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Ellen Laipson is the director of the International Security program at the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University. She joined GMU from the Stimson Center, where she was president and CEO (2002-2015) and continues as president emeritus and distinguished fellow. Her tenure at Stimson followed a quarter century of government service. She serves on a number of academic and other non-governmental boards related to international security and diplomacy, and is a weekly columnist for worldpoliticsreview.com. Her last post in government was vice chair of the National Intelligence Council (1997-2002). She also worked on the State Department’s policy planning staff, the National Security Council staff and the Congressional Research Service. A member of the Council on Foreign Relations, she currently serves on the advisory councils of the International Institute of Strategic Studies, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Georgetown University’s Institute for the Study of Diplomacy and the Notre Dame International Security Center, and on the board of the Diplomacy Center Foundation. From 2003 to 2015, she was a member of the board of the Asia Foundation. She was a member of the CIA External Advisory Panel from 2006-2009, President Obama’s Intelligence Advisory Board from 2009-2013, and on the Secretary of State’s Foreign Affairs Policy Board 2011-2014. Laipson has an MA from the School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University and an AB from Cornell University.

Articles By

The Quest for Green Air Travel By Robin Mills - Mar 19, 2023

An airliner over Dubai’s coast, a single-engine helicopter, and a Japan-Abu Dhabi flight: sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) has proven capable of powering air travel. But can supply rise and cost fall fast enough to make SAF a major part of the aviation industry’s journey to net-zero emissions? While aviation is responsible for about 2 percent of global … Continue reading “The Quest for Green Air Travel”

Food Insecurity Looms After Turkey’s Earthquakes By Alexandra de Cramer - Mar 17, 2023

Turkey’s economy was weak well before February’s devastating earthquakes, but damages to the country’s agricultural sector, one of its most important industries, could push Turkey over the edge. With the growing season fast approaching, farmers in the earthquake zone need immediate assistance to stave off nationwide food shortages. Food-related consequences of the disaster have already surfaced. Within a week … Continue reading “Food Insecurity Looms After Turkey’s Earthquakes”

Russia Returns to the Graveyard of Empires By Nikola Mikovic - Mar 17, 2023

Even as Russia struggles to achieve military and political success in Ukraine, its leaders have turned their attention to another regional objective: restarting business in the “graveyard of empires.” Six months ago, Moscow inked a deal with the Taliban to supply gasoline, oil, and wheat to Afghanistan. Some of those commodities are now arriving by road and rail from Central Asia, providing Afghans … Continue reading “Russia Returns to the Graveyard of Empires”

China Brings Saudi Arabia and Iran Together – Pushes America Out By Faisal Al Yafai - Mar 17, 2023

In diplomatic terms, the optics were shocking. Here were representatives from Saudi Arabia and Iran smiling and holding hands in a foreign capital as they announced the restoration of diplomatic relations after a seven-year break. But the foreign minister in the middle, proudly bringing them together, was not a European or American politician, but China’s Wang Yi. No words were needed. The … Continue reading “China Brings Saudi Arabia and Iran Together – Pushes America Out”

With Russia in Their Sights, Chechens Depart Syria for Ukraine By Haid Haid - Mar 13, 2023

When Syrian mercenaries first began appearing a few years ago in other conflicts, such as in Libya and Azerbaijan, analysts wondered whether the fighters might eventually make their way to Ukraine. By contrast, few have paid attention to what role foreign fighters in Syria, particularly jihadists, might eventually play in Europe. That tunnel vision helps explain … Continue reading “With Russia in Their Sights, Chechens Depart Syria for Ukraine”