of natural resources, and the international financial institutions.
- Course Taught:
- Economic Statecraft and National Security
Dr. Elina Treyger
Senior Political Scientist
- Former Assistant Professor of Law, George Mason University; specialist in law, security, immigration policy, and Russia, with a focus on U.S. homeland security issues
- Course Taught:
- U.S. Homeland Security
Dr. Lisa Saum-Manning
Associate Director, International Security and Defense Policy Program, RAND National Security Research Division; Policy Researcher
- Former Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of State, Conflict and Stabilization Office; specialist in strategic planning for the U.S. Armed Forces, Department of State, and Department of Homeland Security
- Course Taught:
- National Security Capstone
Heather J. Williams
Associate Director, International Security and Defense Policy Program, RAND National Security Research Division; Senior Policy Researcher
- Former Deputy and Acting National Intelligence Officer for Iran, National Intelligence Council; expert in defense policy and military operations with extensive experience in Middle Eastern affairs
- Course Taught:
- Middle East Security
John V. Parachini
Senior International and Defense Researcher
- Former Director of the RAND Intelligence Policy Center; former foreign affairs analyst at the State Department Office of Chemical and Biological Weapons Affairs; expert on chemical and biological weapons, counterterrorism, and intelligence
- Course Taught:
- Intelligence and National Security
Thom Shanker
Professor of Policy Analysis
- Former Pentagon Correspondent, The New York Times; Director, Project for Media and National Security
- Course Taught:
- Media and National Security
