Luke Hartig

Executive Editor

Luke Hartig (@LukeHartig) is Executive Editor of Just Security. He is also Executive Director of National Journal’s Network Science Initiative and Fellow, International Security Program at New America.

Luke previously served as Senior Director for Counterterrorism at the National Security Council (NSC), where he was responsible for advising White House leadership on counterterrorism matters and co-managing the NSC’s counterterrorism policy office. Prior to the NSC, Luke served as the deputy director for counterterrorism operations in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Luke has also served in various national security positions with the State Department, Office of Management and Budget, Government Accountability Office, and U.S. Forces Afghanistan. Luke began his career as a Peace Corps volunteer in Guatemala.

Luke holds an M.P.P. from the Harvard Kennedy School and a B.A. in international relations from Boston University. He is a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a fellow with the Truman National Security Project. Luke is also on LinkedIn.

Articles by this author:

The Just Security Podcast: The Evolution of U.S. Hostage Policy

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Aug 1st, 2024

Permanently Winding Down the War on Terror Requires Greater Transparency

by and

Jan 30th, 2023

The Biden Drone Playbook: The Elusive Promise of Restrained Counterterrorism

by

Oct 17th, 2022

Al-Kurdi Capture Raises Thorny Detention Issues

by , and

Jun 17th, 2022

Biden’s New Counterterrorism Policy in Somalia: Cautions and Unknowns

by

May 17th, 2022

Still at War: The United States in Somalia

by and

Mar 31st, 2022

Still at War: The United States in Yemen

by and

Mar 24th, 2022

A Big Step Forward or Running in Place?: The Pentagon’s New Policy on Civilian Casualties

by

Feb 8th, 2022

Questions on the Baghuz Strikes

by , , and

Nov 15th, 2021

Reexamining the Fundamentals of the Drone Program After the Kabul Strike

by

Nov 10th, 2021

Five Principles to End the Forever War

by

Sep 7th, 2021

Biden’s Drone Policy Review: Recommendations for a Reset

by

Mar 5th, 2021

Letting Diplomacy Lead US Counterterrorism: What Would That Look Like?

by

Mar 1st, 2021

Not a Coup at DOD: How Acting Sec. Miller’s Reorganization May Improve Special Ops Oversight

by

Nov 20th, 2020

Prosecuting the ISIS “Beatles:” A testament to dedicated US government professionalism

by

Oct 9th, 2020

On 9/11, Interrogating the Assumptions that Undergird the “Forever War”

by

Sep 11th, 2020

Ten Days that Show Why Trump’s Wrong on Terrorism

by and

May 27th, 2020

What Counts As Sufficient Transparency on Civilian Casualties in Somalia

by

Apr 20th, 2020

Trump’s Fatal Mistake: Killing Soleimani vs. Countering ISIS

by

Jan 6th, 2020

The Missing Assistant Secretary of Defense and the Soleimani Strike

by

Jan 3rd, 2020

IG Falls Short of Justice in Investigating Political Retaliation at the State Department

by

Nov 22nd, 2019

Trump’s Communications Malpractice Mars His Victory Lap on al-Baghdadi

by

Oct 28th, 2019

How the GOP’s Internal Politics of Raiding Military Construction Projects Will Play Out

by

Sep 4th, 2019

Part III: The Muddy Middle: A New Framework for Use of Force

by and

Aug 16th, 2019

Part II: The Muddy Middle: Challenges of Applying Use of Force Policy Guidance in Practice

by and

Aug 15th, 2019

The Muddy Middle: The Disappearing Lines in America’s Counterterrorism Wars and How to Restore Order

by and

Aug 14th, 2019

Revisiting General Counsel Ney’s Speech in Light of New Pentagon Leadership

by

Jul 31st, 2019

Asking the Right Question on Iran, Al-Qaeda and the AUMF

by , and

Jun 21st, 2019

Less Transparency Won’t Fix a Lack of Transparency: A Response to Gen. Dunlap on Civilian Casualty Reporting Requirements

by

Mar 22nd, 2019

I Helped Write the Exec Order on Public Reporting of Lethal Operations. Here’s What Trump Has Undone.

by

Mar 8th, 2019

Military Construction Funds and Local Politics that Will Shape GOP’s Stance on Trump’s Emergency Declaration

by

Feb 22nd, 2019

Annotation of the Pentagon Report to Congress on Detainee Abuse by U.S. Partners in Yemen

by

Jan 8th, 2019