Experts

Dr. Leslie Vinjamuri joined the Council in 2025 as the president and chief executive officer, after previously serving as director of the US and the Americas program at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, known as Chatham House, in London. She brings nearly 30 years of experience working at the intersection of international affairs, research, policy, and public engagement.

Dina Smeltz, a polling expert, has more than 25 years of experience designing and fielding international social and political surveys. Prior to joining the Council to lead its annual survey of American attitudes on US foreign policy, she served in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research at the US State Department's Office of Research from 1992 to 2008.

Ambassador Julianne Smith, who served as the former US permanent representative to NATO, is a national security expert with over two decades of experience in US and European defense policy and transatlantic relations. She's held leadership positions at the White House, Department of Defense, and Department of State. Smith joined the Council in 2025 as a distinguished fellow in defense and security.