Julia McQuaid
Julia McQuaid is the vice president and director of the Strategy, Policy, and Plans Division at CNA. A seasoned political-military affairs specialist focusing on the Middle East and Africa, she brings over 20 years of experience advising the U.S. Navy, Department of Defense, and other national security agencies on strategic and operational issues. Her expertise spans areas such as strategic competition, security cooperation, building partner capacity, interoperability with partners and allies, counterterrorism, and global maritime security.
McQuaid has led several high-profile projects at CNA, including a congressionally directed assessment of the 17-year U.S. effort to defeat Al-Qaeda. Her work influenced substantial revisions in U.S. counterterrorism approaches overseas. She has also conducted in-depth research on adversary tactics, techniques, and procedures, particularly within non-state actor groups, and supported DOD efforts to develop countermeasures.
Her analytical leadership extends to wargames and strategic studies, addressing global challenges like climate change, natural resource competition, and critical minerals, with a particular focus on their implications for Africa and the Middle East. Additionally, she consults for Defense Science Board of the Department of Defense, recently contributing to a study on the security impacts of climate change.
McQuaid holds a Master of Arts in Arab studies from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Arts in French and government from Franklin & Marshall College.
