Areas of Expertise: Irregular warfare; conflict and stabilization operations; Iraq, Turkey, Iran; regional security in the Middle East
Dr. Denise Natali is the Director of the Institute for National Strategic Studies at the National Defense University, where she leads applied research and strategic analysis in direct support of the Department of War, the Joint Force, and senior national security decision-makers. Dr. Natali previously served as the U.S. Assistant Secretary for Conflict and Stabilization Operations. She has extensive on-the-ground experience in conflict zones in the Middle East and South Asia and has provided direct strategic and operational support to the Department of War for Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq and Syria, as well as Operation Provide Comfort II in northern Iraq, contributing to military planning and partner force engagement. Dr. Natali directed cross-border operations for an NGO in Peshawar, Pakistan and has taught at public and private universities in Iraq, including the American University of Iraq–Sulaymaniyah.
An award-winning author, Dr. Natali has published extensively on regional security, irregular warfare dynamics, state weakness, energy geopolitics, and cross-border conflict. Her books include The Kurdish Quasi-State: Development and Dependency in Post–Gulf War Iraq and The Kurds and the State: Evolving National Identity in Iraq, Turkey, and Iran.
Dr. Natali holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania, a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, and a B.A. in Government from Franklin & Marshall College. She studied at L’Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales in Paris, the University of Tehran Deh Khoda Language Program in Iran, and Tel Aviv University. Dr. Natali is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and speaks French and conversational Kurdish and Farsi.