April 28, 2026
Communications and Media
National Security Institute
Arlington, VA – The National Security Institute (NSI) at George Mason University is honored to welcome Tara C. McFeely as Chief Operating Officer (COO).
Tara Caroselli McFeely brings significant experience in defense, intelligence, and national security technology policy to NSI, including senior leadership roles in the Legislative Branch, the private sector, the research community, and service in uniform. Tara’s expertise will be instrumental in advancing NSI’s mission to strengthen American national security and U.S. global leadership by educating future leaders and developing actionable solutions grounded in practical experience.
Tara previously served on Capitol Hill, most recently as the Republican Deputy Staff Director on the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI), where she drove national security and intelligence legislation and policy development and also led Executive Branch oversight. She also served as the SSCI Budget Director, overseeing the authorization of the Intelligence Community and Defense Intelligence Enterprise’s annual $100+ billion budget. Tara also held senior leadership and client advisory roles at Booz Allen Hamilton; served as the Deputy Director of the Intelligence Analyses Division at the Institute for Defense Analyses; and began her career in the U.S. Navy, with service as a Surface Warfare and Naval Intelligence Officer. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from the U.S. Naval Academy and a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.
“We are very excited to welcome Tara to the National Security Institute. Her extensive background in national security and policy makes her a stellar addition to the NSI leadership team,” said Jamil N. Jaffer, NSI Founder & Executive Director.
“I am thrilled to be joining the exceptionally talented and impactful team at NSI. Today’s increasingly complex global threat environment demands strong American leadership and I look forward to helping to guide NSI’s expanding efforts in developing actionable national security policy solutions,” said McFeely.
To read more about Tara C. McFeely’s background, click here.
About the National Security Institute:
The National Security Institute at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School serves as a platform for research, teaching, scholarship, and policy development. NSI incorporates a realistic assessment of the threats facing the United States and its allies, as well as an appreciation of the legal and practical challenges facing our intelligence, law enforcement, national security, technology, innovation, and cybersecurity communities.
About the NSI Cyber & Tech Center:
The NSI Cyber and Technology Center (CTC) advances American technology leadership and engages policymakers on issues at the intersection of technology and national security. Its mission is to promote American technology leadership through expert dialogue, policymaker engagement, and cutting-edge research. NSI CTC is part of the National Security Institute (NSI), which serves as a platform for research, teaching, scholarship, and policy development.
About the Antonin Scalia Law School:
The Antonin Scalia Law School was founded in 1972 as the International School of Law in Washington, DC. In 1979 it merged with George Mason Law School and was named after the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia in 2016. The school is located in Arlington, VA, and is ranked #32 (tied) nationally by US News and #3 among all law schools in DC metro area. The school offers JD, LLM, and JM degrees and is home to five nationally acclaimed centers, including the Law & Economics Center, and is the home to additional key national security and technology organizations, including NSI, the NSI Cyber & Tech Center, and the first-in-the-nation Cyber, Intelligence, and National Security (CINS) LLM program.
About George Mason University:
George Mason University is Virginia’s largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., George Mason enrolls more than 40,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. George Mason has grown rapidly over the past half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity, and commitment to accessibility. In 2023, the university launched Mason Now: Power the Possible, a one-billion-dollar comprehensive campaign to support student success, research, innovation, community, and stewardship.