Heather Hurlburt

Heather Hurlburt is the director of the New Models of Policy Change project at New America's Political Reform program. Hurlburt leads research into how policy advocacy can adapt to be effective in our current environment of intense political polarization and guides advocates and funders seeking to navigate politics effectively on behalf of policy solutions on issues such as national security and climate change.

Hurlburt is a contributor to New York Magazine; has published articles in Politico, Foreign Affairs, The National Interest, Fortune, Vox, and Time, among other publications. She co-hosts the Drezburt podcast and frequently appears in print and broadcast media.

Previously, she ran the National Security Network, a premier source for internationalist foreign policy messaging and advocacy, held senior positions in the White House and State Department under President Bill Clinton, and worked on Capitol Hill and for the International Crisis Group.

Her policy work focused primarily on the politics of U.S. foreign policy, counter-terrorism and resilience, and the nexus of civilian and military approaches to conflict resolution.

Before joining the National Security Network, Hurlburt ran her own communications and strategy practice, working on global and political issues with political, entertainment, and educational leaders. From 1995-2001, Hurlburt served in the Clinton Administration as Special Assistant and Speechwriter to the President, speechwriter for Secretaries of State Albright and Christopher, and member of the State Department's Policy Planning staff.

She has also worked for the International Crisis Group, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and the Congressional Helsinki Commission.

In 2012, Hurlburt was named to Foreign Policy Magazine's "FP Top 50" and again in January of 2013, Foreign Policy Magazine featured Hurlburt as one of the 10 women the Obama administration should appoint to a top national security job. She appears frequently as a commentator in print and news media and her work has been published by the New York Times, US News and World Report, Washington Post, Foreign Policy, Foreign Affairs, Guardian, POLITICO, and New Republic.

Hurlburt holds a Bachelor's degree from Brown University and a Master's from the George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs.