Julia Macdonald

Julia Macdonald is Director, Research and Engagement, at the Asia New Zealand Foundation and a Research Professor at the Korbel School of International Studies, University of Denver.

Her academic research focuses on nuclear politics, new military technologies, and U.S. military strategy and effectiveness. She is the co-author of The Hand Behind Unmanned: Origins of the US Autonomous Military Arsenal (Oxford University Press, 2025). Other recent work has appeared in Security Studies, the Journal of Conflict Resolution, Journal of Strategic Studies,
Foreign Policy Analysis, Armed Forces and Society, and in various policy outlets.

Julia has held several positions in government. From 2020-2024 Julia worked for the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet leading work on New Zealand’s first National Security Strategy. She has also worked for the New Zealand Ministry of Defence.

Julia has held fellowships at Harvard University, MIT, and the University of Pennsylvania. She holds a Ph.D. from the George Washington University, an M.A. (Hons) from the University of Chicago, a B.A. (Hons) from the University of Canterbury (NZ), and a BA from the University of Otago (NZ).