H. E. Ambassador of Ukraine to the USA Oksana Markarova joined Dr. Evelyn Farkas, McCain Institute’s Executive Director and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, and Mrs. May Beth Long, the first woman confirmed by the U.S. Senate as an Assistant Secretary of Defense, in a discussion on the role of Ukraine in preserving security and stability in Europe. The expert diplomacy event was organized by The Leadership Council for Women in National Security (LCWINS) and moderated by Ms. Ellen Nakashima, The Washington Post’s national security reporter. 

In her opening remarks Ambassador Markarova emphasized that women’s voices in national security and foreign policy decision-making can play a vital role in strengthening the global resolve in defeating Putin. 

LCWINS was created in 2020 by women who held key positions in national security and defense sectors to support women’s ascension to the highest levels of decision-making.

In its earliest days LCWINS successfully encouraged 18 bipartisan presidential candidates to publicly commit to gender equality in their national security appointments. It also built a database of nearly 1,000 well-qualified women ready to serve in senior government positions and helped the nominees to navigate Senate confirmation processes.

Many thanks to the LCWINS  Executive Director Emily Perkins for organizing this important event and strengthening women’s roles in national security and defense.