Molly Sarah Braese

Molly Sarah Braese serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Georgetown University’s Center for Security Studies (CSS) and an attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Criminal Division. Her work focuses on cybersecurity, international affairs, and transnational organized crime policy.

Education: J.D., summa cum laude, from Michigan State University College of Law (2010s era); B.A. in Italian Literature from University of Connecticut (early 2010s).

Research interests emphasize transnational crime policy formulation, cybersecurity governance, and counterterrorism strategies. Her legal career includes roles at the National Security Council (NSC), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Award recipient: Attorney General's John Marshall Award (highest DOJ honor for attorneys) recognizing her contributions to user-controlled encryption legal frameworks.

Prior roles include Director for Transnational Organized Crime at the NSC Counterterrorism Directorate (2021-2023), where she developed government-wide policies against organized crime networks.