Kt Mcfarland

Kathleen Troia McFarland, born on July 22, 1951, in Madison, Wisconsin, began her extensive career in public service during her freshman year at George Washington University. In 1970, she started working part-time in the White House Situation Room, where she typed the President’s Daily Brief and became part of Dr. Henry Kissinger’s National Security Council staff. She furthered her education at Oxford University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, specializing in nuclear weapons, China, and the Soviet Union, though she did not complete her Ph.D. at MIT. Her early experiences laid the groundwork for a career focused on international affairs and defense.

During the Reagan administration, McFarland served as a speechwriter for U.S. Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger, contributing to his “Six Tests for the Use of U.S. Military Power” speech, a precursor to the Powell Doctrine. She was recognized for her contributions with the Department of Defense’s highest civilian honor, the Distinguished Civilian Service Award, in 1985. Following her government service in the 1980s, McFarland transitioned into political commentary, appearing regularly on Fox News and writing columns for FoxNews.com. She hosted an online talk show, “Defcon 3,” and became known for her critical analysis of U.S. foreign policy and national security strategies.

In 2016, McFarland was appointed Deputy National Security Advisor under President Donald Trump, a role that did not require Senate confirmation. During her tenure, she worked with Michael Flynn and later faced scrutiny regarding her involvement in discussions with Russian officials. Although nominated as U.S. Ambassador to Singapore in 2017, she withdrew her name from consideration in 2018 amid questions related to the Special Counsel investigation. Throughout her career, McFarland has authored three books, including “Revolution: Trump, Washington and ‘We the People,'” and has served on the boards of notable organizations like The Jamestown Foundation and the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, maintaining her status as a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations.