Kaleigh Thomas is the Research Associate for the Middle East Security Program and 2020 recipient of the 1LT Andrew J. Bacevich Jr., USA Award at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). She also serves as the co-founder and Director of the Make Room initiative at CNAS which aims to empower communities underrepresented in national security, educate the next generation of leaders, and provide a platform to share their expert perspectives.
Her research centers on U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, with a particular focus on Iran, Syria, and the economic tools used in United States’ Middle East strategy. She has appeared as a commentator on BBC News, Voice of America, and CNBC, among other outlets, and her writing and analysis has appeared in Defense One, Foreign Policy online, The National Interest, Defense News, World Politics Review, and various CNAS publications.
Previously, she served as a program coordinator and research assistant for the Energy, Economics, and Security and Middle East Security programs at CNAS. Prior to joining CNAS, she worked at the International Peace and Security Institute and in marketing communications at HKS, Inc. Kaleigh has her Master of Arts degree in international peace and conflict resolution from American University, where her studies focused on peacebuilding and terrorism. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in business administration with majors in international business and marketing from the University of South Carolina.
Recent Publications & News
-
Toward a More Proliferated World?
Reports
By Eric Brewer, Ilan Goldenberg, Joseph Rodgers, Maxwell Simon & Kaleigh Thomas
-
Sharper: The Future of U.S. Sanctions Policy
Commentary
By Kaleigh Thomas, Cole Stevens & Chris Estep
-
Reengaging Iran
Reports
By Ilan Goldenberg, Elisa Catalano Ewers & Kaleigh Thomas
-
Virtual Report Launch: Reengaging Iran: A New Strategy for the United States
Events
By Ilan Goldenberg, Kaleigh Thomas, Elisa Catalano Ewers, Jake Sullivan, Kelsey Davenport, Mark Dubowitz, Kirsten Fontenrose, Ellie Geranmayeh, Michael Singh, Dana Stroul, Elizabeth Rosenberg & Ariane Tabatabai
-
Elections provide U.S. and Iran a brief window to lower tensions: think tank
In The News
By Ilan Goldenberg, Kaleigh Thomas & Elisa Catalano Ewers
View All Reports by Kaleigh Thomas View All Articles & Multimedia by Kaleigh Thomas
- More Publications by Kaleigh Thomas
- Reports
- Commentaries
- Podcasts
- Videos
- Press Relating to Kaleigh Thomas
- In The News
- Press Notes