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Counterterrorism, Foreign and defense policy, Grand strategy, International relations, and Middle East

Gil Barndollar

Non-Resident Fellow

Gil Barndollar is a non-resident fellow at Defense Priorities and a senior research fellow at the Catholic University of America’s Center for the Study of Statesmanship.

Barndollar served as an infantry officer in the United States Marine Corps from 2009 to 2016, deploying to Afghanistan twice, to Guantanamo Bay, and to the Persian Gulf. Barndollar has written for publications including The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, Foreign Policy, Los Angeles Times, and U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, and has appeared on CNN, Fox News, the BBC World Service, and other national and international media outlets. He holds an AB in history from Bowdoin College and MPhil and PhD degrees in history from the University of Cambridge.

op-edGrand strategy

DOGE Has Its Sights on the Defense Department

By Gil Barndollar

May 9, 2025

After dealing with lower-hanging fruit, Elon Musk’s U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) now has its sights on a bigger […]

op-edGrand strategy, Alliances

Geography has given the US unrivaled security. Trump is destroying it

By Gil Barndollar and Rajan Menon

May 4, 2025

op-edUkraine‑Russia, Europe and Eurasia, Russia, Ukraine

The Deep Strike Dodge: Firepower and Manpower in Ukraine’s War

By Gil Barndollar

February 26, 2025

More from Gil Barndollar

op-edGrand strategy

DOGE Has Its Sights on the Defense Department

By Gil Barndollar

May 9, 2025

op-edGrand strategy, Alliances

Geography has given the US unrivaled security. Trump is destroying it

By Gil Barndollar and Rajan Menon

May 4, 2025

op-edUkraine‑Russia, Europe and Eurasia, Russia, Ukraine

The Deep Strike Dodge: Firepower and Manpower in Ukraine’s War

By Gil Barndollar

February 26, 2025

op-edSyria, Afghanistan, Middle East, Russia

Who lost more weapons—Russia in Syria or America in Afghanistan?

By Gil Barndollar

December 17, 2024

In the mediaGrand strategy, Afghanistan, Americas

Risking Mexico and the Trump Presidency

Featuring Gil Barndollar

December 5, 2024

In the mediaUkraine‑Russia, Europe and Eurasia, Russia, Ukraine

Ukraine gives absconding soldiers second chance as forces dwindle

Featuring Gil Barndollar

December 5, 2024

Gil Barndollar Past Virtual Events

virtualUkraine‑Russia, Air power, Diplomacy, Drones, Europe and Eurasia, Land power, Military analysis, Russia, Ukraine

Past Virtual Event: Ukraine’s critical choice: Pursue peace or fight on

April 16, 2025
virtualGlobal posture, Grand strategy

Past Virtual Event: Refusing to choose: did the global posture review fail?

December 10, 2021

Gil Barndollar Featured Symposia

ukraine flag
symposiumUkraine, Russia

Lessons from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

February 13, 2023

symposiumAfghanistan

Lessons from Afghanistan

September 10, 2021