Mara Karlin
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities
Mara Elizabeth Karlin earned an undergraduate degree from Tulane University and a master’s degree and Ph.D. in Strategic Studies from Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies.
Her government career began In the Office of the Secretary of Defense. She was Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy and Force Development during President Obama’s administration, after which she returned to Johns Hopkins to become Deputy Director of the Strategic Studies Department and later its director.
She was appointed to serve as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs in the early days of President Biden’s administration. She soon became the Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs.
President Joe Biden nominated her to be Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities. She was confirmed by the Senate and assumed her duties in August 2021.
In the News…
The Pentagon’s attempts to establish and engage in communications with senior officials of the Chinese military are being rebuffed by China as it continues to advance plans to retake Taiwan.
Assistant Secretary of Defense Mara Karlin said “escalation management” between the two nations is crucial.
“We have been trying really hard to set up communication channels [with China], and they have not been enthusiastic,” she said.
She added, “It’s really important that the most senior folks can talk to each other as quickly as possible when something happens. So, Secretary Austin keeps asking for that. The [People’s Republic of China] has not been enthusiastic about that, and I think that’s really problematic.”
