Getting In, Part 1: So You Want to Be a Political Appointee A guide to Schedule C appointments and the path to the inside

Sharing my latest on substack open.substack.com/pub/aliaawad...

The Army Secretary’s Ukraine Role Is Smart Policy Service secretaries already shape U.S. policy every day. It’s time we treat them as the diplomats they are.

Sharing my latest on Substack.

Washington continues to underestimate the military departments’ role in policymaking. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll’s Ukraine diplomacy is a reminder that they can be diplomatic actors, not just “train and equip” organizations.

open.substack.com/pub/aliaawad...

One Democrat’s Year in the Wilderness Leaving government, losing my footing, and moving through the five stages of grief.

I wrote on Substack about my experience leaving government earlier this year. It’s pretty personal, but I found it cathartic to share.

open.substack.com/pub/aliaawad...

Feels like there’s a serious lack of inspirational leaders to take cues from in this moment.

Might watch the Superbowl this year just to feel something.

I don’t even speak Spanish but I’ve never been more annoyed in my life

Me to the table next to me ordering “empan-ya-dahs” yesterday

The Civilian Protection Center of Excellence was established with strong bipartisan support & shaped at every step of the way by uniformed service staffs, combatant commands, & intelligence professionals.

I hope Congress & this admin will preserve it so it can provide value to our military.

Judge Blocks Trump’s Effort to Restrict Birthright Citizenship: Live Updates

Breaking News: Senator Lisa Murkowski became the first Republican to say she would oppose Pete Hegseth’s nomination to lead the Pentagon.

I promise I’ll write substantive things soon but right now all I’ve got is vibes and fumes.

Hashtag resist the urge to read the news while on your dream vacation in Patagonia. Hashtag you know you lack the inner fortitude to do it but maybe you could try a little harder.

@lawfare.bsky.social has launched a new page to keep track of executive actions related to national security and foreign policy, Lawfare analysis of the orders, and the legal challenges against them. Check the page out here: www.lawfaremedia.org/projects-ser...

I’m also eager to participate in panels, round tables, and media activities so if you’re organizing those, loop me in and let me know how I can help!

I hope you’ll follow along, give feedback, and make BlueSky the new platform of choice for people who are serious about policy and politics. I know we’re all sick of talking about the Other App, so let’s make this happen.

In addition to posting on these topics, I’ll use my platform to give advice for those seeking foreign policy careers in DC. The gates in this town are too high and too rigid. It’s my passion to lower them and help people grow as professionals. Luckily, I know a thing or two about how this all works.

Hi BlueSky! I’m thrilled to start engaging more on social media again now that I’ve finished my time in gov’t as a political appointee.

My wheelhouse is defense, civ-mil relations, the Middle East, and general natsec. I’m also a political nerd and known for having, shall we say, strong opinions.

Shock for the conservative ranks of national security professionals? If you worked for any of these leaders, you are blacklisted for the next four years (at least.)

Kathleen nails it. Every time someone says this, I ask, do you think the US’s main problem is that its military is not good enough at killing the other side? Like, that’s your analysis of what’s gone wrong in all our ops of the last several decades?

Omg I laughed so hard

Can’t wait to rewatch the West Wing 300 times in the next few years.

The discourse about leaving “The Other Place™️” misses the mark often times. I’m here because I couldn’t engage w different voices, not because I didn’t want to. It’s so unusable that none of my posts get engagement and I’m bombarded with bots and ads. That’s not a town square, that’s an echo chamber

Happy Friday. Treating myself by disengaging from networking and job hunting for the rest of the day. My only goal is to get through the work day ✨🙏

I’m looking to spend 1-2 months in Argentina and Chile starting in January. Definitely hitting Patagonia.

Any recommendations for things to do, see, and eat?? #travel #argentina #chile