CNAS Welcomes Andrea Kendall-Taylor as Director of the Transatlantic Security Program and Carrie Cordero as Robert M. Gates Senior Fellow

Washington, September 6 -- The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) is pleased to announce that Andrea Kendall-Taylor has joined the Center as Senior Fellow and Director of the Transatlantic Security Program. Kendall-Taylor served from 2015 to 2018 as Deputy National Intelligence Officer for Russia and Eurasia at the National Intelligence Council (NIC) in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI). She previously worked as a senior analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) where she worked on Russia and Eurasia.

“As a former intelligence professional, Andrea brings unique perspective and invaluable experience to the Transatlantic program,” said CNAS President Richard Fontaine. “Her deep understanding of U.S.-European relations, Russia and other issues will be critical to the continued success of the program.”

As the newest CNAS program director, Kendall-Taylor joins a team of top experts from across the foreign policy and national security community. She will lead a research program that addresses shared national security challenges facing the United States and Europe. Key focus areas will include populism and threats to democracy, the state of the Transatlantic alliance, and Russian engagement and influence.

Kendall-Taylor received her B.A. in politics from Princeton University and her Ph.D. in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles. She is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service where she teaches a course on the rise of autocracy.

CNAS is also pleased to announce that Carrie Cordero has joined the Center as the new Robert M. Gates Senior Fellow and General Counsel. Cordero is an adjunct professor of law at Georgetown University Law Center, a CNN analyst, and a contributing editor of Lawfare. Her research and writing interests focus on intelligence community oversight, transparency, surveillance, cybersecurity and related national security law and policy issues.

“Carrie brings a wealth of specialized legal expertise and practical experience to her new role as the Gates Senior Fellow,” Fontaine said. “Her work at the intersection of intelligence, national security and law has relevance across all the Center’s programs, and will be essential to our efforts to formulate new responses the the toughest challenges facing the country.”

Cordero spent the first part of her career in public service, including as Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for National Security; Senior Associate General Counsel at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI); Attorney Advisor in the Department of Justice, where she practiced before the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, and Special Assistant United States Attorney. Cordero also served as Director of National Security Studies at Georgetown Law and was a member of Governor John Kasich’s national security advisory group during the 2016 election campaign.

Cordero earned her J.D., cum laude, from Washington College of Law, American University, and B.A., magna cum laude, from Barnard College, Columbia University.

“Both Carrie and Andrea are outstanding additions to the CNAS team and will be pivotal to the continued growth and influence of the Center,” Fontaine said.

To reach Kendall-Taylor or Cordero or for more information on CNAS, please contact Cole Stevens at [email protected] or 202-695-8166.