CNAS Welcomes Natasha Lander Finch as an Adjunct Senior Fellow

Washington, March 21, 2025, — The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) is pleased to welcome Natasha Lander Finch as an adjunct senior fellow with the Defense Program.

Lander Finch is both an independent consultant and senior fellow with the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, leading research for the U.S. departments of State and Defense. Lander Finch brings extensive experience in national security and defense policy with expertise in countering weapons of mass destruction, European security, and military workforce policy. She previously spent a decade at the RAND Corporation and served as an advisor in the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy where she contributed to the international mission to remove Syria’s declared chemical weapons. Lander Finch also led U.S. defense cooperation efforts at NATO on countering weapons of mass destruction proliferation and earned two Office of the Secretary of Defense Medals for Exceptional Public Service during her time there.

“Natasha's deep expertise in defense policy and national security will be instrumental in advancing our research on emerging technologies and deterrence and nuclear policy,” said Stacie Pettyjohn, senior fellow and director of the Defense Program at CNAS. “Her wealth of experience across government, research, industry, and international organizations uniquely positions her to contribute to our most pressing defense challenges.”

Lander Finch holds degrees from King’s College London, George Mason University, and Bowling Green State University. Her work has appeared in New Atlanticist, The Cipher Brief, The National Interest, Real Clear Defense, and U.S. News & World Report.

Lander Finch’s full bio can be found here.

For more information or for media inquiries, contact Alexa Whaley at awhaley@cnas.org.