About

Alvina Ahmed is a graduate student at the Schar School for Policy and Government at George Mason University. She was previously a readiness analyst in the US Navy where she worked on issues related to US naval force posture and sea-based strategic deterrence. In this role, she also led coordination efforts for US Fleet Forces Command’s contributions to the 2024 Chief of Naval Operations Navigation Plan (NAVPLAN), a strategic document outlining the US Navy’s near and long-term priorities.

Ahmed’s research interests focus on strategic stability, nuclear deterrence, arms control, and emerging security challenges. She was an early-career nuclear scholar with the Project on Nuclear Issues (PONI) at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a nuclear risk reduction fellow with the Council on Strategic Risks, and a defense fellow with the Rising Experts program with Young Professionals in Foreign Policy (YPFP).

Ahmed’s writing appeared in Fair Observer, Charged Affairs, and CSIS. She also serves as a mentor with Girl Security, an organization which advocates for and supports women and other underrepresented groups in pursuing careers in national security.

Ahmed holds a Master of Arts in International Affairs from the School of International Service at American University and a Bachelor of Arts in English from SUNY New Paltz. She also spent a year studying German Studies at Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, Germany.