Mara Karlin

Mara Karlin is a professor and policy expert at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, where she serves as professor of practice, interim director of the Foreign Policy Institute, and faculty co-lead for Security, Strategy, and Statecraft. Karlin has authored books including "Building Militaries in Fragile States: Challenges for the United States" and "The Inheritance: America’s Military After Two Decades of War." She is also a faculty affiliate at the SNF Agora Institute and a visiting fellow at Brookings Institution.

Karlin’s career includes public service at the U.S. Department of Defense, where she has advised six U.S. secretaries of defense, including as assistant secretary of defense for strategy, plans, and capabilities. In this role, she led the development and implementation of the National Defense Strategy and oversaw modernization efforts in U.S. force posture, particularly in Asia and through the AUKUS partnership. Karlin managed defense relations with nearly 150 countries and contributed to strategic reviews and commissions such as the National Defense Strategy Commission and the Syria Study Group.

Karlin appears on media outlets including CNN, BBC, and DW News, and contributes to policy forums and podcasts. She has received the Secretary of Defense Distinguished Public Service Medal, the highest civilian honor from the Department of Defense. Through her scholarship, government service, and public engagement, Karlin is recognized for her expertise in global security, defense policy, and international affairs.