Colby Goodman
Senior Consultant, Transparency International Defence & Security (website)
email: colbyagoodman[at]gmail[dot]com
twitter: @cogoodman
Senior Consultant, Transparency International Defence & Security (website)
email: colbyagoodman[at]gmail[dot]com
twitter: @cogoodman
security assistance | export control, transfer policy and laws | Africa
Colby Goodman is a Senior Consultant at Transparency International Defence and Security (TI-DS) and an expert commentator on US security assistance abroad. At TI-DS, he conducts research and provides advice on corruption risks within the international arms trade and other forms of external assistance to defense forces.
Goodman has fought to reduce corruption risks and prevent harm in US security assistance over the past 15 years by uncovering some of the deeper challenges and illuminating ways to address these challenges. Three-parts policy sleuth and one-part advocate, he has exposed key corruption-related risks in US counterterrorism aid and in changes to US controls on commercial arms sales as the former Director of the Security Assistance Monitor program. Government officials or congressional staff have used his insights to stop illegal trafficking networks in Africa, enhance US oversight over gifts of US military weapons and training, and push for effective controls on commercial arms sales around the world.
From 2006-2009, he helped bring to light the importance of regulating arms agents or brokers to prevent corruption and the diversion of weapons as a Policy Director for Amnesty International USA. He helped organize a special showing of the movie Lord of War in Congress and at the United Nations to help create new spaces for discussion. Later, he served as Deputy Director at the United Nations Office of Disarmament Affairs Regional Office in Africa to support African efforts in establishing effective controls on conventional arms transfers.
Goodman’s commentary or opinion pieces have appeared in major US newspapers and media outlets covering US foreign policy and the Pentagon, including the Washington Post, the New York Times, Defense News, Foreign Policy, and Military Times. He has written two widely quoted reports on US firearms trafficking to Mexico for the Woodrow Wilson Center. Fascinated with spy and fantasy/sci-fi novels alike, Goodman is also developing a new blog where readers can learn and discuss US foreign policy and security assistance challenges through fiction. Goodman is a member of the Forum on the Arms Trade’s Steering Committee and can be reached at
Recent Publications and Videos:
Colby Goodman is a Senior Consultant at Transparency International Defence and Security (TI-DS) and an expert commentator on US security assistance abroad. At TI-DS, he conducts research and provides advice on corruption risks within the international arms trade and other forms of external assistance to defense forces.
Goodman has fought to reduce corruption risks and prevent harm in US security assistance over the past 15 years by uncovering some of the deeper challenges and illuminating ways to address these challenges. Three-parts policy sleuth and one-part advocate, he has exposed key corruption-related risks in US counterterrorism aid and in changes to US controls on commercial arms sales as the former Director of the Security Assistance Monitor program. Government officials or congressional staff have used his insights to stop illegal trafficking networks in Africa, enhance US oversight over gifts of US military weapons and training, and push for effective controls on commercial arms sales around the world.
From 2006-2009, he helped bring to light the importance of regulating arms agents or brokers to prevent corruption and the diversion of weapons as a Policy Director for Amnesty International USA. He helped organize a special showing of the movie Lord of War in Congress and at the United Nations to help create new spaces for discussion. Later, he served as Deputy Director at the United Nations Office of Disarmament Affairs Regional Office in Africa to support African efforts in establishing effective controls on conventional arms transfers.
Goodman’s commentary or opinion pieces have appeared in major US newspapers and media outlets covering US foreign policy and the Pentagon, including the Washington Post, the New York Times, Defense News, Foreign Policy, and Military Times. He has written two widely quoted reports on US firearms trafficking to Mexico for the Woodrow Wilson Center. Fascinated with spy and fantasy/sci-fi novels alike, Goodman is also developing a new blog where readers can learn and discuss US foreign policy and security assistance challenges through fiction. Goodman is a member of the Forum on the Arms Trade’s Steering Committee and can be reached at
Recent Publications and Videos:
- "Higher or Weaker Walls Over Sensitive U.S. Arms Exports?," The Export Practitioner, March 2020
- "Holes In The Net: US Arms Export Control Gaps In Combatting Corruption," Transparency International Defence & Security Program, January 14, 2020.
- “Improve US counterterrorism efforts by curbing corruption” (with William Hartung), The Hill, Oct 22, 2018.*
- “Corruption in the Defense Sector: Identifying Key Risks to U.S. Counterterrorism Aid” (with Christina Arabia), Security Assistance Monitor, Sept 13, 2018."
- "Major Trends in U.S. Counterterrorism Aid FY 2015-19," Security Assistance Monitor, May 16, 2018.
- "Five dangers of giving the Commerce Department oversight of firearms exports [commentary]" (with Rachel Stohl), DefenseNews, Sept 25, 2017.*
- "Burning Issues: The Arms Trade As A Foreign Policy Tool" (video below), July 13, 2017.
- "US Foreign Military Training Reached Record Highs in 2015: Trend Report May 2017," Security Assistance Monitor, May 4, 2017.*
- "Commerce Department Boosts Arms Sales Deliveries to Record High," Lobelog, March 1, 2017..
* Indicates co-author or contributor.