Asha Castleberry-Hernandez

Asha Castleberry-Hernandez is a U.S. national security and foreign policy expert with over ten years of experience working on U.S.– Middle East policy. For U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), she served as the Kuwait Desk Officer and worked as a Security Cooperation and Engagement Officer for Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve. She also worked on U.S.–Middle East policy at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations and was a member of the Executive Secretariat for Near Eastern Affairs at the Department of State.

She currently serves on Congressman George Latimer’s (D-NY) Citizen Task Force as the Chairwoman of the Foreign Policy and Military Affairs Committee. The role includes advising on legislation and outreach activities. Rep. Latimer serves on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Asha was recognized as one of the “40 Under 40” by the Middle East Policy Council and presented a high-level briefing to the U.S. Senate on strategic competition in the Middle East region. She has been featured on multiple media outlets, including CNN, MSNBC, CBS News, Fox News, Sky News, BBC News, and i24NEWS, among others. Her 2024 book, Why National Security Matters: A Memoir , describes and discusses her experiences in counterterrorism, international affairs, and diplomatic work, such as in El Salvador and China. Asha earned master’s degree in international security policy with a specialization on the Middle East Region from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, and she is an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University's Walsh School of Foreign Service.