The Network
We are building a civic immune system: a distributed network of credible national security practitioners, embedded in American life, connected across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors – and ready to act when the moment calls.
Our members include military veterans, diplomats, development professionals, intelligence officers, government civilians, civic and civil society leaders, and many others who have worked at the intersection of American power and American principles.
The Watchfire theory of change starts and ends with this community. It moves in a cycle because that’s how communities work.
Gather. Practitioners find each other across branches, sectors, career stages, and geographies.
Develop. Mentors help mentees build their voices, skills, and relationships – and the ability to explain national security work in plain terms to broad audiences.
Convene. Watchfire hosts events to sharpen member expertise, as well as sit down with civic leaders in their communities where we listen as much as we speak.
Act. Members carry their credibility into town halls, statehouses, newsrooms, and Washington – then share what they learn with our network to shape our vision of national security from the ground up.
Each stage strengthens the next as the cycle repeats.
We are
A community where practitioners collaborate and hold each other accountable across disciplines and generations.
A platform that puts member expertise into the public conversation.
A professional home that develops leaders across the full range of national security work, with particular urgency around rebuilding civilian capacity.
An organization that consistently makes the connection between democracy at home and American leadership abroad.
We're creating a home where serious people can stay sharp, work together, and are ready to act when it counts.
We are not
A think tank that produces reports for other think tanks.
An advocacy organization with a predetermined policy checklist.
A credentialing body or a prestige club where your title is more important than your judgment.
A Washington club that visits the rest of America for photo ops.
A partisan operation — we operate on values and principles, not according to party.