Influential Women spotlights Kathleen Brett’s space security career

Influential Women has highlighted Kathleen Brett, a Program Analyst at Secure World Foundation, for her work on space governance, counterspace capabilities and the growing space-nuclear nexus. The profile points to her unconventional path into space policy and the broader need for interdisciplinary talent in a field with limited entry-level openings.

Why it matters: - Kathleen Brett’s career shows how space policy is increasingly shaped by overlapping security, legal and technical issues. - Her work sits at the intersection of space governance, counterspace capabilities and emerging technologies. - The profile also reflects a broader talent pipeline problem: there are relatively few dedicated space policy jobs for early-career professionals.

What happened: - Influential Women featured Kathleen Brett as Program Analyst, Space Security & Stability at Secure World Foundation. - Brett also serves as co-editor of the 2026 Global Counterspace Capabilities Report: An Open Source Assessment. - The profile was published Aug. 26, 2026, in Arlington, Virginia. - A link to Brett’s Influential Women profile was included for readers who want more information.

The details: - Brett’s work focuses on translating complex technical and security issues into policy discussions that can support informed decision-making and international cooperation. - The counterspace report covers military and strategic space developments across 13 nations. - Before moving into space policy, Brett studied history at James Madison University and later added political science after study-abroad plans were canceled during the COVID-19 pandemic. - She earned a Master of Public and International Affairs in Security and Intelligence Studies from the University of Pittsburgh. - During graduate school, Brett joined a space policy research group, attended a U.S. Air Force Academy conference on space issues and later led a working group with the U.S. Space Force and the Air Force Research Laboratory’s AFWERX on the future weaponization of space. - That work led to a presentation at the Pentagon. - Before Secure World Foundation, Brett was an NGFP Graduate Fellow at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, supporting the National Nuclear Security Administration on nuclear security policy, stockpile sustainment and strategic security frameworks. - Brett is also pursuing a Graduate Certificate in Air and Space Law through the University of Mississippi School of Law. - She has presented research at international conferences on BRICS space cooperation, defensive coalitions in orbit and the future of space governance.

Between the lines: - Brett’s path suggests space policy is becoming a cross-disciplinary field where political science, security studies and legal training can be as valuable as technical credentials. - Her career also reflects how adjacent fields, including nuclear security, can serve as entry points into space governance. - The profile frames mentorship and networking as practical career tools, not just soft skills, especially in Washington, D.C.’s crowded policy ecosystem. - Brett’s emphasis on balance and outside relationships points to a broader counterweight to the burnout risk common in high-competition policy careers.

What’s next: - Brett is likely to continue working across space security, international diplomacy, strategic stability and the space-nuclear nexus at Secure World Foundation. - Her ongoing legal studies may further expand her work in space law and diplomacy. - The profile suggests Brett plans to keep encouraging early-career professionals, especially women, to enter the field through adjacent industries rather than waiting for a perfect opening.

The bottom line: - Kathleen Brett’s career is a case study in how unconventional paths can lead into one of the most strategically important corners of space policy.