Daniel Mahanty
Director, US Program, Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) (website)
twitter: @danmahanty
email: dan [at] civiliansinconflict [dot] org
phone: (202) 316-2715
Director, US Program, 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 CIVIC's U.S. Program, where he engages U.S. policymakers to promote the adoption of policies and practices that enhance the protection of civilians in conflict, including through international security cooperation and assistance. Prior to joining CIVIC, Dan spent 16 years at the U.S. Department of State. In 2012, he created and led the Office of Security and Human Rights in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor. In this role, he oversaw efforts to integrate human rights in U.S. security assistance and arms sales, advance the prevention of recruitment and use of child soldiers, and promote policies related to protecting civilians in conflict. As an adjunct associate professor at Georgetown University, he also designed the course "Human Rights and U.S. National Security" for the Center for Security Studies, which he taught for three years with his wife, Kristen.
Mahanty holds a Masters from Georgetown in U.S. National Security Policy and a Bachelors in Economics from George Mason University. He is a Colin L. Powell Fellow, a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a Truman National Security Fellow.
Daniel Mahanty is the director of CIVIC's U.S. Program, where he engages U.S. policymakers to promote the adoption of policies and practices that enhance the protection of civilians in conflict, including through international security cooperation and assistance. Prior to joining CIVIC, Dan spent 16 years at the U.S. Department of State. In 2012, he created and led the Office of Security and Human Rights in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor. In this role, he oversaw efforts to integrate human rights in U.S. security assistance and arms sales, advance the prevention of recruitment and use of child soldiers, and promote policies related to protecting civilians in conflict. As an adjunct associate professor at Georgetown University, he also designed the course "Human Rights and U.S. National Security" for the Center for Security Studies, which he taught for three years with his wife, Kristen.
Mahanty holds a Masters from Georgetown in U.S. National Security Policy and a Bachelors in Economics from George Mason University. He is a Colin L. Powell Fellow, a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a Truman National Security Fellow.
Recent Publications*:
- "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.