Kristina Obecny is an international affairs fellow in national security, sponsored by Janine and J. Tomilson Hill at the Council on Foreign Relations. She has nearly fifteen years of experience in national security as a civilian with the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy at the Department of Defense. Most recently, from November 2023 to April 2025, she was detailed to the National Security Council as the director for India, where she led U.S. national security strategy and policy coordination on India. At the Department of Defense, Obecny served in several roles within the Indo-Pacific Security Affairs and Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict policy offices, including as director for irregular warfare campaigning and director for South Asia. In addition to government service, Obecny held several positions at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, including as a fellow with the International Security Program. She holds a BA in international studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an MA in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College.