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

One Page Bio

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.

Research Focus

Recent Media Appearances

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

Commentary

Threat Assessment

What the Capitol Siege Means for the Future of Security Clearances
Some people who stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6 had or have a national security clearance and thus trusted access to classified information. And some might apply for a security clearance in the future. If they are not identified and prosecuted, then they won't have a criminal record that could be detected in a background check.
Feb 2, 2021
The Hill
Data Privacy

A Snowden Pardon Could Have a Snowball Effect on Protecting National Security Secrets
If President Trump were to pardon Edward Snowden, then he might encourage vigilante behavior that puts at risk the very sensitive information and operations—meaning American interests and lives—that the U.S. national security system is intended to protect.
Sep 4, 2020
The National Interest
Intelligence Community

Overdue Overhaul: Security Clearance Reform in a Decade of Leakers, Spies, and Insider Threats
With the legislative and executive branches seemingly on the same page regarding the need for changes to the security clearance and vetting system, long overdue reform appears to be within reach.
Apr 15, 2019
RealClearDefense
Cybersecurity

Have a Victim Response Plan for Data Breaches
In a large data breach, there could be a real risk to victims' financial or personal security. Though responsible organizations should do everything in their power to ensure data is protected in the first place, they also should prepare a plan to ensure prompt victim response.
Oct 2, 2018
The Wall Street Journal’s Cybersecurity Bulletin
Cybersecurity

Equifax and the Data-Breach Era
The personal and financial data of almost 146 million U.S. consumers has been compromised by the Equifax breach, the latest in a long line of high-profile hacks. Do consumers worry enough about such breaches? And what options are available to Congress?
Oct 18, 2017
The Hill
Cybercrime

What Is the Adversary Likely to Do with the Clearance Records for 20 Million Americans?
The state actor that hacked the Office of Personnel Management could use the stolen information to further its domestic control against dissidents, enhance its foreign intelligence, and improve its position in the global military and economic order.
Jan 20, 2017
Inside Sources
Cybersecurity

Defining a New Paradigm for Government Secrecy
Technology has afforded the U.S. national security apparatus incredible capabilities, along with equally monumental challenges and risks. The government has the option to choose whether to adjust by taking a proactive approach or to allow external forces to determine the future of its secrets.
Oct 13, 2015
U.S. News & World Report
Intelligence Collection

The USA Freedom Act: The Definition of a Compromise
The USA Freedom Act does not 'balance' privacy and national security, nor is it clear that any legislation can credibly do so. There's no monolithic view of what such a balance should look like.
May 29, 2015
The Hill

Publications

Report
Assessing the Potential for Racial Bias in the Security Clearance Process
In this exploratory report, the authors consider the security clearance process through the lens of racial justice. They identify areas where bias might contribute to the underrepresentation of Black Americans in the national security workforce.
Aug 15, 2022
Report
Employee Conversions to the Cyber Excepted Service: Assessing Factors and Characteristics Related to Personnel Conversion Decisions
In this report, researchers analyze the characteristics of both employees that choose to convert and employees that choose not to convert to the Cyber Excepted Service.
Aug 2, 2021
Report
DoD Cyber Excepted Service Labor Market Analysis and Options for Use of Compensation Flexibilities
In this report, the authors examine labor demand and supply for seven U.S. Department of Defense cyber work roles to help determine whether pay adjustments are necessary to support the recruitment and retention of critical personnel.
Jul 19, 2021
Report
Literature on Personnel Vetting Processes and Procedures: Annotated Selected Bibliography
To help inform the U.S. government in its efforts to improve the vetting processes for public trust and national security positions and protect its assets and information, the authors assembled a selected bibliography of relevant literature.
Oct 14, 2019
Report
Assessing Continuous Evaluation Approaches for Insider Threats: How Can the Security Posture of the U.S. Departments and Agencies Be Improved?
This exploratory project examines various continuous evaluation approaches to detecting insider threats that are available to the U.S. government and assesses the relevance of these approaches to the challenges posed by such insider threats.
Aug 5, 2019
Research Brief
Building an Effective and Practical National Approach to Terrorism Prevention
RAND researchers examined past U.S. countering violent extremism and terrorism prevention efforts and explored options to strengthen them. They found that current capabilities are relatively limited and future efforts must build trust to succeed.
Feb 14, 2019
Report
Practical Terrorism Prevention: Executive Summary
Researchers examined past U.S. countering violent extremism and terrorism prevention efforts and explored options to strengthen them. This document summarizes findings from the main report.
Feb 14, 2019
Report
Practical Terrorism Prevention: Reexamining U.S. National Approaches to Addressing the Threat of Ideologically Motivated Violence
Researchers examined past U.S. countering violent extremism and terrorism prevention efforts and explored options to strengthen them. They found that current capabilities are relatively limited and that future efforts must build trust to succeed.
Feb 14, 2019
Report
Secrecy in U.S. National Security: Why a Paradigm Shift Is Needed
This Perspective summarizes an examination of the adequacy of the system for governing national security information secrecy. It finds the present secrecy paradigm failing and proposes major reforms in making, protecting, and releasing secrets.
Nov 1, 2018
Report
Exploring Cyber Security Policy Options in Australia
RAND conducted a cyber security exercise in Canberra, Australia to explore opportunities to improve cyber security, assess the implications of possible solutions, and inform Australia's next national Cyber Security Strategy.
Aug 7, 2017
Report
Development and Pilot Test of the RAND Program Evaluation Toolkit for Countering Violent Extremism
The RAND Program Evaluation Toolkit for Countering Violent Extremism helps programs assess their activities and identify needed improvements. This report is a companion to the toolkit and provides background on its development and testing.
Mar 13, 2017
Tool
RAND Program Evaluation Toolkit for Countering Violent Extremism
The RAND Program Evaluation Toolkit for Countering Violent Extremism uses checklists, worksheets, and templates to help programs assess whether their activities have met their goals and identify needed improvements.
Mar 13, 2017
Report
A Framework for Exploring Cybersecurity Policy Options
RAND conducted two discovery games to explore possible solutions for improving cybersecurity, assess their implications, and develop an initial framework to support debate and inform decisions regarding cybersecurity policies and practices.
Nov 23, 2016
Report
Defining the Roles, Responsibilities, and Functions for Data Science Within the Defense Intelligence Agency
This report addresses and recommends potential methods for the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) to identify, hire, and organize data scientists.
Nov 18, 2016