Krista Auchenbach

Krista Auchenbach serves as a Visiting Fellow in the Defense and Security Department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and holds a part-time faculty position at George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs. Her extensive career includes leadership roles as Deputy Director of the Campaign Decision Support Team in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) and Division Chief for Strategic Assessments at Headquarters Air Force A5/7, where she provided strategic analysis to senior military leaders.

Her educational background features a BA in international affairs and an MA in security policy studies, both earned from George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs. This academic foundation supports her current dual roles in defense policy research and teaching.

Ms. Auchenbach's research centers on defense strategy, counterterrorism, and geopolitical security with specialized focus on Russia-Ukraine conflict dynamics. She examines military innovation in drone warfare, cyber operations, and space domain integration, emphasizing adaptation and resilience in modern combat. Her work analyzes how commercial technologies transform warfighting capabilities and resource allocation in defense planning.

Recent publications reveal consistent thematic trends across military domains, showing how Ukraine's conflict drives innovation in contested environments. Her analysis connects tactical battlefield adaptations to broader strategic implications for NATO and U.S. defense posture, particularly regarding data-driven decision making and multi-domain operations integration.

• Term Member, Council on Foreign Relations
• Next Generation Fellow, Center for a New American Security (2020)

With over twelve years of experience advising senior defense officials from 2008-2020 in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Ms. Auchenbach has directed country-specific portfolios and strategic assessments. Her current CSIS fellowship continues this advisory role while her academic position enables knowledge transfer to the next generation of security professionals.