Dr Claudia Major is one of Germany's most renowned experts on security policy. Her analyses are sought after by the German government, the Bundestag, the media and at international level alike. Since March 2025, she has been supporting the executive team of the independent US think tank German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) as Senior Vice President for Transatlantic Security Initiatives. Previously, she was head of the security policy research group at the renowned German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) in Berlin. Major is a recognised expert in the field of international security and defence policy, focusing on transatlantic relations, NATO and the European security architecture. In this role, she has shaped the security policy debate in Germany and Europe, including in the wake of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. Her previous professional positions include the Centre for Security Studies at ETH Zurich, the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), the EU Institute for Security Studies (Paris), the Federal Foreign Office and Sciences Po Paris. In addition, she has been and continues to be a member of various committees, such as the Advisory Board for Civilian Crisis Prevention of the Federal Foreign Office (2010-2024) and the Advisory Board for Internal Leadership of the Ministry of Defence (since 2023). Claudia Major studied at the Free University of Berlin and Sciences Po Paris and received her doctorate from the University of Birmingham (UK). Dr Major was appointed Knight of the French Order of Merit (Chevalier dans l'Ordre National du Mérite) and received the Estonian Cross of Merit. The University of Duisburg-Essen honoured her with the Mercator Professorship in 2025, and in January 2026 she was awarded the German Armed Forces Cross of Honour in Gold. Claudia Major is an important voice in the public debate on the geopolitical realignment of the world and Germany's security strategy. Her assessments are characterised by analytical clarity, many years of research and a profound understanding of the political and military structures of Europe and NATO. In her lectures, she makes complex security policy developments understandable and shows the consequences of international conflicts and strategic decisions for Europe and Germany.