Sina Beaghley

Sina Beaghley
Senior International/Defense Researcher
Off Site Office

Education

M.A. in international affairs/international security, George Washington University; B.A. in political science/media communications, University of San Diego

Media Resources

This researcher is available for interviews.

To arrange an interview, contact the RAND Office of Media Relations at (310) 451-6913, or email media@rand.org.

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Overview

Sina Beaghley is a senior international/defense policy researcher at the RAND Corporation. Her research focuses on national security policy including counterterrorism, counterintelligence, cyber strategy, personnel and security clearance vetting, and surveillance policy and privacy. She also served as the associate director for the Cyber and Intelligence Policy Center 2017–2021.

Beaghley came to RAND in 2015 after more than a decade of service in the Federal government. She last served as director for Intelligence and Information Security on the National Security Council (NSC) staff where she coordinated the review of intelligence capabilities in response to 2013–2014 unauthorized disclosures related to the National Security Agency (NSA) and advised the president and national security advisor on foreign relations and intelligence policy. Prior to that, Beaghley was chief for Near East and Africa planning at the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) where she directed the development of national-level counterterrorism plans. She served in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) where she developed policy for special operations, counterterrorism, cyberspace operations, and defense activities in the Middle East. She also deployed as a planner with a Joint Task Force in Iraq in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Before joining OSD, she served at the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Science and Technology and Treasury Department’s Office of Terrorism and Violent Crimes.

She received her M.A in international affairs at The George Washington University and her B.A. in political science and media communication from the University of San Diego.

Recent Media Appearances

Interviews: Federal News Network Online; Hamodia; Sky News; WESA-FM Online; Women in National Security, CNAS

Commentary

Publications