Press Release

Dr. Claudia Major joins German Marshall Fund of the United States

Germany’s leading security expert, as senior vice president for transatlantic security and executive team member, will work to strengthen transatlantic security and defense relationship at a crucial moment for Europe and US.

Washington, DC – The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) is pleased to announce that Dr. Claudia Major, leading German political scientist and expert on transatlantic security, will join the organization in March as senior vice president overseeing transatlantic security initiatives and as a member of the executive team.

Dr. Major brings with her a distinguished career in defense and security policy, with a focus on NATO, European security, and transatlantic relations. She has served as the head of the International Security Division at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), where she provided critical analysis and policy advice to decision-makers in Germany, Europe, and beyond. Dr. Major has also held positions at the Center for Security Studies at ETH Zurich, the European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS), the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), and the German foreign ministry. She was made a knight in the French Order of Merit (Chevalier dans l'ordre national du Mérite) and has been awarded the Estonian Cross of Merit.

Dr. Major’s research, publications and advisory work have helped shape European and NATO security policy debates, particularly in response to emerging geopolitical challenges. After the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, she shaped German and European public and political debates on the war, and Europe’s response and security architecture. Her expertise has been instrumental in fostering understanding and cooperation among transatlantic allies on issues such as defense capabilities, deterrence strategies, and Europe’s role in global security.

In the face of the political changes in Germany and the United States alongside major geopolitical shifts worldwide, Dr. Major’s arrival to GMF reinforces the organization’s position as the go-to place for transatlantic security in challenging times.

“We are thrilled to have Claudia join the German Marshall Fund,” said GMF Acting President Dr. Alexandra de Hoop Scheffer. “Her deep expertise, sharp analysis, and unwavering commitment to strengthening transatlantic security will be invaluable as we navigate a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape. Claudia’s leadership will further GMF’s mission to advance a strong, resilient transatlantic partnership in the face of today’s most pressing challenges.”

Dr. Major said: “Never before has the transatlantic relationship been more important, and security and defense are at the heart of this relationship. Europe is under threat, and the political landscape is changing rapidly there and in the United States. I look forward to directly working on maintaining and growing the transatlantic relationship at an institution that has shaped this special relationship like few others have. We have a lot of work ahead of us, and I look forward to getting started.”

Dr. Major will play a pivotal role in expanding GMF’s programming and fostering transatlantic dialogue on defense and security issues to address shared challenges and strengthen cooperation among allies.