Sharing my latest on Substack.

Washington continues to underestimate the military departments’ role in policymaking. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll’s Ukraine diplomacy is a reminder that they can be diplomatic actors, not just “train and equip” organizations.

open.substack.com/pub/aliaawad...

I wrote on Substack about my experience leaving government earlier this year. It’s pretty personal, but I found it cathartic to share.

open.substack.com/pub/aliaawad...

Feels like there’s a serious lack of inspirational leaders to take cues from in this moment.

Might watch the Superbowl this year just to feel something.

Me to the table next to me ordering “empan-ya-dahs” yesterday

The Civilian Protection Center of Excellence was established with strong bipartisan support & shaped at every step of the way by uniformed service staffs, combatant commands, & intelligence professionals.

I hope Congress & this admin will preserve it so it can provide value to our military.

Breaking News: Senator Lisa Murkowski became the first Republican to say she would oppose Pete Hegseth’s nomination to lead the Pentagon.

Hashtag resist the urge to read the news while on your dream vacation in Patagonia. Hashtag you know you lack the inner fortitude to do it but maybe you could try a little harder.

@lawfare.bsky.social has launched a new page to keep track of executive actions related to national security and foreign policy, Lawfare analysis of the orders, and the legal challenges against them. Check the page out here: www.lawfaremedia.org/projects-ser...

Hi BlueSky! I’m thrilled to start engaging more on social media again now that I’ve finished my time in gov’t as a political appointee.

My wheelhouse is defense, civ-mil relations, the Middle East, and general natsec. I’m also a political nerd and known for having, shall we say, strong opinions.

Shock for the conservative ranks of national security professionals? If you worked for any of these leaders, you are blacklisted for the next four years (at least.)

Kathleen nails it. Every time someone says this, I ask, do you think the US’s main problem is that its military is not good enough at killing the other side? Like, that’s your analysis of what’s gone wrong in all our ops of the last several decades?

Can’t wait to rewatch the West Wing 300 times in the next few years.

The discourse about leaving “The Other Place™️” misses the mark often times. I’m here because I couldn’t engage w different voices, not because I didn’t want to. It’s so unusable that none of my posts get engagement and I’m bombarded with bots and ads. That’s not a town square, that’s an echo chamber

Happy Friday. Treating myself by disengaging from networking and job hunting for the rest of the day. My only goal is to get through the work day ✨🙏

I’m looking to spend 1-2 months in Argentina and Chile starting in January. Definitely hitting Patagonia.

Any recommendations for things to do, see, and eat?? #travel #argentina #chile