Marla Keenan

Marla B. Keenan's areas of expertise focus on issues relating to international security, including human rights in armed conflict, protection of civilians, civilian harm tracking and analysis, and civil-military relations in armed conflict. Marla is also a principal advisor of Civilian Harm Mitigation & Response (CHMR) at CNA Corporation.

Marla was senior director of policy and advocacy and previously senior director of programs at Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC), a Washington, DC-based NGO working on armed conflict and the protection of civilians. She led the design, management, and successful implementation of outcome-focused field programs in active conflict zones. Marla has conducted high-level advocacy with international and regional organizations, including the United Nations, African Union, and NATO. She has worked on conflict and crisis in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria, Ethiopia, Lebanon, Mali, Israel, Jordan, Nepal, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ukraine, Yemen, and the Central African Republic.

Before joining CIVIC, Marla was an Edward Rawson Fellow in Communications at Citizens for Global Solutions, working in US global engagement. Marla regularly researched and wrote articles and papers on various topics from the International Criminal Court to Avian Influenza. She began her career as a management consultant working with for-profit companies on financial budgeting and forecasting, communications, and marketing.

Marla holds a Master of Science in Public Policy and Management with a double concentration in policy analysis and international policy from the H. John Heinz III School of Public Policy & Management at Carnegie Mellon University. She completed her undergraduate degree in Business Administration at the University of Arizona. Marla is a National Security Fellow at the Truman National Security Project. She resides in Austin, TX, with her partner and daughter.

Her expertise includes: Civil-Military relationships, Civilian Casualties, Protection of Civilians, Civilian Harm, Security Force Assistance, Civilian Harm Mitigation, Civilians living through war.

Follow Marla on Twitter @marlainaction