
Daniel Mahanty
Director of Research, Learning, and Innovation, Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) (website)
twitter: @danmahanty
email: dan [at] civiliansinconflict [dot] org
phone: (202) 316-2715
Director of Research, Learning, and Innovation, Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) (website)
twitter: @danmahanty
email: dan [at] civiliansinconflict [dot] org
phone: (202) 316-2715
arms sales | security assistance | harm to civilians - casualties, human rights, development | child soldiers
Daniel Mahanty is the Director of Research, Learning, and Innovation for the Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC). He was formerly the Director of CIVIC’s U.S. Program, where he promoted the adoption of U.S. policies and practices for preventing and responding to civilian harm in conflict. He served at the Department of State from 1999-2016, where he created and led the Office of Security and Human Rights in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. He is a member of the UN advisory network on Security Sector Reform and teaches "Human Rights and U.S. National Security Policy" at Georgetown University and at the Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas through Kansas University. He is a former Colin L. Powell Fellow and term member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and currently a Truman National Security Fellow. His writings have appeared in Foreign Policy, Newsweek, War on the Rocks, Defense One, and other publications. He holds a master’s degree in national security policy from Georgetown and a bachelor’s degree in economics from George Mason University.
Daniel Mahanty is the Director of Research, Learning, and Innovation for the Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC). He was formerly the Director of CIVIC’s U.S. Program, where he promoted the adoption of U.S. policies and practices for preventing and responding to civilian harm in conflict. He served at the Department of State from 1999-2016, where he created and led the Office of Security and Human Rights in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. He is a member of the UN advisory network on Security Sector Reform and teaches "Human Rights and U.S. National Security Policy" at Georgetown University and at the Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas through Kansas University. He is a former Colin L. Powell Fellow and term member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and currently a Truman National Security Fellow. His writings have appeared in Foreign Policy, Newsweek, War on the Rocks, Defense One, and other publications. He holds a master’s degree in national security policy from Georgetown and a bachelor’s degree in economics from George Mason University.
Recent Publications*:
- "(Un)Accountable: Rethinking US Security Sector Accountability Across the Domestic-International Divide," Center for Civilians in Conflict and Stimson Center, March 1, 2023. *
- "Even a Short War Over Taiwan or the Baltics Would Be Devastating," Foreign Policy, July 29, 2021.
- "Breaking the Horrifying US Drone Habit," Fellow Travelers, May 24, 2021.*
- "At 100 Days, Grading Biden’s Progress Toward a More Responsible US Arms Trade Policy," Just Security, April 28, 2021.*
- "A US Return to Human Rights Requires Consistency and Self-Restraint in National Security," Just Security, February 18, 2021.
- "Give Local Civil Society a Say in U.S. Security Assistance," Just Security, February 9, 2021.*
- "They have names: Accounting for harm to civilians in Iraq in Syria," The Hill, February 3, 2021.
- "Toward A More Responsible US Arms Trade Policy: Recommendations for the Biden-Harris Administration," Just Security, January 19, 2021.*
- "When exceptions become the rule, 'forever wars' result," with Elias Yousif, The Hill, December 8, 2020.
- "The Next Administration Should Bring the Shadow Wars into the Light," Defense One, November 25, 2020.*
- "Exception(s) to the Rule(s): Civilian Harm, Oversight, and Accountability in the Shadow Wars," Center for Civilians in Conflict, Security Assistance Monitor, and Stimson Center, November 2020.*
- "Having Their Say: Guidelines for Involving Local Civil Society in the Planning, Design, Implementation, and Evaluation of U.S. Security Assistance and Cooperation," Center for Civilians in Conflict, October 2020.
*Indicates co-author, or contributor.