Ian Platz

Chief Communications Officer

Ian Platz is a national security professional with more than a decade of experience working across irregular warfare, strategic communications, security cooperation, and defense governance. His work focuses on translating complex operational realities, research findings, and policy tradeoffs into clear, credible insights that inform decision-making and shape public debate in contested environments.

Most recently, Ian served as the lead for Civil-Military programs at the United States Institute of Peace, where he directed a multi-million-dollar research and engagement portfolio spanning Europe, Africa, and Asia. In that role, he led research, convening, and engagement on civilian harm mitigation, societal resilience, national resistance, and the civil-military dimensions of irregular and hybrid conflict. He also led work on defense industrial base resilience, including allied production capacity, secure supply chains, and the role of industry in sustaining deterrence.

Previously, Ian held multiple roles at the U.S. Department of State, including in Political-Military Affairs, Counterterrorism, African Affairs, and the Global Engagement Center. Across these assignments, he managed large security cooperation and counterterrorism portfolios, supported counter-disinformation and influence operations, and coordinated closely with the Department of Defense on governance-focused defense and security assistance.