Jeffrey Edmonds

Global Fellow

October 1, 2017 – December 31, 2023

jeffrey.edmonds@wilsoncenter.org Schedule an interview

Professional Affiliation

Senior Research Scientist, Center for Naval Analyses

Expert Bio

Jeffrey Edmonds is an expert on Russia and Eurasia. His research focuses on the Russian military, foreign policy, Russian threat perceptions, and Russian information and cyber operations. Most recently, Edmonds served as the Director for Russia on the National Security Council and acting Senior Director for Russia during the 2017 presidential transition. Edmonds was also the lead director during a review of the United States policy towards Russia, culminating in a presidentially approved strategy that had global impact. Prior to the NSC, Edmonds served as a military analyst with the Central Intelligence Agency, covering Eurasian militaries. He has served in the U.S. Army on both active duty and the reserves for 22 years, with tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Edmonds holds an M.P.A. from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, an M.A. from Boston University in Religious Studies, and a B.S. from the United States Military Academy at West Point.

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Wilson Center Project

Managing Russia-US Bilateral Relations

Project Summary

The Obama Administration acknowledged a deep and abiding adversarial relationship with Russia and it worked through the interagency to develop a Russia strategy that the President approved in 2015. While the strategy served as a necessary impetus for the interagency to adjust to the new strategic reality vis-à- vis Russia, there is much more work to be done in understanding what drives the US and Russia to have the relationship that they do. This study would utilize in-person interviews in the United States, Europe and Russia with experts in both policy and academic arenas. This will be coupled with historical research in both Russian and English. The final product would be a paper for publication in an academic journal but with other interim papers for publication across the media spectrum. Interim results could also form the basis of speaking engagements and interviews.