Tahina Montoya

Tahina Montoya serves as a Policy Researcher and Professor of Policy Analysis at the RAND School of Public Policy (RAND Corporation), with a concurrent adjunct appointment at George Washington University's Elliott School for International Affairs. She maintains an active role as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserves, specializing in political/military analysis and advising the Department of Defense on Women, Peace and Security initiatives. Her distinguished career includes prior service as a White House senior advisor (Biden-Harris Administration), strategic advisor at the Department of Veteran Affairs, and special assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force.

Research interests focus on intersectional policy challenges:

• Defense & Security: Global security frameworks, Air Force strategy, and peacekeeping operations
• Vulnerable Populations: Military veteran reintegration, Latino community disparities, and gender-inclusive security policies
• Policy Implementation: Cross-sectoral analysis of public health, equity, and military-civilian transitions

Her 2025 publication analyzes veteran suicide through a public health lens, identifying critical gaps in support systems for high-risk subpopulations and advocating for data-driven interventions.

Professional honors include:

• Women in International Security (WIIS) Defense Fellowship
• Truman National Security Project Defense Council membership